Utah Civil Court Records

There are three trial courts, two administrative bodies, and two appellate courts in the Utah State Court system.

The Juvenile, District, and Justice Courts are Utah's trial courts, while the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court are the state's appeals courts. The Judicial Council and the Administrative Office of the Court are part of the administrative division.

The District Court, a trial court with general jurisdiction, hears most civil cases in the state. This Utah court also deals with family issues like child support and custody, divorce, and adoption.

The Juvenile Court is the only court authorized to hear issues involving minors under 18, while the Justice Courts are the most common in cities and counties in Utah. The Justice Court mainly deals with small claims and violations of laws.

The Supreme Court is the highest court in the state and a court of appeals. Its main job is to answer questions from Federal Courts about state law and to give out extraordinary writs. It also has the power to hear appeals of civil judgments in cases other than family law.

The Utah Court of Appeals helps out the Supreme Court in many ways. It can hear appeals from both the District Court and Juvenile Court. However, this court doesn't listen to cases from the District Court's small claims court.

Are Utah Civil Court Records open to the public? Under the Utah Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA), you can look at and copy most documents made by Utah courts. However, you can't access health and security-sensitive records under this law.

Utah Bankruptcy Records are a set of papers with a lot of financial information about people or businesses that have filed for bankruptcy in the state. This bankruptcy filing is a legal process in a federal court that clear most of their debts.

People or companies in Utah who want to file for bankruptcy must follow the steps and rules in the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure and the Bankruptcy Code. Also, if qualified, they can file for bankruptcy based on what they want to happen. But in Utah Bankruptcy Records, the most common types of bankruptcy court proceedings are as follows:

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

Utah Chapter 7 bankruptcy, also called "liquidation bankruptcy," allows debtors to eliminate almost all unsecured debts, except for fraudulently obtained personal loans, student loans, child support payments, and alimony, by selling the debtor's non-exempt properties.

In this bankruptcy chapter, the court chooses a trustee to oversee the sale of the debtor's non-exempt properties.

Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Utah allows debtors to reorganize their debts, stay in business, and make a plan for paying back their debts.

According to Section 1107 of the Bankruptcy Code, Chapter 11 debtors may operate as fiduciaries and have the same rights as a chapter 11 trustee. In other words, the person who owes money controls all their assets and properties.

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

In this bankruptcy proceeding, the debtor takes control of all their assets and plans to pay off their debts. But the petitioner must consider their expendable cash, prospective earnings, and non-exempt assets and properties. So, debtors must pay the court-approved repayment plan from their monthly income or revenue.

How To Find Utah Bankruptcy Records?

The District of Utah Bankruptcy Court is in charge of making and keeping records about bankruptcy in the state. Utah Bankruptcy Records are easy to get from the courthouse if you ask for them. So, visit the courthouse or send a letter to the Clerk's Office.

This request must have your name, the case number or the debtor's name, and a detailed description of the document needed.

After that, you can access case summaries, docket entries, and any other document related to a bankruptcy case by giving the case number or the petitioner's name.

Lastly, the Utah bankruptcy court has a Multi-Court Voice Case Information System (McVCIS) that allows you to call in and find Utah Bankruptcy Records. In this system, you can do up to five searches per call and get bankruptcy information by using a phone's keypad to enter a case number or a debtor's name.

Title 38 of the Utah legislature defines a property lien as when a creditor makes a formal claim on a nonpaying debtor's property as collateral. This collateral guarantees that the property will compensate the creditors if the debtor can't repay the loan.

A creditor or lender can put liens in different forms. And in Utah Property Lien Records, here are the most prevalent ones:

Tax Lien

Tax liens in Utah are judgments made by the state Tax Commission against people who don't pay their taxes.

The agency or court can put these liens on the party's property. If the party fails to pay the debt, the court can seize or foreclose the property.

Judgment Lien

A Utah judgment lien is often the result of a civil lawsuit in which one party broke an agreement. If the court rules in favor of the plaintiff, it puts a judgment lien on the defendant's assets.

With this lien, the lender tells the debtor to pay back an agreed-upon amount. If they can't pay the said amount, the lienholder on the property has the legal right to take it over.

