Duty of parents to provide support for a child -- Support follows the child.
Utah Code § 81-6-104
in effect81-6-104. Duty of parents to provide support for a child -- Support follows the child.
(1)
(a) Every child is presumed to be in need of the support of the child's parents.
(b) Every parent shall support their child.
(c) Nothing in this chapter relieves a parent of the primary obligation of support for the parent's child.
(2) Except as limited in a court order under Section 81-6-208:
(a) the expenses incurred on behalf of a minor child for reasonable and necessary medical and dental expenses and other necessities are chargeable upon the property of both parents, regardless of the marital status of the parents; and
(b) a creditor may sue a parent for the expenses described in Subsection (2)(a) incurred on behalf of a minor child.
(3)
(a) A parent whose minor child has become a ward of this or any other state is not relieved of the primary obligation to support that child until the minor child is 18 years old or is legally married, regardless of any agreements or legal defenses that exist between the parents or other care providers.
(b) Any state that provides support for a child shall have the right to reimbursement.
(c) A third party has a right to recover support from a parent.
(4) An obligation ordered for child support and medical expenses:
(a) are for the use and benefit of the child; and
(b) shall follow the child in a case in which a parent, or another person, is awarded sole physical custody of the child as described in Subsection 81-6-205(8).
(5) The rights created in this chapter are in addition to and not in substitution to any other rights.
Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 366, 2024 General Session
Source: Utah Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel (le.utah.gov)URL: https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title81/Chapter6/81-6-S104.html?v=C81-6-S104_2024090120240501Fetched: 10/26/2026