Utah court Records

Why Utah Court Records are Available to the Public?

In 1991, the Utah State Legislature passed a law named the Utah Government Records Access and Management Act. This law enables the last changes in 1997 and aims to make sure disclosure of court records and other public records to the public.

What Court Records Access Means To You?

The law is similar to the Utah Open Meeting Law legislates the methods by which public meetings are held. The Utah Government Records Access and Management Act guarantees that all records maintained by state and local government entities at all levels in the state of Utah are available for public access and copying.

Accountability to the Public

When the legislature enacted Utah Government Records Access and Management Act, it expressively declared that access to information about the conduct of the people’s business is a fundamental and necessary right of every person in this state, Government Records Laws. In 1991, Utah replaced the two statutes which governed access to public records, the Information Practices Act and the Public and Private Writings Act, with the Government Records Access and Management Act, codified in Chapter 2 of Title 63G of the Utah Code. The provisions of the act create a parity individuals’ privacy interests and the public’s interest in disclosure by establishing four categories of records, which discussed, further in following sections. By promoting prompt public access to government records, the Utah Government Records Access and Management Act is to safeguard the government's accountability to the public.

How the Utah Court Process Functions?

Most cases in Utah courts begin in one of the 29 superior or trial courts in the state’s 29counties.

The next level of judicial authority resides with the Court of Appeals. Most cases before the Court of Appeals involves the review of a superior court decision being contested by a party involved in the case.

The Supreme Court serves as the highest court in the state to check decisions of the Court of Appeals to settle important questions of law and to resolve conflicts among the Court of Appeals.

Some differences between Civil Court and Small Claims Court below

You do not have to be a U.S. citizen to file or defend a case in Small Claims Court. If you do not speak English well, bring someone who speaks English and asks the judge if that person can serve as your interpreter. The court cannot provide you an interpreter.

You can find an interpreter by using the Utah Courts Interpreter Search page. Also, see the webpage with interpreter information on this website Court Interpreter.

How Utah Court Records Are Structured?

The court records group is for civil and small claims matters.

Civil cases are matters where the petitioner is seeking more than $250,000. Close to 175,000 civil court records filed with the courts annually. Civil cases also include other types of disputes that do not involve money, like cases to resolve (or “quiet”) title to real property, cases asking for civil restraining orders and requests to change your name or your child’s name.

Small Claims Court filings are cases where the petitioner is seeking $7,500 or less and is not represented by counsel. Close to 150,000 of small claims cases is filed statewide every year.

Here are some examples of common Small Claims Court cases:

• Your former landlord refuses to return the security deposit you paid.
• Someone dents your fender and refuses to pay for the repairs.
• Your new TV does not work, and the store will not fix it.
• Your tenant caused damage to the apartment, and the repairs cost more than their security deposit (Note: You cannot use small claims court to evict someone.).
• You lent money to a friend, and he/she refuses to pay you back.
• Small Claims Court can also order a defendant to do something, as long as the claim is also asking for money. For example, the court can cancel a contract or the court can order your neighbor to pay you for your lawn mower or order them to return it to you right away.