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Utah Code § 53-5a-503

Illegal firearms confiscated -- Disposition of unclaimed firearm

Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 208, 2025 General Session

(1) If a law enforcement agency receives a firearm in accordance with Section 53-5c-201, and the firearm is an illegal firearm, the law enforcement agency shall:

(a) notify the owner cohabitant attempting to voluntarily commit the firearm that the firearm is an illegal firearm; and

(b) confiscate the firearm and dispose of the firearm in accordance with Section 77-11a-403.

(2)

(a) If a law enforcement agency cannot, after a reasonable attempt, locate an owner cohabitant to return a firearm in accordance with Section 53-5a-502, the law enforcement agency shall dispose of the firearm in accordance with Section 77-11a-403.

(b) A law enforcement agency may not dispose of a firearm under Subsection (2)(a) before one year after the day on which the cohabitant initially voluntarily committed the firearm in accordance with Section 53-5a-502.

(3)

(a) If an individual other than an owner cohabitant claims ownership of the firearm, the individual may:

(i) request that the law enforcement agency return the firearm in accordance with Subsection (3)(b); or

(ii) petition the court for the firearm's return in accordance with Subsection (3)(c).

(b) Except as provided in Section 53-5a-502, the law enforcement agency shall return a firearm to an individual other than an owner cohabitant who claims ownership of the firearm if:

(i) the 60-day period described in Section 53-5a-502 has expired;

(ii) the individual provides identification; and

(iii) the individual signs a document attesting that the individual has an ownership interest in the firearm.

(c) After sufficient notice is given to the prosecutor, the court may order that the firearm be:

(i) returned to the rightful owner as determined by the court; or

(ii) disposed of in accordance with Section 77-11a-403.

(d) A law enforcement agency shall return a firearm ordered returned to the rightful owner as expeditiously as possible after a court determination.

Official source: Utah State Legislature. Reproduced from public-domain Utah statutes; confirm against the official source for the current text. Not legal advice.