Utah Court Records Search by Name: XChange, MyCourtCase, Courthouse Access, Archives & PACER Guide
Utah court records are searched through different official routes depending on the case type. XChange is the main public search tool for Utah district and justice court case information, MyCourtCase is for supported cases where you are a party, the State Law Library and many courthouses provide free public XChange access, and older court files may route to the Utah State Archives.
Public-Court-Records.us is independent. This website is not Utah State Courts, XChange, MyCourtCase, the Administrative Office of the Courts, Utah State Law Library, Utah State Archives, District of Utah federal court, PACER, a government agency, a law firm, a background-check company or a Consumer Reporting Agency. This guide is general educational information only.
Responsible-use warning: a court filing, arrest, charge, petition, complaint, citation, warrant, lawsuit, divorce filing, guardianship filing, probate filing or judgment entry is not proof of guilt, liability, identity, relationship status or financial fitness. A matching name does not prove identity. Do not use this page as an FCRA-regulated employment, tenant, credit, insurance or background-screening product.
Utah court records are searched by court type, not only by name
The main official statewide public search tool is Utah Courts XChange. XChange is a repository of district court and justice court public case information. The information shown is public record case information entered into the Courts Information System by court staff in the courthouse where the case file is located.
Use MyCourtCase when you are a party to a supported Utah case and want to access your own case information. Use the Request a Court Record process when you need official records, certified copies, records not available online, or access to non-public records. Use the Utah State Archives for many historical court records, especially records more than 50 years old. Use PACER for federal district, bankruptcy and federal appellate records.
Utah district and juvenile courts operate across eight judicial districts.
Some civil and family categories became private under court-record rule changes effective April 1, 2012.
Many court records more than 50 years old route to the Utah State Archives.
Utah Courts record-request guidance lists paper copies at $0.25 per sheet.
Utah court-record route finder
Select the record type you are trying to locate. This tool runs in your browser only and does not ask for a name, date of birth, SSN, address, case number or payment information.
Use XChange for public district court case information. District courts handle all civil cases, felonies, some misdemeanors, domestic relations, adoption, probate, extraordinary writs and some administrative review. Contact the clerk where the case is filed for official copies or corrections.
Which Utah court or system should you search?
Use this table before searching by name. Utah court records can be district court, justice court, juvenile court, appellate court, State Archives, administrative records or federal records.
| Need | Likely court or custodian | Best official starting point |
|---|---|---|
| Civil lawsuit, felony, divorce, custody, adoption, probate, guardianship, conservatorship or domestic case | Utah District Court / district court clerk | Use XChange for public case information, MyCourtCase if you are a party to a supported case, and the court clerk for official or non-public records. |
| Traffic case, class B or C misdemeanor, city/county ordinance violation, infraction or small claim | Utah Justice Court / local justice court clerk | Use XChange if the public case information is available, then contact the specific justice court shown in the result. Small claims are usually filed in justice court. |
| Your own Utah case information, notices or supported online party access | MyCourtCase / MyCase | Use MyCourtCase when you are a party to the case. Businesses, lawyers and interested probate persons may need XChange or attorney/eFiling routes instead. |
| Juvenile delinquency, child welfare, termination of parental rights, child-protection or many adoption records | Utah Juvenile Court or district/probate adoption route depending on the matter | Do not expect XChange public access. Use the official court process because juvenile and adoption records are often private, sealed, safeguarded or otherwise restricted. |
| Utah Supreme Court or Court of Appeals case, brief, law-and-motion file, opinion or appellate docket | Utah appellate clerks’ office, State Law Library, State Archives or appellate court system | Use appellate docket and appellate-record resources. Current/pending briefs route through the appellate clerks’ office; older files may route to the Law Library or Archives. |
| Historical divorce decree, naturalization, name change, probate, criminal case, Supreme Court file or old district court file | Utah State Archives or original court depending on record age | Use Utah State Archives court-record guides. Many court records generally remain at the court for 50 years before moving to Archives. |
| Official copy, certified copy, audio/video record, transcript, non-public record or record not on XChange | Court where the case is filed | Use the Request for Court Record form or contact the clerk. Utah Courts usually responds within 10 business days, depending on the request. |
| Weekly district case filings, judgment disposition or judgment reports | Utah Courts weekly district case reports | Use weekly reports for broad district court filing or judgment report research, but do not treat a report as a complete certified record. |
| Marriage, birth, death, land, business, police, jail or statewide criminal-history record | Different state/county/local agency | Do not use court records as the only source. Use the correct vital records, recorder, law enforcement, corrections, business or state criminal-history route. |
| Federal district, federal appellate or bankruptcy case | U.S. District Court for the District of Utah, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Utah or PACER | Use PACER and federal court copy-request routes. Federal court records are not searched through Utah XChange. |
How to search Utah court records in XChange
XChange is the main official public search route for Utah district court and justice court case information. It can be accessed online through guest or subscription options, and free public access is available at many district courthouses and at the Utah State Law Library.
