Sunday, April 6, 2014

Utah Governor signs Law giving Fathers New Rights when it comes to Adoptions

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert has signed off on a partial fix to the state's controversial adoption law, in a bid to close a loophole allowing women from other states to give birth and put their babies up for adoption in Utah -- without the knowledge or consent of the biological father. 
The bill, Adoption Act Amendments, was sponsored by Utah state Sen. Todd Weiler. He told Fox News: "It sends a strong message that Utah respects fathers' rights and will not allow its laws to be used to perpetuate fraudulent adoptions."
The bill would require a biological mother to live in Utah for at least 90 days or file information with the court about the birth father. The court then may order the mother to notify the father, before she can put her baby up for adoption. 
Attorney Wes Hutchins, who is representing more than 30 fathers in a federal civil rights suit, called the law a "great first step," but said "we still have some major problems and major loopholes to close."
Hutchins, also president of the Utah Council for Ethical Adoption Practices (UCEAP), points out even with the new legal changes, a pregnant woman could still go to Utah, sign an affidavit claiming she has been there for 90 days and not have to give notice to the birth father. If it's later shown her affidavit was untruthful, then a controversial statute known as fraud immunity still protects the adoption. 
"You can sue for monetary damages, but you can't get your child back, so that's the main problem," Hutchins said.
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