Utah Code §§ 78B-6-314, 78B-6-901.5 § 78B-6-314
Re-entry after eviction from real property.
Operative Text
Re-entry after eviction from real property. (1) A person who is ordered to vacate real property by a court of competent jurisdiction, who, not having a right so to do, refuses to vacate, re-enters, or takes possession of, the real property, is guilty of a contempt of the court issuing the judgment. (2) Upon a conviction for the contempt, the court shall immediately issue an alias process, directed to the proper officer, requiring the person to restore possession of the property to the party entitled to possession under the original judgment or process.
Under Utah Code Ann. §§ 78B-6-314 and 78B-6-901.5, once a court has ordered someone to vacate real property, that person has no legal right to refuse to leave, return, or retake possession of the property. If they do so anyway, the act constitutes contempt of the issuing court. Upon a contempt finding, the court is required to immediately issue a follow-up court order directing the appropriate officer to restore possession to the party who holds rights under the original judgment.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Utah Code Ann. §§ 78B-6-314 and 78B-6-901.5 provide property owners with a court-backed mechanism when a former occupant refuses to comply with an eviction order. Operators who have obtained a valid judgment for possession generally document any unauthorized re-entry or refusal to vacate and bring it to the court's attention promptly. Because the statute requires the court to issue an alias process upon a contempt finding, maintaining clear records of the original judgment and any subsequent unauthorized presence on the property supports the enforcement process.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Utah Code Ann. §§ 78B-6-314 and 78B-6-901.5, returning to or remaining on property after a court-ordered eviction can result in a contempt finding, which carries serious legal consequences. Tenants who believe an eviction order was issued improperly or without due process have the right to challenge that order through the court system before any deadline to vacate passes. Consulting a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider familiar with Utah eviction law can help a person understand what options may be available to contest or comply with a court judgment.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 16, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.