Utah Public Records
The Utah State Records website offers the public a means to gather, obtain, and examine public records. This ensures that Utah residents have access to this information in accordance with the Utah Government Records Access Act. This act states that all government information and records are available to the public.
The goal of this website is to ensure all members of the general public have the right to access Utah state public records. This can be done without requiring a reason for accessing such information or providing personal information unless the requested record is confidential by law, either constitutional, statutory or by court decision.
Utah State Records contains information about the following subjects: criminal records, court records, and vital records, including over 25 million transparent public records.
Are Utah Records Public?
According to the Utah Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA), most records generated by Utah government agencies are public records. The act allows members of the public to inspect and obtain copies of non-confidential public records. It also states that agencies must promptly respond to these requests.
What is Considered Public Information in Utah?
Utah public records include:
- Public court records
- Public Utah divorce records
- Public sex offender information
- Public property records
- Public bankruptcy records
- Public arrest records
- Public Utah death records
Utah law describes public records as records that are not private, protected, or controlled, and not exempt from public disclosure under the state’s public records act (UT Code § 63G-2-103(21)). The GRAMA defines public records as documents, letters, books, photographs, recordings, electronic data, and other documentary materials regardless of characteristics or physical form if created or used for official business (UT Code § 63G-2-103(22)). Except otherwise provided by statute, all records should be open to the public (UT Code § 63G-2-201(2)).
How Do I Find Public Records in Utah?
Applicable request methods may differ slightly between agencies. However, interested record seekers wondering how to check for public records in Utah may follow these steps:
- Determine the desired type of information
Requesters must start by deciding on the desired type of record. Utah public records are available at different agencies, depending on the type of record and its content. Persons interested in public records Utah agencies create or maintain must first decide on the record and then confirm that the GRAMA provides for public disclosure.
- Identify the agency in charge
Utah agencies generate and maintain different types of records. For instance, requesters may obtain divorce records from county courts while property records are available at each county’s assessor’s or recorder’s office.
- Write a Request
According to the GRAMA (UT Code § 63G-2-204(1)), interested persons must submit written requests. Each request must describe the desired record with reasonable specificity and contain the requester’s contact information, including a name, phone number, mailing address, and email address.
- Submit the request
Record seekers may submit written requests in person, by mail, fax, phone, or email. However, some agencies may not provide all aforementioned options, or may specify a preferred method depending on record type. Persons who need urgent responses should consider in-person requests.
Agencies may also require record seekers to pay for copies. In most cases, requesters may pay by cash, cheque, or money order. Debit and credit card payments may also be available for online requests. However, card payments usually cost additional processing fees that may depend on the total request amount.
Using Third-Party Sites
City Records
Public city records may also be accessible from third-party websites. These non-government platforms come with intuitive tools that allow for expansive searches. Record seekers may either opt to use these tools to search for a specific record or multiple records. However, users will need to provide enough information to assist with the search such as:
- The name of the subject involved in the record (subject must be older than 18 or not juvenile)
- The address of the requestor
- A case number or file number (if known)
- The location of the document or person involved
- The last known or current address of the registrant
Third-party sites are not sponsored by government agencies. Because of this, record availability and results may vary.
Public Records
Public records can also be accessed from third-party websites. These third-party public records aggregate websites offer search services that are non-geographically limited, making the search result expansive and typically straightforward. However, users will need to provide enough information to assist with the search, such as:
- The name of the subject involved in the record as long as the subject is not a juvenile
- The last known or location of the record subject
Third-party public records search websites are not government-sponsored services. Therefore, the availability and accuracy of results can vary.
How Do I Look Up Public Records in Utah for Free?
Looking up Utah public records for free is possible by requesting an inspection. Although the GRAMA allows agencies to charge fees for producing physical copies of public records, Utah agencies cannot charge requesters for inspecting records.(UT Code § 63G-2-203(5)).
Interested persons may look up free public records Utah agencies maintain via online options. Some Utah agencies have public online databases with free copies of records in their custody. For instance, residents can conduct a free Salt Lake County public records search for property records on the assessor’s search database.
Furthermore, government entities may choose to skip request fees in some cases (UT Code § 63G-2-203(4)). The GRAMA encourages agencies to waive request fees if:
- Disclosure benefits the public rather than an individual
- The requester is the subject of the record, the subject’s parent, legal, guardian, legal representative, or a person who has a power of attorney from the subject
- The content of the record directly affects the requester’s legal rights, and the person is indigent
The state of Utah started to create public records in 1892, and these records usually cover information from all 29 counties in the state. For 30 years, digitization of public records has become the standard. This means records are increasingly available online through both governmental and third-party outlets. This allows Utah citizens to abide by the commitment of the United States of America to remain a fair and just society for all.
