About Utah Public Records

About Utah public records

Look into Utah criminal records, personal history such as divorces and property ownerships. Access vital records offices and request death certificates, marriages as well as divorces or dissolution decrees. Find legal documents and files from family court, civil court, superior court, trial court, and supreme court, as well as federal courts. Asset search that can reveal real estate deeds, judgment liens and bankruptcy filings. directory of Utah's agency websites providing document open to the public.

State background and court information

Utah was the 45th territory in the U.S. to gain statehood on January 4th 1896. There are 29 counties and 243 incorporated municipalities carrying out Utah's local government duties. County and city governments elect officials, create department and divisions making up their agencies servicing citizens. Essential county duties include law enforcement, record keeping, tax collections, justice courts, economic development and elections.

Open record laws in Utah give its residents better access to information held by government agencies, departments and divisions. All local and statewide agencies fall under the Open Record Act and do not give individual departments and division the discretion to deny anyone records that are considered public. Any member of the public can make a record request in Utah without having to show a reason. Despite these laws being enacted to promote a transparent government, many request are simply made for personal needs and are not related to oversight of state and local department affairs.

Criminal records background check are available from the Utah Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Criminal Identification. Find out how to obtain a copy of another person's criminal history. See instructions to retain an official B.C.I. report of your own adult and previous juvenile record. The UT D.P.S. lists tips regarding expungement of your criminal history.

Locating official records for personal purposes such as birth or marriage certificates can be directly requested from the Utah Office of Vital Records. The state's health department shows visitors to their site how to order official divorces and death records in addition to births and marriages that have occurred within Utah. Online databases from the state's various department can offer valuable information to uncover previous U.C.C. filings, verify professional licensure, offenders registered in a particular area, most wanted lists and other public safety precautionary data.

The state's judicial system's x-change case look up can supplement your investigation with electronic access to court records. General jurisdiction courts also known as district courts have jurisdiction over misdemeanor and felony criminal cases, civil trials of divorces and other proceedings. Justice courts with jurisdiction of traffic cases, smaller B and C misdemeanors filings and small claims are available using the Courts Information System (CORIS). Other case details that you can obtain include judgments, verdicts, transcripts, jury awards and more online.

The Utah justice courts preside over cases involving torts, contracts up to $5,000, small claims of up to $5,000, misdemeanors, traffic and hold venue to preliminary hearings. Jury trials are available in some case types. Juvenile courts have exclusive jurisdiction to hear cases involving minors.

District courts are the state's trial courts with jurisdiction to hear torts, contracts, real property rights, small claims up to $5,000, has exclusive estate, mental health, miscellaneous civil, and civil appeals jurisdiction, domestic relations, and criminal appeals jurisdiction. Criminal cases in district courts hear felony, and misdemeanors and traffic violations.

Courts of appeal have mandatory jurisdiction in civil, criminal, administrative agency, juvenile, original proceeding cases and jurisdiction in interlocutory decision cases. Utah's highest court is the supreme court, which have mandatory jurisdiction in civil, capital criminal, criminal, administrative agency, juvenile, disciplinary, original proceeding cases and have discretionary jurisdiction in interlocutory decision cases.

Court records and filings

Access Utah Courts online directly. Search court records; from Utah county courts to Supreme courts. Find criminal filings, Utah dissolution of marriage or divorce records from official state websites. File small claims lawsuits. Link to Utah probate sources with helpful information. Bankruptcy courts by jurisdiction or by districts. Utah state courts contact information such as telephone numbers and more.

Court search routes

As there may be more one source to obtaining Utah criminal, civil and divorce records, it is important to search multiple state courts to find the correct records.

