Utah statute
Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-301.2 — Parental kidnapping.
Current through 2026 General Session
Part of Part 3: Kidnapping, Trafficking, And Smuggling, Utah Code.
Criminal charges under this statute
Full text of Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-301.2
Statutory text current through the 2026 General Session. This publication reproduces the official statutory text; it is not the official statutes of the State of Utah.
(1)(a) As used in this section: (1)(a)(i) "Child" means an individual under 18 years old. (1)(a)(ii) "Custody" means court-ordered physical custody of a child entered by a court. (1)(a)(iii) "Parent" means an individual who has a parent-child relationship, as defined in Section 81-5-102, with the child. (1)(a)(iv) "Parent-time" means court-ordered parent-time or visitation entered by a court. (1)(b) Terms defined in Section 76-1-101.5 apply to this section. (2) A parent commits parental kidnapping of the parent's child if the parent: (2)(a) takes, entices, conceals, detains, or withholds the child from an individual entitled to custody of the child; (2)(b) intends to interfere with the custody of the child; and (2)(c)(i) has never had a right to physical custody of the child; (2)(c)(ii) has never been granted parent-time with the child; (2)(c)(iii) has had all rights to physical custody of the child terminated by a court; or (2)(c)(iv) at the time of the parent's action under Subsection (2)(a), had parent-time with the child terminated or suspended by a court. (3)(a) A violation of Subsection (2) is a third degree felony. (3)(b) Notwithstanding Subsection (3)(a), a violation of Subsection (2) is a second degree felony if, during the course of parental kidnapping, the parent removes, causes the removal, or directs the removal of the child from the state. (4) In addition to the affirmative defenses described in Section 76-5-305, it is an affirmative defense to the crime of parental kidnapping that: (4)(a) the parent acted under a reasonable belief that the action described in Subsection (2)(a) was: (4)(a)(i) necessary to protect the child from imminent serious bodily injury, or death; (4)(a)(ii) authorized by law; or (4)(a)(iii) taken with the consent of: (4)(a)(iii)(A) the individual entitled to custody of the child; or (4)(a)(iii)(B) a custodian, guardian, caretaker, or other individual lawfully acting in place of the individual entitled to custody of the child; or (4)(b)(i) the parent acted under a reasonable belief that the action described in Subsection (2)(a) was necessary to protect the child from abuse, including sexual abuse; and (4)(b)(ii) before taking the action described in Subsection (2)(a), the parent reports to law enforcement the parent's intention to engage in the action and the basis for the parent's belief described in Subsection (4)(b)(i).
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
Questions this section answers
Is parental kidnapping a felony or a misdemeanor in Utah?
It depends on the circumstances: parental kidnapping ranges from a Third Degree Felony to a Second Degree Felony in Utah under Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-301.2.
Parental kidnapping - base offense: Third Degree Felony (Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-301.2(3)(a)) · Parental kidnapping - child removed from state: Second Degree Felony (Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-301.2(3)(b))
Which Utah statute covers parental kidnapping?
Parental kidnapping is governed by Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-301.2 (Parental kidnapping).
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.