Confirm the domain is xchange.utcourts.gov or that you reached it from the Utah State Courts website. Avoid unofficial people-search pages and third-party background-check funnels.
Utah Courts describes XChange as fee-supported online access, but free public XChange access is available at most district courthouses and at the Utah State Law Library.
A case number usually gives the cleanest result. If you only have a name, use additional lawful filters such as county, court location, case type or date range.
Utah Courts search tips say XChange returns results that exactly match your search request. Try spelling variations and additional filters when a lawful search does not find the case.
The case history header shows the court, parties, case number and case type. Criminal case results can include charges, pleas, dispositions, accounts and chronological proceedings.
Utah Courts says district court clerks and justice court clerks are the official record keepers. Contact the clerk in the court where the case is filed for corrections or official proof.
XChange vs MyCourtCase: use the right Utah access tool
Many users confuse public search with party access. XChange and MyCourtCase serve different purposes.
| Tool | Best use | Important caution |
|---|---|---|
| XChange | Public district court and justice court case information, including name or case-number search where public access is allowed. | XChange is not a sealed-record, juvenile-record, adoption-record, expunged-record, complete document-image or federal-record search. |
| MyCourtCase / MyCase | Free online access to your own supported case when you are a party and meet registration requirements. | Not all case types are available. Businesses, attorneys, LPPs or interested probate persons may be directed to XChange or another official route. |
| Courthouse public XChange access | Free public search at many district courthouses and possibly some justice court locations. | Call the court first to verify public XChange access, hours, security, parking and whether records staff can help with your search. |
| Utah State Law Library | Public computers for XChange, OCAP/forms, legal resources, copier and scanner access. | Law library staff can help with legal information and research resources, but court employees cannot give legal advice. |
| Request for Court Record form | Official record requests, certified copies, non-public access requests and records not related to adoption. | The court will not fax or email records that are available on XChange. Non-public records require authorization or court review. |
Utah search-tool chooser
Choose your situation. This tool does not search a database and does not collect personal data.
Official Utah court-record links and what to do after opening each one
Each official link below includes the next step, so this guide is practical instead of just a link directory.
Use this for public district court and justice court case information.
- Choose guest search, login or account setup.
- Use case number when available.
- If searching by name, narrow by county, court, case type or date range.
- Open the case history and verify the court, parties and case type.
- Contact the court clerk for official records or corrections.
Use this page to understand what XChange includes and what it excludes.
- Review the district and justice court coverage explanation.
- Read which civil records became private after April 1, 2012.
- Check juvenile-case exclusions.
- Use courthouse access if you need free public XChange access.
Use this page when a name search returns too many results or no results.
- Remember that XChange returns exact matches.
- Use case number if available.
- Review the case history header: court, parties, case number and case type.
- For criminal records, check charges, plea and disposition separately.
- Read proceedings chronologically before drawing conclusions.
Use this before paying for online access.
- Review the initial account setup fee and monthly subscription fee.
- Review the included-search limit and additional search charge.
- Remember that each specific search parameter can count as a search.
- Review document charges before opening documents.
- Use courthouse or State Law Library access if cost is a concern.
Use this when you are a party to a supported Utah case.
- Read the access requirements.
- Use your case information to create or access the account.
- Do not use MyCase as a public background search tool.
- Use XChange if you are not a party and need public case information.
Use this for official, certified, non-public, unavailable-online or court-held records.
- Confirm the request is not for an adoption record.
- Submit the Request for Court Record form.
- Provide case number, court, county, party names and exact documents needed.
- Review any copy, staff-time, media, email, fax or mailing fees.
- Wait for the court’s response, usually within 10 business days.
Use this to find the correct district, juvenile, justice, appellate or AOC contact.
- Search by address, city, ZIP code or court type.
- Filter by district, juvenile or justice court.
- Confirm the exact court location shown in the case record.
- Call the court before visiting for records, copy fees or public terminal access.
Use this for historical court records, older divorce decrees, naturalization, probate, name change and criminal case research.
- Identify the county, court and approximate year.
- Check whether the record is likely still with the court or at Archives.
- Use case number, party name and record type when requesting help.
