How do I adopt an adult in Utah?

To adopt an adult in Utah, you file an adoption petition in the court for the county where you live, all the required people give their consent, and you and the adult you are adopting both appear before the judge, who then enters a final decree. Parents' consent is not required. Here is how it works.

Who can adopt. You must be an adult (18 or older) and at least 10 years older than the person you want to adopt (Utah Code § 81-13-302). If you are married and adopting together, it is enough that one spouse meets the 10-year gap. If you are married but lawfully separated, the statute says you may not adopt another adult without your spouse's consent.

Required consents. Under Utah Code § 81-13-304, these people must consent:

• The adult being adopted, who signs before the court or a court-appointed person
• Each person adopting
• Your spouse, if you are married
• Any legally appointed guardian or custodian of the adoptee

Notice. Under Utah Code § 81-13-303, notice must be served at least 30 days before finalization on the adoptee, your spouse, any guardian or custodian, and the adoptee's spouse. These people can waive notice in writing. After the decree, the adoptee must serve notice of finalization on each former legal parent unless the court waives that for good cause.

Where to file. Venue is the judicial district where you live. If you are not a Utah resident, it is where the adoptee was born or lives (Utah Code § 81-13-102). Utah has no minimum residency period for adult adoption. Utah has 29 counties, and the District Court clerk in your county can confirm which court handles adult adoption petitions there and how filing works locally.

Home study. A home study is not required for an adult adoption. The exception is when the adoptee is a vulnerable adult. In that case, the placement requirements for vulnerable adults apply unless the court waives them for good cause. If this may describe your situation, ask the clerk or an attorney.

The hearing. You and the adult adoptee must both appear before the court. The judge examines each of you separately before entering the final decree (Utah Code § 81-13-305).

Timeline and cost. Adult adoptions in Utah typically take 4-8 weeks. Court filing fees generally run $200-$350, and the total typical cost is under $1,000, compared with $3,000-$5,000+ when hiring an attorney. The clerk can confirm the current fee for your county.