Mechanic's Lien

Also called a " construction lien," this lien guarantees that people who work on building projects or renovations will get paid after a contract.

Mortgage Lien

When someone wants to buy a home in Utah, they voluntarily sign a mortgage lien. It allows people who can't pay for a house all at once to own it in the long run. With a mortgage, people spend a fixed monthly sum with interest until they fulfill the loaned amount.

Mortgages are taken care of by companies in the state, which the federal government regulates. The company can take the house if someone fails to pay their mortgage.

UCC Lien

The Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) governs and helps solve payment problems during business transactions. Most of the time, business loans result in UCC liens. If the owner cannot repay the debt, the creditor imposes this lien on the enterprise as collateral.

How To Check Utah Property Lien Records?

Under Utah Code Notice of Lien Filing, the County Recorder's Office, County Clerk, Clerk of the Court, and Federal Aviation Administration (in case a lien is on an aircraft) record these Utah Property Lien Records.

So, calling the above offices for property information is the most straightforward approach to checking whether a Utah property has a lien.

The County Recorder's Office will give you liability, lien, assessment notices, and property maps if you ask for them.

Utah Civil Driving Violation Records are traffic infractions that show how a Utah driver's license holder drives and behaves on the road.

In Utah, civil driving violations are either under Class B or Class C. Class B offenses are more severe than Class C.

Some examples of Class B violations are:

• DWI/DUI
• Drag racing
• Accidents from a hit-and-run

Conversely, the following are examples of Class C violations:

• Driving above the speed limit (1-10 mph)
• Failure to signal
• Expired registration
• Failure to use a seatbelt

Unlike in other states, Utah traffic infractions may become criminal charges. But they are less severe as compared to state traffic felonies and misdemeanors. These violations lead to a fine, points on someone's driving record, and license suspension, but they don't usually result in jail time.

How To Look Up Utah Civil Driving Violation Records?

The courts and the Driver License Division (DLD) of the Department of Public Safety (DPS) keep most Utah Civil Driving Violation Records and are available to the public upon request. You can get these records by requesting the Motor Vehicle Records (MVR) or driving records in person, by mail, or online.

To make an in-person request, you must make an appointment, fill out Form DLD60, and pay the DLD examiner $8.

To get a certified record, you must fill out forms DLD266 and DLD60, bring them to the DLD's Administrative Office, and pay $10.75.

To look up a regular traffic record by mail, you need to fill out Form DLD60M and send it to the DPS with an $8 check.

Finally, you can purchase a copy of a traffic record online on the Personal MVR website. You must give your full name, driver's license number, and the last four digits of your social security number to get this record.

Utah Legal Judgment Records are official records of the court's decisions in cases where two people are suing each other. Like most Utah Civil Court Records, anyone who wants to can ask to see or copy these records as long as they are not restricted.

Part VII of the Utah Rules of Civil Procedure specifies the state's judgment laws. These rules tell the judicial system how to give out and record judgments. It also explains the different types of rulings the court can make and the exceptions that go with them.

A Utah Legal Judgment Record has the names and addresses of the plaintiff, the defendant, the defendant's social security number, the court's decision, the name of the judge in charge, and the court clerk.

How To Look Up Utah Legal Judgment Records?

You can go to the courthouse where the hearing took place and request to look up Utah Legal Judgment Records. Unless the rules state otherwise, you can write the request to the court clerk. Use the Utah State Court directory to find the address of a nearby courthouse.

You can also find these records through the online case management system called Xchange. It gives a summary of cases that have happened in the state. In some circumstances, you must pay for a subscription to access Xchange. Fortunately, most district courthouses in Utah let people use the platform for free.

Utah Small Claims Records are court-generated reports of small claims cases that have progressed through the state's judicial system.

A summary document of these records will include the following:

• The amount of the claim
• The names of the parties involved
• Their contact information
• The court's decision

In Utah, a Small Claims Court is a court that deals with and records small claims cases that don't involve more than $11,000 in cash or property. In this state, the Justice Court in each county and city is the Small Claims Court.

