Utah § 81-5-204 - Presumption of parentage.

Full text of Utah Utah Code § 81-5-204 — Presumption of parentage., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.

§ 81-5-204. Presumption of parentage.

Effective 5/6/2026
81-5-204. Presumption of parentage.

(1)

A man is presumed to be the father of a child if:

(a)	the man and the birth mother of the child are married to each other and the child is born during the marriage;

(b)	the man and the birth mother of the child were married to each other and the child is born within 300 days after the marriage is terminated by death, annulment, declaration of invalidity, or divorce, or after a decree of separation;

(c)

before the birth of the child, the man and the birth mother of the child married each other in apparent compliance with law, even if the attempted marriage is or could be declared invalid, and the child is born during the invalid marriage or within 300 days after the marriage's termination by death, annulment, declaration of invalidity, or divorce or after a decree of separation; or

(d)

after the birth of the child, the man and the birth mother of the child married each other in apparent compliance with law, whether the marriage is, or could be declared, invalid, the man voluntarily asserted the man's parentage of the child, and there is no other presumptive father of the child, and:

(i)	the assertion is in a record filed with the Office of Vital Records and Statistics;

(ii)	the man agreed to be and is named as the child's father on the child's birth certificate; or

(iii)

the man promised in a record to support the child as his own.

(2)

A man is not presumed to be the father of a child not named in a divorce decree if:

(a)	the child was born at the time of entry of the divorce decree; and

(b)	there are children named in the divorce decree and the children have a mother-child relationship described in Section 81-5-201 with the same mother as the child.

(3)	A presumption of parentage established under this section may only be rebutted in accordance with Section 81-5-607.

(4)	If a child has an adjudicated father, the results of genetic testing are inadmissable to challenge parentage except as described in Section 81-5-607.

Amended by Chapter 155, 2026 General Session

Source: official Utah text · Last verified 2026-08-27

Frequently Asked Questions About Utah § 81-5-204

What does Utah Code § 81-5-204 cover?

Section 81-5-204 ("Presumption of parentage.") is part of the Utah Code, the codified statutory law of Utah. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.

How do I cite Utah § 81-5-204?

A common citation format is "Utah Code § 81-5-204" (Utah). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.

Is this the official text of Utah law?

No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Utah official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Utah attorney.

How does Utah § 81-5-204 apply to my situation?

Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Utah can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.

Sources & Verification

Official text of § 81-5-204 at the Utah source

Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Utah.