Court records of Salt Lake County, Utah, are available for search through several channels. SaltLakeCourt.us allows you to quickly find public information about court cases in the county. Additionally, records can be viewed through the official online tools of the state court system, directly at the clerk's office, or on public terminals in the courthouse. Below is a practical guide to navigating the county's court system.
Salt Lake Court System & Jurisdictions
Salt Lake County is part of the Third Judicial District of Utah. It has two main levels of state courts — District Court and Justice Court — as well as a federal district court.
Third District Court
This is a court of general jurisdiction. It handles:
- Criminal cases — felonies and misdemeanors transferred from Justice Court
- Civil claims without monetary limits
- Family cases — divorce, custody, alimony, protective orders
- Probate and probate cases — will approvals, guardian appointments
- Juvenile cases — juvenile justice
The court is located in Salt Lake City. You can find out the status of a case by calling (801) 238-7300 or through the district attorney's page.
Justice Courts
Justice Courts in the county operate in individual cities — Salt Lake City, West Valley City, Murray, and others. They handle:
- Class B and C misdemeanors
- Traffic violations
- Minor offenses (infractions)
- Small claims — up to $11,000
Salt Lake City Justice Court has its own web resource with forms and instructions for defendants.
Federal Court
The U.S. District Court for the District of Utah is also located in Salt Lake City and handles federal criminal and civil cases. Copies of federal court documents can be ordered through the clerk's office or the PACER system.
Salt Lake Court Calendar & Upcoming Hearings
The schedule of hearings in state courts is published on the Utah State Courts portal. To find a specific hearing, you need to know the case number or party name.
Step-by-step algorithm:
- Open the Xchange system — public search for district and justice court cases.
- Enter the party name or case number.
- In the case card, view the section with scheduled hearings — date, time, room, judge's name.
The hearing calendar for the current day is also available on information screens in the Third District Court building. If you need to confirm the hearing time urgently, call the clerk's office at (801) 238-7300.
Note: Xchange does not display cases classified as private under rule 4-202.02 of the Utah Code of Judicial Administration.
How to Get a Copy of a Salt Lake Court Document
Copies of court documents come in two types — certified and uncertified. A certified copy has the court's seal and the clerk's signature; it is required for official purposes — submission to another court, immigration procedures, real estate transactions. An uncertified copy is suitable for review.
Channels for obtaining
- Online through Xchange. Register on the Xchange portal, find the case and download available documents. Some documents in civil cases after April 2012 may have restricted access.
- In person at the clerk's office. Visit the Third District Court clerk's office with valid identification. The clerk will make a copy on-site.
- By mail. Send a written request specifying the case number, document name, type of copy (certified / uncertified), and return address. Include a check or money order for the appropriate amount.
Clerk's Office Contact Information
Third District Court — Salt Lake City
For archived cases that have already been transferred to storage, contact the Utah State Archives. They store, among others, criminal and probate cases of the Third District Court.
Access Restrictions
Not all records are public. The court may restrict access to:
- Juvenile cases
- Sealed cases
- Adoption records
- Certain civil cases classified as private
Access to public records is generally governed by the GRAMA Act (Government Records Access and Management Act). If your request concerns county records, you can submit a request through the Salt Lake County NextRequest platform.
Salt Lake Court Records Fees & Payment
Fees for copies and searches are set by the administrative rules of the Utah state courts. Below are the main rates applicable to the Third District Court.
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Case search through Xchange (per request) | Depends on subscription type; one-time search is usually paid |
| Uncertified document copy (per page) | $0.25 |
| Document certification | $4.00 per document |
| Copy of hearing audio recording | $10.00 |
| Mailing (per request) | Actual postal costs |
These fees are established according to the fee schedule approved by the Utah Judicial Council. The current list of fees is available on the Utah State Courts website.
Payment Methods
- In person at the clerk's office — cash, check, credit or debit card
- By mail — check or money order made payable to "Utah State Courts"
- Online — when using Xchange, payment is deducted from the account
If you are unsure of the exact amount, call the clerk's office before sending a mail request — the clerk will calculate the cost and inform you of the amount to specify in the check.