Flag of the State of Utah

The Guide to Utah Courts


The Utah trial court system consists of District Courts, Justice Courts, and Juvenile Courts.
 
District Courts have general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases, but typically handle cases beyond the jurisdiction of other courts. Juvenile Courts and Justice Courts have limited jurisdiction over certain types of civil and criminal cases.
 

Find court records by county Find court records by town or zip code Find court resources by category Find court records in other states
Please select a Utah county below to view directory of all courts with links to court record resources for each court. Find Utah court pages by Town or Zip Code. Select a court record or online resource category below to view all resources at both the statewide and county level. Go to the court records pages for another state.

 

 



 
WeCanSolveIt.org
Public Records Search    Advertising
 
First Name
 MI Last Name State
 
I entered a partial first name above
adkey

Utah District Courts

District Courts have general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases, and typically handle cases that are beyond the jurisdiction of other courts.

Criminal cases typically heard by District Courts include felonies and some misdemeanors. Jurisdiction over certain types of misdemeanors may vary by District Court depending on whether a Justice Court shares territorial jurisdiction.

District Courts share jurisdiction with Juvenile Courts and Justice Courts over certain types of criminal cases involving adults, including contributing to the delinquency of a minor child and misdemeanor custodial interference. District Courts share jurisdiction with Juvenile Courts over violations of federal, state, local or municipal law when the defendant is over age 18 but within the continuing jurisdiction of a Juvenile Court due to a previous Juvenile Court case. District Courts have exclusive original jurisdiction over defendant minors aged 16 or older in certain types of criminal cases, including murder and aggravated murder. District Courts exercise exclusive original jurisdiction over some additional juvenile offenses, including misdemeanors, if related to other juvenile criminal cases within the exclusive jurisdiction of District Courts.

Civil cases typically heard by District Courts include general civil claims for the recovery of money that exceed the financial or other limits on Justice Court jurisdiction. District Courts also handle divorce, child custody, child support, adoption, paternity and probate matters. District Courts have jurisdiction over the guardianship of minors and cases involving child custody, child support or child visitation, when these cases are related to cases regularly heard by District Courts.

District Courts may handle a Child Protective Order case if a Juvenile Court transfers the case to District Court. District Courts share some jurisdiction with Juvenile Courts over paternity, guardianship of a minor and modifications to birth certificates, if any of these issues relate to a case within Juvenile Court jurisdiction.

District Courts also handle cases related to the discipline of attorneys and some appeals from state or local administrative agency decisions.

District Courts may have court divisions organized by case type, including a Drug Court division for certain types of criminal cases involving defendants with a history of substance abuse.

District Courts exercise jurisdiction over cases previously handled by Circuit Courts before Circuit Courts were abolished in 1996.

Utah Justice Courts

Justice Courts have jurisdiction over certain types of civil and criminal cases.

Criminal cases heard by Justice Courts include preliminary hearings, most Class B and C misdemeanors, municipal ordinance violations, infractions and most juvenile traffic infractions.

Civil cases heard by Justice Courts include some general civil claims for less than $7,500, including attorney fees but excluding court costs and interest.

Justice Courts have jurisdiction over most traffic misdemeanors and infractions with defendants aged 16 or 17, with the exception of traffic-related cases within the exclusive jurisdiction of Juvenile Courts. Some postjudgment traffic proceedings may be transferred from Justice Courts to Juvenile Courts.

Justice Courts share jurisdiction with Juvenile Courts and District Courts over certain criminal cases with adult defendants, including contributing to the delinquency of a minor and misdemeanor custodial interference.

Utah Juvenile Courts

Juvenile Courts have jurisdiction over certain types of civil and criminal cases. Juvenile Courts are considered to have equal "status" with District Courts and share jurisdiction over certain types of cases with District Courts and Justice Courts.

Juvenile Courts have exclusive jurisdiction over most cases involving juvenile delinquency, child abuse or child neglect. Juvenile Courts handle most related juvenile matters, including some criminal cases, some guardianships, some mental health cases and some cases related to child custody, child support and child visitation.