- Remember that older records may use docket books, registers or case files instead of modern online case pages.
Utah court types that affect record searches
Utah district courts are trial courts of general jurisdiction. They handle all civil cases, criminal felonies, misdemeanors in certain circumstances, domestic relations, adoption, probate, extraordinary writs and some administrative review.
Justice courts are county or municipal courts with authority over class B and C misdemeanors, ordinance violations, small claims and infractions within their territorial jurisdiction.
Juvenile courts handle youth under 18 who violate federal, state or municipal law, plus abuse, neglect, dependency, truancy and related matters. Juvenile cases are not ordinary XChange public records.
The Court of Appeals handles many appeals from juvenile and district courts, including domestic relations and most criminal matters below first degree or capital felony level, plus transferred matters.
The Supreme Court is the court of last resort for Utah state law issues. It hears certain direct appeals and reviews Court of Appeals decisions through certiorari.
Federal district, bankruptcy and federal appellate records are separate from Utah State Courts. Search them through PACER and the relevant federal court.
How to request official or certified Utah court records
An XChange screen, MyCourtCase page, docket snippet or search result is not always the same as an official certified court record. For official use, contact the court that maintains the case file or submit the Request for Court Record form.
| Record or service | Official route | Fee or practical note |
|---|---|---|
| Public court record request | Request for Court Record form or clerk where the case is filed | Utah Courts says anyone can ask to see public records; non-public records are limited to authorized people. |
| Paper copies | Court that provides the record | Utah Courts record-request guidance lists paper copies at $0.25 per sheet. |
| Certified copy | Court clerk where the case record is maintained | Utah court fee guidance lists certified copy fees as $4 per document plus $0.50 per page. Verify current fees before ordering. |
| Exemplified copy | Court clerk where available | Utah fee guidance lists exemplified copies as $6 per document plus $0.50 per page. |
| Electronic storage media other than court-hearing media | Court providing the record | Utah Courts lists $15 per unit, such as a CD or USB device. |
| Electronic audio or video record of court proceeding | District or juvenile court where the hearing took place | Utah Courts lists $15 for each one-half day of testimony for electronic audio or video records of proceedings. |
| Fax or email copies | Court providing the record | Utah Courts lists $5 for 10 pages or less, then $0.50 per page. The court will not fax or email records available on XChange. |
| Staff time for complex requests | Court or office processing the request | The first 15 minutes are free; after that, the court may charge staff-time rates based on the employee type used. |
Use XChange, MyCourtCase, court papers, the court directory or Archives guide to identify the court, county, case number and case type.
A docket, case history, judgment, order, decree, letter of appointment, register of actions, audio recording, transcript, certified copy and exemplified copy are different requests.
For non-adoption records, submit the Request for Court Record form or contact the clerk in the court where the case is filed.
Ask whether the court can provide the record by mail, in person, electronic media, fax or email, and whether staff time or certification charges apply.
Do not separate seals, certificates, covers, authentication pages, staples or electronic certification files if the record must be used officially.
Utah court copy-cost estimator
This calculator uses common Utah Courts record-fee figures for basic planning only. Confirm the current total with the court before ordering.
Older Utah court records and the Utah State Archives
Utah Courts describes historical court records as records more than 50 years old and identifies the Utah State Archives as the repository for many judicial and court records, including the Utah Supreme Court and many county district courts. The Archives court-record guide says frequently requested records include divorce decrees, naturalization or citizenship records, documentation of name changes, probate records and criminal cases.
| Older record type | Likely source | Practical search note |
|---|---|---|
| Divorce decree | District court or Utah State Archives depending on age and county | Provide both party names, county, approximate year and case number if known. |
| Probate or estate file | District/probate records or Utah State Archives | Older probate record books may contain text of filed documents and orders. |
| Naturalization or citizenship record | Utah State Archives and court record collections | Search by full name, county, court, approximate date and alternate spellings. |
| Name change documentation | District court or Utah State Archives depending on age | Use old and new names, county and approximate filing year. |
| Register of actions or docket book | Court or Archives | The Archives describes registers/docket books as summaries of proceedings, motions, orders, fees and disposition. |
| Minute book, judgment book or case file | Court or Archives | Older systems may not mirror modern online case pages, so request the record series or file type precisely. |
Utah State Court Directory, State Law Library and courthouse access
The Utah State Court Directory lets users search by address, ZIP code, city and court type, including district courts, juvenile courts, justice courts, appellate courts, the Administrative Office of the Courts, State Law Library and kiosk locations. For free public XChange access, Utah Courts says access is available at most district courthouses and at the Utah State Law Library, but users should call ahead to verify access.
