LAYTON, Utah — It’s easier to complete an adoption here than in almost any other state.

A woman who gives birth in Utah can sometimes consent to an adoption with little or no input from the father and within 24 hours of delivery. Then, the adoption can be finalized in as few as three months – one of the fastest periods in the country. Once complete, it’s irrevocable, even in cases where consent was obtained through fraud.

“Utah is what we would call an ‘adoption-friendly’ state,” said Tara Romney Barber, the adoption and clinical programs director of the Children’s Service Society of Utah, in a recent interview with FOX 13 News.

But those same relaxed regulations, she said, “can also create a climate that makes it really ripe for fraud, coercion and some of the negative things."

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