Cases typically heard by Juvenile Courts include juvenile violations of federal, state, local or municipal law; treatment of parents with children committed to a youth corrections facility; termination of parental rights; some adoptions; some cases involving child custody, child support or child visitation; Child Protective Orders, foster care and other protective custody placements of children; appeals of certain administrative agency decisions; guardianships of minors involved in other pending cases in Juvenile Court; treatment or commitment of minors with developmental delay or mental illness; emancipation of a minor; judicial consent to marriage, employment or enlistment; as well as habitual truants, runaways and juveniles considered "ungovernable." Juvenile Courts will handle cases involving minors under court supervision in other states if the minor is located in Utah.

Juvenile Courts have exclusive jurisdiction over certain juvenile traffic and boating offenses, including vehicular homicide, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, reckless driving or operation and attempting to elude police. Juvenile Courts will also handle some traffic and boating offenses that relate to delinquency cases within Juvenile Court jurisdiction.

Juvenile Courts have jurisdiction over child custody, child support and child visitation, when these cases involve a child otherwise within Juvenile Court jurisdiction. If a Juvenile Court has jurisdiction over a child, the Juvenile Court has authority to modify District Court orders related to child custody, child support and child visitation. If a Juvenile Court has jurisdiction over a related case, the Juvenile Court shares jurisdiction over some paternity and birth certificate modification cases with District Courts. District Courts may handle a Child Protective Order case if a Juvenile Court transfers the case to District Court.

Juvenile Courts share jurisdiction with District Courts and Justice Courts over certain criminal cases with adult defendants, including contributing to the delinquency of a minor and misdemeanor custodial interference.

Juvenile Courts share jurisdiction with District Courts over violations of federal, state, local or municipal law when the defendant is over age 18 but within the continuing jurisdiction of a Juvenile Court due to a previous Juvenile Court case.

District Courts have exclusive original jurisdiction over minors aged 16 or older if they are defendants in certain types of criminal cases. Once District Court has jurisdiction over a juvenile criminal case, District Court and Justice Court have jurisdiction over future criminal cases against the juvenile and will try the juvenile as an adult, unless the original criminal case within District Court jurisdiction is dismissed or the juvenile is found not guilty. If District Court jurisdiction ends, Juvenile Courts regain jurisdiction over the juvenile.

Justice Courts have jurisdiction over traffic misdemeanors and infractions with defendants aged 16 or 17, with the exception of traffic-related cases within the exclusive jurisdiction of Juvenile Court. Some postjudgment traffic proceedings may be transferred from Justice Courts to Juvenile Courts.

Where to find court cases in Utah

The chart below gives general information on the types of cases heard in each type of court in Utah.
 

Most Cases = Most or all cases.     Some Cases = Some cases.

Case Type Court Type
CivilDistrict CourtsJustice CourtsJuvenile Courts
General Civil - Unlimited
Most or all General Civil - Unlimited cases can be found in the District Courts
  
General Civil - Limited
Some General Civil - Limited cases can be found in the District Courts
Most or all General Civil - Limited cases can be found in the Justice Courts
 
Small Claims 
Most or all Small Claims cases can be found in the Justice Courts
 
Civil Equity
Most or all Civil Equity cases can be found in the District Courts
  
Complex Commercial
Most or all Complex Commercial cases can be found in the District Courts
  
Foreclosures and Liens
Some Foreclosures and Liens cases can be found in the District Courts
Some Foreclosures and Liens cases can be found in the Justice Courts
 
Real Estate Title and Boundary
Most or all Real Estate Title and Boundary cases can be found in the District Courts
  
Landlord / Tenant
Some Landlord / Tenant cases can be found in the District Courts
Some Landlord / Tenant cases can be found in the Justice Courts
 
Ordinance Violations 
Most or all Ordinance Violations cases can be found in the Justice Courts
 
Protection, No Contact, and Restraining Orders
Most or all Protection, No Contact, and Restraining Orders cases can be found in the District Courts
 
Some Protection, No Contact, and Restraining Orders cases can be found in the Juvenile Courts
Administrative Agency Appeals
Most or all Administrative Agency Appeals cases can be found in the District Courts
 