Among the matters tried in this court are the following:

• Refunding down payments
• Breach of contract
• Property damage
• Auto accident-related property damage
• Rent arrears
• Complaints about products or craftsmanship
• Security deposits
• Disputed checks

If you want to take someone to Small Claims Court, you must file a Utah small claims action in the Justice Court where the defendant lives or where the claim originated.

How To Look Up Utah Small Claims Records?

If you want to look up Utah Small Claims Records, you can mainly find them at the Justice Court of jurisdiction. Occasionally, some records are in the District Court. So, visit the court that handled the case to get this record. Browse the Utah State Court directory to locate a local courthouse.

The filing system at the Court Clerk's office lets you walk in and ask to look at or get copies of a record after giving your name and other information. This kind of information includes the case file number, the name(s) of the people involved, the filing date, and the court's address.

Like in the Utah Legal Judgment Records, you can also look at small claims records in the state using the Xchange.

Utah divorce is the legal process of ending a marriage and all legal ties between the two married people. If you or your spouse have lived in Utah and the county where you filed for divorce for at least three months, a court may issue a divorce.

During and after the divorce proceeding, the court will record and compile all information and documents in Utah Divorce Court Records.

Utah Divorce Court Records are papers the state puts out that give details about divorce cases. It is proof that a couple's divorce is final. These court records include the names of the people who got divorced and details about how their marriages ended.

Since Utah Divorce Court Records are private, only the parties, their lawyers, and a few others can see and copy them. Nonetheless, the state grants public access to these Utah Civil Court Records 75 years after their filing dates.

Eligible individuals can access Utah Divorce Court Records in the form of the following:

Divorce Certificate

A divorce certificate in Utah is an essential document proving a couple's dissolution of marriage. It lists both parties' names and the location and date of their divorce.

Divorce Decree

A Utah divorce decree is a judicial order that formally dissolves a marriage. It contains the names of the parties to the divorce and the details of the divorce settlement.

Depending on the facts of the case, a divorce decree in Utah may not become final upon the judge's judgment or signature. However, the period until it becomes absolute shall not exceed six months from the signing date. Before remarrying, a divorced person must wait for this paper to become final.

Divorce Record

This court record is the comprehensive case file that contains all papers created and presented during a divorce hearing. It is crucial for a divorcing party that intends to challenge the judge's decision since it has all relevant information, including court judgments and conditions of the settlement.

How To Look Up Utah Divorce Court Records?

The Utah Office of Vital Records and Statistics (UOVRS) maintains divorce court records between 1978 and 2010. It also has some documents that occurred after 2010.

To acquire an online copy of a Utah divorce certificate, establish a Utah.gov profile and follow the on-screen instructions. Download and complete this form to request a divorce certificate for mail-in requests. You can also visit the UOVRS or any Local Health Department with a completed form (same as above) to make an in-person order.

If the record is unavailable at the UOVRS, visit the Clerk Offices in the counties where the final divorce occurred.

To get these records, you must provide a complete name, email address, phone number, and government-issued ID and pay the relevant costs in most cases.

Probate Court records in Utah document the probate of estates that involves identifying and managing a dead person's property, paying his taxes and obligations, and distributing the remaining property to beneficiaries as stated in a will or to heirs as stipulated by law.

Utah Probate Court Records have case files, registers of action, minutes, and records books, mostly in guardianship and adoption cases.

A Utah probate case usually starts when the court receives a petition to open an estate or accept a will. The court then holds a hearing to decide if the will is valid and to choose an administrator.

Where can you find Utah Probate Court Records? During the territorial period, the County Probate Court and the Federal District Court kept probate court records in this state. So, visit County Clerk's Office to request probate-related documents. Additionally, you can use the Utah State Archives or send your request to the division to look for these records.

To summarize, to look up Utah Civil Court Records, you first need to determine which courthouse and type of court keep those records.

Searching for court cases in courthouses often incurs small fees. Similarly, most county courts have court case search engines on their websites, allowing you to locate your desired record.

But the standard way to look to keep track of civil cases in Utah is to use a system called XChange. This case management system is accessible at most district courthouses and some Justice Courts in the state. You can also use this system for free at the State Law Library.

Lastly, you can look at cases from the Appellate Court through the Appellate Docket Search website. But you must know the docket numbers for court cases to search for them on this website.