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Safety and temporary orders · reviewed August 22, 2026

Emergency Family-Law Resources in Utah

Official starting points for immediate safety, interim custody orders, protective orders, and Utah DCFS.

Immediate danger: call 911. To report suspected child abuse or neglect, contact Utah DCFS at 1-855-323-DCFS (3237).

Temporary orders involving children

Utah does not promise same-day rulings on any private interim filing. Emergency hearings are limited. Use the District Court interim procedure and forms, and confirm the receiving court's local intake and deadlines.

A parent can request interim custody / parent-time through the District Court procedure. For an immediate threat, a Cohabitant Abuse Protective Order petition is a separate, faster route.

Protective orders (Utah Code 78B-7-601 to 78B-7-606)

Utah's primary domestic-violence protective order is the Cohabitant Abuse Protective Order. The ex parte order sets a hearing within 21 days; a final order is effective until further order of the court, with civil provisions extendable beyond 150 days on good cause. There is no filing fee. Obey every term; only the court can change it.

Utah child protective (DCFS)

Reports of suspected abuse or neglect go to the Utah Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) at 1-855-323-DCFS (3237) (24/7) or 911 for immediate. Utah law requires anyone who believes a child has been abused or neglected to immediately notify the nearest Child and Family Services office, police officer, or law enforcement agency. An unsubstantiated report does not prove it was knowingly false and does not by itself end custody or parent-time.

Official sources reviewed August 22, 2026

Always confirm current local forms, fees, and filing procedure with the clerk of the Utah District Court handling your case.

Confirm current court fees and deadlines. Court fees, filing and response deadlines, hearing timing, notice periods, and local procedures can change or vary by Utah district court and county. Before relying on any amount or time period on this page, confirm the current amount or deadline with the court or District Court clerk handling your case.