Why pregnant women travel to Utah to place babies for adoption

In Utah, birth mothers can sign away their parental rights just 24 hours after giving birth — a decision that is immediate, permanent and cannot be revoked. In nearly every other state, birth mothers are given a window of time to reconsider. The state’s law also places no cap on how much adoptive parents can pay toward an expectant mother’s medical care, housing, lost wages, travel or other living costs — including cash payments for unspecified “postpartum expenses.” Together, those statutes allow agencies to offer generous help to birth mothers, and adoptions that move quickly — and irreversibly — for prospective parents. Critics argue the legal framework has fueled an “adoption tourism” industry that exploits pregnant women who come to Utah, can cut out birth fathers and drives up costs for adoptive parents hoping to expand their families. Read the full story: https://www.sltrib.com/news/2026/01/20/why-pregnant-women-travel-utah