Utah State Court Structure:

The Utah justice courts have jurisdiction to hear cases that involve tort, contract from $0 to $5,000, small claims of up to $5,000. The justice courts hear misdemeanor, DWI or DUI matters, and traffic or other violations. Justice courts hold venue to preliminary hearings. Jury trials are available in some case types. The Utah juvenile courts have exclusive jurisdiction to hear cases that involve juveniles. No jury trials are available. Utah district courts are the state's trial courts. The district courts have jurisdiction to hear cases that involve tort, contract, real property rights, small claims up to $5,000. District courts have exclusive estate, mental health, miscellaneous civil, and civil appeals jurisdiction. these courts have exclusive domestic relations jurisdiction, and exclusive criminal appeals jurisdiction. District courts also hear felony, and misdemeanor matters, traffic and other violations. Jury trials are available in most case types. Utah courts of appeal have mandatory jurisdiction in civil, criminal, administrative agency, juvenile, and original proceeding cases. These courts have discretionary jurisdiction in interlocutory decision cases. Utah's highest court is the supreme court, which have mandatory jurisdiction in various civil, capital criminal, criminal, administrative agency, juvenile, disciplinary, and original proceeding cases. These courts have discretionary jurisdiction in interlocutory decision cases.

Criminal records and background checks

Utah criminal records are maintained by the Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI) under the Department of Public Safety. Name/DOB background checks cost $20, and fingerprint-based Western Identification Network checks also cost $20. Individuals can obtain a copy of their own criminal history in person or by mail. Court records are searchable through the Utah Courts case search system. BCI maintains offender registries including sex/kidnap/child abuse offenders. The Utah Department of Corrections provides an offender search by name or UDC ID number.

Vital records

Statewide Utah vital records. Search births, marriage records and death certificates. Divorces filed with courts. State vital records offices. Link to the agencies in Utah and order vital records. Many records are public information available to the public from private and government entities. You can use information to verify your records. Look up vital statistics and free vital searches in Utah to conduct research online. Department of health vital statistics certificates, state district courts for divorces, state archives research, research center cemetery and burial database, division of archives and records service, government services, fees.

Property and asset records

Search for assets in Utah and obtain records of property, business ownership, professional license verification and other personal or corporate assets. Find bankruptcies, liens, UCC judgment filings and find out about information that can effect a person's or company's asset. See the status of a business and verify ownership, DBA, status, activity and whether the corporation or business filed in Utah owns property, vehicles, real estate and more. Unclaimed property and asset search from official government databases open to the public.

Government records and agencies

Access Utah government agencies and obtain information on executive branches, legislative branches and jucidial branches within state jurisdiction. Link below to the state government agencies as well as state government information and services. Other state government resources such as codified state law, voters registration and other state government departments

Driving and vehicle records

Direct Utah official government links to driver license and registration resources. Vehicle registration, tags, driving history, online forms, office locations, and hours.

Expungements and record clearing

Expunge your criminal past of felonies, misdemeanors, D.U.I convictions and more in the state of Utah. Get information regarding expungements and begin to erase your previous Utah criminal records statewide as well as nationwide. Some records can contain inaccurate or erroneous information that can be amended. Both juvenile and adult cases that can be corrected and begin your search for employment without a tainted past showing.

Genealogy and historical research

Utah genealogy related links and topics. Individual state search of your ancestors, start a family tree, browse census records and more online. Lookup information at the Family Search and Genealogical Society of Utah.

Missing children resources

The Utah Department of Public Safety and other agencies join forces when a child is reported missing in Utah. The Utah Missing Children Clearinghouse plays an important role by providing resources for families, caregivers, and the professionals who serve them in assisting in the recovery of children who go missing from Utah. The Utah Child Amber Alert website tells how the system works and you what to do in case of an amber alert. You may also download ideas and information to teach your children to protect them from being abducted. This emergency alert system immediately broadcasts information that could help recover a missing child. The Utah Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force investigates and prosecutes individuals who use the internet to exploit children. Persons who have experienced a family abduction can download information and learn about the laws that will help them, prevention methods, and suggestions for aftercare following the abduction. Parents can find a list of rules for their children to learn how to surf the internet safely.