- Location: Matheson Courthouse, 450 South State Street, Salt Lake City, Utah.
- Phone: 801-238-7990.
- Email: library@utcourts.gov.
- Hours commonly listed: Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except federal and state holidays.
- Public computers can access XChange, OCAP and court forms.
- Use the directory to confirm the court location.
- Call to verify public XChange access and records counter hours.
- Bring case number, party names, case type and filing year.
- Ask about copy/certification fees and payment methods.
- Plan parking and security screening, especially at Matheson Courthouse.
Sealed, expunged, private, protected and not-online Utah court records
Utah court records are not all publicly searchable online. XChange does not display records that are not open to public inspection. Utah court materials distinguish public records from private, protected, sealed, juvenile court legal, juvenile court social and other non-public categories.
- Sealed court records.
- Expunged criminal records.
- Adoption records.
- Juvenile delinquency, child welfare and termination of parental rights matters.
- Private civil categories after April 1, 2012, including divorce, custody, support, guardianship and conservatorship categories.
- Protected or safeguarded records containing sensitive information.
- Records closed by court order or statute.
- Wrong court type selected.
- Name spelling, middle name, suffix, business name or date-range issue.
- XChange exact-match behavior did not match your search.
- Case is sealed, expunged, private or non-public.
- Juvenile or adoption record is not available on XChange.
- Record is historical and may be at the Utah State Archives.
- Record belongs in PACER, not Utah state court.
Court records vs criminal history, jail, vital records, recorder records and administrative records
Many Utah searches fail because the record is real but belongs to a different official custodian. Use the correct record source based on what you actually need.
| Need | Correct source | Do not confuse it with |
|---|---|---|
| District court or justice court case history, judgment, order, charge or disposition | XChange, MyCourtCase for your supported case, or the clerk where the case is filed | A statewide criminal-history product or background-check report. |
| Current custody, jail booking, inmate status or release information | County jail, sheriff or corrections agency | Final court disposition or sentence. |
| Birth, death, marriage or divorce vital record certificate | Utah vital records, county clerk, district court divorce decree route or Archives depending on record type and age | A public case-history screen. |
| Deed, mortgage, lien, property transfer or land record | County recorder or property-record office | Civil court records unless a court case produced a judgment or order affecting property. |
| Administrative judicial branch records | Utah Courts records request process or appropriate administrative office route | Court case records in XChange. |
| Federal civil, criminal, appellate or bankruptcy docket | PACER and the appropriate federal court | Utah XChange state court records. |
Utah appellate court records: Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, briefs and law-and-motion files
Utah appellate records are separate from district and justice court XChange records. A trial court case may show appeal activity, but appellate filings and briefs may need the appellate clerks’ office, State Law Library, State Archives or appellate court resources.
- Utah Supreme Court or Court of Appeals docket information.
- Appellate case number or case status.
- Current or pending appellate briefs.
- Law-and-motion files.
- Appellate opinions, decisions, orders or oral argument materials.
- Original complaint, petition, charge or information.
- Trial-court docket history.
- Judgments, orders, decrees or letters of appointment.
- Certified lower-court records.
- Copies of hearing audio or transcripts from the court where the hearing took place.
Utah federal and bankruptcy records use PACER, not XChange
Federal court records are separate from Utah State Courts. Federal civil and criminal records are handled by the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah, while bankruptcy records are handled by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Utah. Use PACER or the federal clerk’s copy-request route for federal cases.
| Federal need | Correct route | Important note |
|---|---|---|
| Federal civil or criminal district case | U.S. District Court for the District of Utah / PACER | The District of Utah court says most filings are available electronically through PACER; many civil dockets go back to July 1989 and criminal dockets to November 1992. |
| Federal document copy without PACER | District of Utah Clerk’s Office | The federal court lists public access terminals, clerk-made copies, search fees, archive retrieval and a copy request form. |
| Federal bankruptcy case | U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Utah / PACER / McVCIS | Bankruptcy court case information can be accessed through PACER, public courthouse computers, McVCIS phone service or CHAPMobile routes. |
| Unknown federal court | PACER Find a Case / Case Locator | Use Case Locator if you do not know the specific federal court, but review PACER pricing before broad name searches. |
- Confirm the case is federal, not Utah state court.
- Search through PACER if you have an account.
- Use the clerk copy-request form for documents you cannot obtain yourself.
- Check copy, search and archive retrieval fees before ordering.
