Sex abuse claims in the Catholic Church in Utah

Utah's civil statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse extends 8 years after the survivor turns 18, capped at age 26. Utah does not have an active lookback window as of February 2026. The Diocese of Salt Lake City has published a credibly accused clergy list. No Utah diocese has filed for bankruptcy. Survivors under age 26 should consult an attorney. Older survivors should consult an attorney about discovery rule tolling under Utah's common law discovery doctrine.

Utah survivors face a distinct legal history: a 2016 law opened a broad revival window, but in 2020 the Utah Supreme Court struck down retroactive revival, holding that an expired limitations defense is a vested right the Legislature cannot undo; survivor advocates have since pushed to amend the state constitution to permit revival. The Diocese of Salt Lake City has named 19 credibly-accused clergy in cases dating to 1950. Clergy claims are filed in the Utah District Court for the county where the abuse occurred.

Because Utah's discovery rule can still extend the deadline based on when a survivor connected the abuse to their injuries, an expired-looking claim is worth having reviewed rather than assumed foreclosed. Confidential, believe-first support is available through RAINN at 1-800-656-4673 and SNAP.