Salt Lake County Court Records
Salt Lake County court records are documents in e-files and paper created and maintained in Salt Lake County Justice Court and District Court. These records are primarily used to document information on court processes and activities the court performs while performing its duties. Per Utah’s Judicial Administration 4-202.02(2) rule, these records encompass indexes, dockets, audio transcripts, case summary sheets, case files, briefs, and appellate filings. Depending on the information they contain, they may be public or confidential.
Are Salt Lake County Court Records Public?
Most Salt Lake County court records are public, per the Rule of Public Administration Laws and Utah’s Public Records Act (GRAMA). However, certain court records are classified as Non-public/private. These non-public records are completely sealed from public access or made available to only a select group. Court records are made confidential for various reasons. Sometimes, non-public records in Salt Lake County may be accessed with proper authorization from the record’s judicial custodian. Court records are made non-public for one of the following:
- To protect the identity of the victim in cases of sexual assault.
- To protect personal identifying information that, if made public, will constitute an invasion of privacy..
- To hide sensitive data that, if made public, could compromise a person’s or public safety.
There may occasionally be a combination of private and public documents. Anyone can see that a case has been filed and can look at the case’s docket to see a chronology of events. However, whether a document is public or private will determine access to the records. Some examples of different categories of non-public court records include:
- Adoption records
- Juvenile court records
- Expungement records
- Protective orders
- Stalking injunctions
What Information is Available in Salt Lake County Court Records?
The information that is available at Salt Lake County Courts includes, but is not limited to:
Civil court documents
Civil court documents are records from civil personal lawsuits, business disputes, and civil infractions cases handled by Salt Lake County courts. Some examples of these files include depositions (or written testimony), stipulations (an agreement between attorneys that deals with business before a court and is intended to simplify, shorten, or settle litigation and save costs), answers, counterclaims, replies, motions, petitions, affidavits (written statements made under oath before an officer of the court, notary public, or other authorized person) and exhibit documents. Divorce records are among Salt Lake County courts’ most commonly requested civil court documents.
Criminal case records
Criminal court case documents are filed from the felony and misdemeanor criminal cases handled by the Salt Lake justice and district courts. Documents that may be included in a criminal case file include affidavits, orders, judgments, complaints, indictments, subpoenas, verdicts, warrants of arrest, execution, or detention, warrant returns, and notifications of appeal.
Other court records obtained from a Salt Lake County court include probate court records (conservatorships, wills, guardianship documents), naturalization and citizenship records, and treatment court records.
Salt Lake County Court Records Search
Salt Lake justice and district courts provide several channels to access county court records:
Online Access
Interested persons may search for Salt Lake County court records using two portals, including:
- Utah state courts portal(Xchange): Xchange provides district and justice court case information. It also allows users to search for felony and class A misdemeanor cases filed in district and justice courts and domestic, civil, and criminal proceedings.
- GRAMA request portal : This is a general-purpose portal that can also be used to submit requests to the records division of any court in Salt Lake County
In-Person Access
Persons seeking access to court records in Salt Lake may visit the court clerk’s office where the case proceeding took place and complete a court record request form. Courts in Utah also have public access terminals where persons can search for the documents they need using the party name and case numbers.
Mail and Phone Requests
Requesters who cannot visit the court and have limited internet access can request Salt Lake County court records through mail or phone. For mail requests, the individual can use the standard Utah court records request form. Phone requests can also be made by contacting the record custodian’s helpdesk. For mail and phone requests, individuals must provide the case number and describe the records for proper identification.
Fees for Court Records in Salt Lake County
The cost of obtaining Salt Lake County court records depends on the type of record requested, the number of copies, the format in which the court record is delivered (paper, Audio, video), and the channel through which the request is made.
For online searches, the cost per search ranges from $0.15 to $0.35 for the first 500 searches. Downloading court records ranges from $0.50 to $1.00 per document. The setup fees for guest and one-time use non-subscription accounts will be from $5 to $10.
Paper copies generally cost $0.25 each. The cost per unit for electronic storage media other than court hearings is $15. On average, the total cost of requesting and obtaining court records through the mail is $15- $30.
Salt Lake County Courthouse Locations
Salt Lake District Court: The Salt Lake District Court has a criminal and civil division that handles felony and some misdemeanor criminal cases. It also decides civil cases, such as debt collection, eviction, family law, and contract. Its address and contact information are as follows:
450 South State Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84114
(801)238-733
The Salt Lake Justice Court handles criminal misdemeanors, civil cases, and small claims. Its address and contact information are as follows:
2001 South State Street, Ste S4-300
PO Box 144575
Salt Lake City, Utah 841144
Criminal Records Access in Salt Lake County
No Salt Lake County court directly handles criminal history checks. Instead, comprehensive criminal background checks are done through the criminal identification division of the Utah Department of Public Safety. Criminal background history is a confidential record that can only be accessed by the subject of the records by visiting the public safety office in person or by mail.
To obtain their criminal record, individuals must fill out the official Criminal History Record Application and submit it in person or by mail to the Department of Safety Office. The application should also include a photocopy of the applicant’s ID and an application fee of $20.00, which can be paid in cash, Checks, or money orders.
The Salt Lake City Justice Court, which handles Class B and Class C misdemeanor criminal violations and infractions, is the place to go if someone wants to view local criminal records in Salt Lake County. The court allows individuals to search for records in person through its public access terminals or online through the county public records request portal.
Salt Lake County Probate Records
The county courts’ probate division produces Salt Lake County probate records. Although probate records are generally public, certain types are confidential and are available only to parties named in the probate case. The probate divisions of the county courts handle and maintain documents regarding the administration of a deceased estate, wills, guardianship, involuntary commitment of the mentally ill, conservatorships, and sometimes adoption.
People who want to access Salt Lake County probate records can contact the probate court division by telephone or by visiting its office in person. To search for the necessary records, individuals must provide the probate case number and the person’s name in the probate document. Much older and Archived probate documents can be accessed online using the Utah archives and records service portal.
Salt Lake County Family Court Records
According to the Utah Government Documents Access and Management Act, the type of information in Salt Lake County family court documents determines who can view them. For example, Child support, adoption, and custody records are private documents that are only accessible to those who have a direct involvement in the cases. Divorce decrees, however, are publicly available documents that anybody can view.
People requesting certified copies of family court records in Salt Lake County can visit the county justice or district court. They can also search for district family court records using the Utah state courts portal. This portal allows users to purchase copies of family court records for $0.50 to $1.00 per document.
Federal Court Records in Salt Lake County
The Utah district court, located in Salt Lake City, Utah, handles federal cases in Salt Lake County. To access records from this court, individuals can visit the district court clerk’s office to request specific federal court documents. People can also search for federal records maintained at the Utah district court by using the PACER portal. Individuals can also use the public access terminals at the clerk’s office to search and print federal records. Old federal court records generated by Salt Lake County District Courts, archived at the Federal Records Center (FRC) or National Archives, can also be accessed by contacting the district clerk at 801-524-6100.