- Confirm the matter is bankruptcy, not state civil debt collection.
- Use PACER for docket and document access.
- Use public courthouse computers or McVCIS for limited information when appropriate.
- Contact the bankruptcy clerk for certified copies.
- Register or sign in through PACER.
- Search a specific federal court when known.
- Use the nationwide Case Locator when the federal court is unknown.
- Save the federal case number for future copy requests.
- Verify the current per-page rate.
- Check document caps and exceptions.
- Check the quarterly fee-waiver threshold.
- Note announced fee changes before relying on older guidance.
How to read Utah court-record results responsibly
A Utah case history is a case activity timeline, not a background report. One docket entry rarely tells the whole story. Read the court, county, case type, party role, charges, plea, disposition, judgment, orders, decrees, account summary and proceedings before drawing conclusions.
Plaintiff, defendant, petitioner, respondent, appellant, appellee, prosecutor, protected person, respondent in a protective order, guardian, conservator, decedent, creditor and debtor mean different things. A person can appear in a case without being accused of wrongdoing.
Open, closed, dismissed, disposed, stayed, appealed, sealed, expunged, private or transferred should be read with the full case history and final order.
For criminal and justice court matters, distinguish arrest, citation, complaint, charge, plea, adjudication, conviction, dismissal, acquittal, sentence, expungement and sealed-record status.
Frequently asked questions about Utah court records
How do I search Utah court records by name?
Use Utah Courts XChange for public district court and justice court case information. Search by case number when available. If you search by name, narrow the results by county, court location, case type, filing date, or disposition date, and compare the party role, proceedings, judgment, and disposition before relying on a match.
Is XChange the official Utah court records search?
XChange is the Utah Courts public case-search system for district and justice court public case information. It displays public record case information entered into the Courts Information System by court staff where the case file is located. It does not display every record or every case type.
What is the difference between XChange and MyCourtCase?
XChange is for public district and justice court case information and may require guest payment, subscription, or free courthouse/law-library access. MyCourtCase is for people who are parties to supported Utah cases and lets them see their own case information for free when the case type is available.
What Utah court records are not shown on XChange?
Records not open to public inspection are not displayed on XChange. Juvenile delinquency, child welfare, and termination of parental rights cases are under juvenile court jurisdiction and are not available on XChange. Sealed cases and expunged records also do not appear.
Why are some Utah civil or family records private after April 1, 2012?
Utah Code of Judicial Administration changes effective April 1, 2012 made some records in certain civil actions private. Affected categories include divorce, separate maintenance, grandparent visitation, temporary separation, adjudication of marriage, civil stalking, guardianship, conservatorship, cohabitant abuse, custody and support, UCCJEA, UIFSA, and paternity.
Can I search Utah court records for free?
Free public XChange access is available at most Utah district courthouses and at the Utah State Law Library, and may be available at some justice court locations. Call the courthouse or law library first to verify access. Paid XChange guest or subscription access may also be available online.
How do I request official or certified Utah court records?
Submit the Utah Courts Request for Court Record form for records not related to adoption, or contact the clerk in the court where the case is filed. Utah Courts says public records can be requested by anyone, while only certain people can see non-public records. Certified-copy fees should be verified before ordering.
Where are older Utah court records kept?
The Utah State Archives is the repository for many historical judicial and court records. Utah Courts describes historical court records as records more than 50 years old, and the Archives says many court records generally remain at the court for fifty years before moving to the State Archives.
Where do I search Utah appellate court records?
Use Utah appellate court resources for Supreme Court and Court of Appeals records. Current or pending appellate briefs are available through the appellate clerks’ office. Closed briefs may be at the Utah State Law Library, Utah State Archives, or law libraries identified by Utah Courts.
Where do I search Utah federal or bankruptcy records?
Federal district and bankruptcy records are not searched through Utah XChange. Use PACER, the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Utah, or PACER Case Locator depending on the record.
Official-source review checklist
Sources reviewed for this Utah court-record guide included Utah State Courts, Utah XChange, XChange Public Case Search, XChange Search Tips, XChange fees and subscribing guidance, XChange FAQ, MyCourtCase/MyCase, Request a Court Record, Utah Court Records, courthouse XChange access guidance, Utah State Court Directory, Map of Judicial Districts, District Courts overview, Justice Courts overview, Juvenile Courts overview, Appellate Court Records, Utah State Law Library, Utah State Archives Court Records guide, Utah court filing/transcript/record fees, District of Utah document-copy guidance, District of Utah Bankruptcy Court case-information guidance and PACER resources. Review date: September 2, 2026.