Are you an adoptive parent or birth parent who wants to make change?
Start with submitting a complaint.

Did you work with a Utah agency and believe they violated the law? Use our resources to create a complaint for the Utah Office of Licensing.

How do I submit a Complaint?  You can email a complaint to dlbc@utah.gov or fill out the form using this link. Note: If you fill out the form instead of sending an email, you may or may not be able to retain a copy of your submission. If using the form, please ensure you can keep a personal record of your submission.

What do I include in a Complaint?
Include your name and contact information. Provide any photos, e-mail printouts, screenshots, recordings, or any other documentation you have. Cite Utah laws that you believe the adoption agency has violated. If you are the victim of a crime, contact the police.

How do I find Utah’s adoption laws and citations?
We make it easy! Use our Complaint Builder to help formulate a complaint. We provide the rules that are most likely to be violated as well as their citations to eliminate the stress of navigating the state laws.

What is a Licensed Child Placing Agency? 
Utah has 14 licensed agencies. If your complaint concerns a licensed agency, focus on any “Rule Violations,” such as the examples listed below. If the company you worked with is not on this list, the licensing rules do not usually apply, as they would likely be outside its jurisdiction. For an unlicensed entity (there are lots), you should focus on any fraud, duress, exploitation, or unethical treatment. 

Who Investigates the Complaint?
The Office of Licensing. The Office of Licensing is dedicated to protecting the health and safety of vulnerable populations. The Office of Licensing investigates complaints regarding unlicensed programs and concerns of rule, statute, and law violations in licensed programs.

I’m afraid to submit a complaint.
We understand that you may feel hesitant, or even frightened, to submit a complaint. This has been a grueling process for you and your family, and likely not an experience you anticipated when you first embarked on a journey to build your family.

Unfortunately for birth parents, according to Utah Code § 78B-6-106, fraud is not a basis for dismissal of a petition for adoption, vacation of an adoption decree, or an automatic grant of custody back to you as the offended party. We understand that this fact is extremely distressing.

Whether you’re an adoptive parent or a birth mother, it can be intimidating to speak up. But you are not alone. We understand that the decision to submit a complaint is a serious one, but it is also impactful. By filing a complaint, you will help make Utah safer for other adoptive families, expectant parents, and most importantly, children. No human being should be treated as a commodity.