Some Administrative Agency Appeals cases can be found in the Juvenile Courts
CriminalDistrict CourtsJustice CourtsJuvenile Courts
Felony
Most or all Felony cases can be found in the District Courts
  
Felony Preliminary Hearings
Some Felony Preliminary Hearings cases can be found in the District Courts
Some Felony Preliminary Hearings cases can be found in the Justice Courts
 
Misdemeanors
Most or all Misdemeanors cases can be found in the District Courts
Most or all Misdemeanors cases can be found in the Justice Courts
Some Misdemeanors cases can be found in the Juvenile Courts
Ordinance Violations
Some Ordinance Violations cases can be found in the District Courts
Most or all Ordinance Violations cases can be found in the Justice Courts
 
Juvenile
Some Juvenile cases can be found in the District Courts
Some Juvenile cases can be found in the Justice Courts
Most or all Juvenile cases can be found in the Juvenile Courts
Traffic and Infractions
Some Traffic and Infractions cases can be found in the District Courts
Most or all Traffic and Infractions cases can be found in the Justice Courts
Some Traffic and Infractions cases can be found in the Juvenile Courts
Domestic RelationsDistrict CourtsJustice CourtsJuvenile Courts
Divorce
Most or all Divorce cases can be found in the District Courts
  
Child Custody and Visitation
Most or all Child Custody and Visitation cases can be found in the District Courts
 
Some Child Custody and Visitation cases can be found in the Juvenile Courts
Child Support
Most or all Child Support cases can be found in the District Courts
 
Some Child Support cases can be found in the Juvenile Courts
Paternity
Most or all Paternity cases can be found in the District Courts
 
Some Paternity cases can be found in the Juvenile Courts
Domestic Violence Protection Order
Most or all Domestic Violence Protection Order cases can be found in the District Courts
  
JuvenileDistrict CourtsJustice CourtsJuvenile Courts
Adoptions
Some Adoptions cases can be found in the District Courts
 
Some Adoptions cases can be found in the Juvenile Courts
Juvenile Delinquency
Some Juvenile Delinquency cases can be found in the District Courts
Some Juvenile Delinquency cases can be found in the Justice Courts
Most or all Juvenile Delinquency cases can be found in the Juvenile Courts
Child Abuse and Neglect
Some Child Abuse and Neglect cases can be found in the District Courts
 
Most or all Child Abuse and Neglect cases can be found in the Juvenile Courts
Termination of Parental Rights
Some Termination of Parental Rights cases can be found in the District Courts
 
Most or all Termination of Parental Rights cases can be found in the Juvenile Courts
Children in Need of Supervision
Some Children in Need of Supervision cases can be found in the District Courts
 
Most or all Children in Need of Supervision cases can be found in the Juvenile Courts
Mental HealthDistrict CourtsJustice CourtsJuvenile Courts
Involuntary Commitments
Most or all Involuntary Commitments cases can be found in the District Courts
 
Some Involuntary Commitments cases can be found in the Juvenile Courts
Other Mental Health Cases
Some Other Mental Health Cases cases can be found in the District Courts
 
Some Other Mental Health Cases cases can be found in the Juvenile Courts
ProbateDistrict CourtsJustice CourtsJuvenile Courts
Wills & Estates
Most or all Wills & Estates cases can be found in the District Courts
  
Name Changes
Most or all Name Changes cases can be found in the District Courts
 
Some Name Changes cases can be found in the Juvenile Courts
Trusts
Most or all Trusts cases can be found in the District Courts
  
Guardianships and Conservatorships
Some Guardianships and Conservatorships cases can be found in the District Courts
 
Some Guardianships and Conservatorships cases can be found in the Juvenile Courts
Google
 
Web www.courtreference.com

 
© Northwest Location Services, Inc. 2008 - Your use of this site indicates agreement to the terms of use.
We strive to provide accurate information, however, Courtreference.com is not an official source of information for any court or court clerk.
No legal advice is offered here and this site is not an alternative to competent legal counsel.