(1)  In a case arising under this chapter or involving the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, the prosecutor or Attorney General may take any lawful action, including resort to a proceeding under this chapter or any other available civil proceeding to locate a child, obtain the return of a child, or enforce a child custody determination if there is:

Terms Used In Utah Code 78B-13-315

  • Child: means an individual under 18 years of age and not married. See Utah Code 78B-13-102
  • Child custody determination: means a judgment, decree, or other order of a court providing for the legal custody, physical custody, or parent-time with respect to a child. See Utah Code 78B-13-102
  • Court: means an entity authorized under the law of a state to establish, enforce, or modify a child custody determination. See Utah Code 78B-13-102
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
(a)  an existing child custody determination;

(b)  a request from a court in a pending child custody case;

(c)  a reasonable belief that a criminal statute has been violated; or

(d)  a reasonable belief that the child has been wrongfully removed or retained in violation of the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.

(2)  A prosecutor or attorney general acts on behalf of the court and may not represent any party to a child custody determination.

Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 3, 2008 General Session