Custody battles like the one that forced the adoptive parents of a Florida toddler to hand him over to his biological mother couldn't happen in Utah, the director of the state's oldest adoption agency says.

"Utah is a very positive adoption state," said Shelly Eyre, director of social services for the 120-year-old Children's Service Society of Utah.

Once a birth mother signs a relinquishment of her parental rights she has only 24 hours to change her mind, and a birth father's rights are also revoked at that time if he hasn't yet established paternity.

A Florida circuit court judge ruled last month that a Florida couple, Gene and Dawn Scott, had to give up 3 1/2-year-old Evan, whom they had reared from the time he was 2 days old.

Last Saturday, with TV cameras rolling, the tearful Scotts handed the boy over to his biological mother, Amanda Hopkins, and her husband, Michael. Also on hand was the boy's biological father, Stephen White.

The emotional case began nearly four years ago when the childless Scotts met Hopkins, who was pregnant. She agreed to a private adoption, according to court files. Two months later, and a month before the adoption was finalized, White filed a motion demanding custody.

Hopkins supported the adoption until it appeared the court might grant White's request for custody, then she too fought for custody. Late last month she was awarded custody and White was given liberal visitation rights.

After Evan was whisked away Saturday, to be taken to the Hopkins' home near Chicago, Dawn Scott dropped to the ground and repeatedly screamed, "How can they do this to a little boy?" Later, the Scotts said they would continue their legal fight.

According to Utah law, Eyre says, a birth father's rights to a child are revoked if he has not established paternity prior to the mother signing relinquishment. He establishes paternity by providing financial and emotional support and/or filing for paternity prior to the 24-hour period during which the birth mother can change her mind.

Many people choose international adoption because they read stories like the Scotts' and get nervous, Eyre says. But if Utah parents go through an reputable adoption agency, "there is no need to be worried," she says.

Generally, people are safer going through agencies rather than through a private adoption, she says.

Her agency is in need of adoptive parents, she says. "We're down to two families for every birth mom, and a birth mom needs four or five to choose from. . . . We're in need of diverse adoptive families, especially those willing to accept black or biracial babies."

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