Utah Adoption Agencies Compared: How to Choose the Right One for You
By Isaac Thomas, LCSW · Chief Executive Officer
Utah is home to several licensed private child-placing adoption agencies, each with its own approach, faith orientation, and service scope. Whether you're a birth mother considering adoption or a hopeful adoptive family exploring options, how you choose an agency matters.
Start with Licensure
Every Utah-licensed agency must be verified through the Utah Office of Licensing. You can look up any agency's license status at dlbc.utah.gov. A current license is a baseline, not a substitute for the rest of this checklist.
The 5-Question Checklist
- Is the agency state-licensed in Utah and non-profit?
- How long has it been in business?
- Does it serve both birth mothers and adoptive families?
- What's the agency's review history?
- Can you speak with real staff before committing?
| What to Compare | How to Verify | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Utah license | Look the agency up with the Utah Office of Licensing | Unlicensed facilitators aren't held to Utah's child-placing standards |
| Non-profit status | Ask for the 501(c)(3) determination; check state records | Required for Utah agencies — and a mission-alignment signal |
| Years in operation | Ask directly; check the earliest reviews you can find | Decades of placements mean tested processes for hard situations |
| Service scope | Ask: counseling? legal coordination? post-placement? | Full-service means one accountable team instead of five vendors |
| Review history | Read third-party reviews spanning several years | Consistent reviews over time are hard to fake |
| Birth mother care | Ask what a birth mother receives, start to finish | How an agency treats birth mothers tells you everything about its ethics |
Non-Profit Status
Under current Utah law, all Utah-licensed private child-placing agencies must be registered non-profits. Non-profit status isn't a guarantee of quality, but it is a mission-alignment signal worth verifying.
Service Scope
Full-service agencies handle counseling, matching, home studies, legal coordination, medical coordination, and post-placement support. Matching-only agencies handle introductions but leave other work to outside providers. Both models exist, choose the one that fits your needs.
Faith Orientation
Some Utah agencies are faith-based (Christian, LDS). Others, like A Act of Love, are non-denominational. Faith orientation is a personal preference; the law requires equal treatment regardless.
Review History
Look for verified third-party reviews. A Act of Love has 129 reviews averaging 4.8 stars. Reviews should be consistent with the agency's claims and span years, not just a recent handful.
What to Watch For
- ●Any agency promising financial incentives (not allowed under state law)
- ●No verifiable Utah license
- ●No counseling for birth mothers
- ●High-pressure sales tactics
- ●No post-placement support
How to Verify a License in Two Minutes
Don't take any agency's word for it — including ours. Search the agency's name on the Utah Office of Licensing site (dlbc.utah.gov), confirm the license is current and covers child-placing services, and check for disciplinary history. Utah law also requires agencies to disclose warnings and violations from the past three years; you can see our standing disclosure on our compliance page. An agency that makes this hard to find is answering your question in a different way.
Questions to Ask on Your First Call
- ●How many placements did you complete last year, and how many families are currently waiting?
- ●Who will actually work with me — a counselor I can name, or a rotating call center?
- ●For birth mothers: what happens if I change my mind? (The answer should be immediate and unconditional support.)
- ●For families: what is included in your fees, and what typical costs fall outside them?
- ●What does post-placement support look like — for both sides — a year after placement?
The tone of the answers matters as much as the content. Pressure, vagueness, or annoyance at being questioned are all data.
How A Act of Love Fits This Checklist
In the interest of the transparency this article recommends: A Act of Love Adoptions is a Utah-licensed, non-profit 501(c)(3) child-placing agency founded in 1993, full-service for both birth mothers and adoptive families, with 129 third-party reviews averaging 4.8 stars spanning many years. We encourage you to verify every one of those claims using the steps above — and to compare us against anyone. Our Utah adoption guide is a good place to see how we work.
Final Word
The best agency for you is the one where you feel heard, supported, and respected. Call a few. Ask questions. Trust your gut.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I verify a Utah adoption agency's license?
Search the agency's name on the Utah Office of Licensing website (dlbc.utah.gov). Confirm the license is current, covers child-placing services, and check for disciplinary history. Utah agencies must also disclose warnings or violations from the past three years.
Do Utah adoption agencies have to be non-profits?
Yes — under current Utah law, licensed private child-placing adoption agencies must be registered non-profits, with full compliance required by January 1, 2027 under H.B. 51.
What is the difference between an adoption agency and a facilitator?
A licensed agency is regulated by the state, must meet child-placing standards, and provides services like counseling and post-placement support. Facilitators primarily make introductions and are not held to the same standards — and are not permitted to operate in many states.
Should I choose a faith-based or non-denominational agency?
It's a personal preference. Some Utah agencies have a specific faith orientation; others, like A Act of Love, are non-denominational and serve everyone. Either way, the law requires equal treatment — ask any agency how they serve families and birth mothers who don't share their orientation.
What are red flags when choosing an adoption agency?
Promises of financial incentives (illegal under state law), no verifiable license, no counseling for birth mothers, pressure tactics, guaranteed timelines, and vague answers about fees or post-placement support.
Can I work with a Utah agency if I live in another state?
Yes. Birth mothers in many states work with Utah agencies, and interstate placements are coordinated through the ICPC. Utah law adds specific protections for out-of-state birth mothers, including guaranteed return transportation of the same mode and quality.
Questions About Your Situation?
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