Utah County
Created in 1850, Utah County has a land area of approximately 2,003 square miles in its home state, Utah. The county was named after Native Ute Indians. As of 2022, more than 666,000 residents lived in the county, making it the state's second-most populous county. The county seat, Provo, is the fourth largest city in Utah.
Utah County's judicial system comprises three trial courts: the District, Juvenile, and Justice Courts. The District Court, part of the state's Fourth Judicial District, has general jurisdiction over legal proceedings beyond other courts in Utah County. It has locations in Provo, Salem, American Fork, and Spanish Fork. The District Court typically tries criminal cases such as felonies and class A misdemeanors. Non-criminal cases, including disputed wills, domestic relations, and adoptions, are heard at the District Court. Utah County has Juvenile Courts with exclusive authority over delinquencies, juvenile traffic offenses, child protective orders, and termination of parental rights. The county's Justice Courts hear minor misdemeanors, traffic crimes, ordinance violations, and small claims cases where the amount in controversy is up to $10,000.
Utah County public court records typically provide information on all judicial processes in the county. These documents contain docket entries, court orders, appeals, fines, evidence, witness statements, hearing dates, case types, litigants' names, and transcripts. According to the Utah Government Records Access Act, public access to Utah County court records promotes public trust in the county's judicial system. Court records are helpful for academic research, media investigations, background checks, and legal precedents. The state law prohibits public access to sealed and confidential court records containing juvenile, medical, drug, and adoption cases. Special court orders are required to access confidential court records in Utah County. However, the following records are publicly accessible under state law:
- Family law records
- Criminal records
- Civil records
- Traffic records
- Probate records
Interested persons can get these documents in person by visiting the Utah County Clerk's Office at:
100 East Center Street
Suite 3100
Provo, UT 84606
Email: clerkoffice@utahcounty.gov
They can also subscribe to the Utah Courts Xchange to find court records online. The state's online tool costs $5 for a one-time use account or guest search. Meanwhile, individuals can view their cases without charges using the My Court Case search.
