Salt Lake County Court Records
The court records in Salt Lake County, Utah, are official legal documents, including case files, transcripts of court proceedings, judgments, and orders that are created by the county’s court system. They include civil and criminal court records.
The Utah Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA) declares that members of the public can have access to court records except for those protected by state or federal law. Restricted court records usually need a court order or special permission for access to be granted.
In Salt Lake County, the Clerk of the District Court is the main custodian of court records and is responsible for preserving and providing public access to them. Additionally, the Salt Lake County Recorder's Office maintains records of real estate transactions and liens, while the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office maintains records of arrests and bookings.
Court records are significant because they provide an accurate account of the legal proceedings that have taken place in the county. All Salt Lake County Public Records, including court records, are subject to public disclosure unless otherwise specified by law or judicial order.
Are Court Records Public in Salt Lake County?
The Utah Public Records Act (UPRA) is the state law that provides the public with the right to access and obtain copies of most government records. The UPRA is found in Title 63G, Chapter 2, of the Utah Code.
Under the UPRA, court records are generally considered public records, and members of the public have the right to access them unless they are confidential or sealed. Utah Code Section 63G-2-201 states that "all records are public unless otherwise expressly provided by statute".
There are certain types of court records that are confidential or sealed such as juvenile court records, adoption records, and certain family law records.
What Do Salt Lake County Court Records Contain?
Salt Lake County court records typically contain the following information
- Case Information: This includes the case number, name of the presiding judge, court division, case type, and date of filing. The case information is included to help identify and track the case through the court system.
- Pleadings and Motions: This includes legal documents such as complaints, petitions, answers, and motions filed by the parties in the case. These documents outline the claims, defenses, and arguments of the parties, and provide a record of the proceedings.
- Court Orders and Judgments: This includes any orders or judgments entered by the court, including rulings on motions, decisions on the merits, and sentences. These documents reflect the court's decisions and actions in the case.
- Docket Entries: This includes a chronological record of all actions taken in the case, such as filings, hearings, and orders. Docket entries provide a summary of the case history and help track the progress of the case.
- Exhibits and Evidence: This includes any physical or documentary evidence presented in the case, such as photographs, recordings, or written documents. These items are included to support the claims or defenses of the parties.
Where to Conduct an Salt Lake County Case Lookup
Here are the options for conducting a Salt Lake court case lookup:
- Online Search: The Utah State Courts website offers an online search feature that allows individuals to access court case records.
- In-Person: Court case records can also be accessed in person at the courthouse where the case was heard.
- By Mail: Court records can be obtained by submitting a written request to the Salt Lake County Clerk's Office.
How to Conduct an Salt Lake County Case Records Search
In Salt Lake County one can access case records by searching through the following ways:
- Determine the court where the case was filed - this will depend on the type of case and its jurisdiction.
- Visit the Utah State Courts website or the specific court website and provide the case number, party name, or attorney name to access the records.
- Request court records in person by visiting the court where the case was filed and provide identification to verify your identity. Note that there may be a fee to be paid.
- Access the Utah Public Notice website and search for court-related legal notices. You will need Search by the name of the newspaper and the date of publication.
The process for conducting a county case records search may vary depending on the court and the type of case. Some court records may be restricted particularly in cases involving minors, domestic violence, or other sensitive matters.
Salt Lake County Civil Court Case Records
Civil court case records are the legal documents and information related to civil court cases, which are disputes between private individuals or organizations. Civil court cases can involve cases such as:
- Personal injury cases: These involve a plaintiff who claims to have been injured due to the defendant's negligence or intentional act.
- Contract disputes: Disagreements between parties over the terms or performance of a contract.
- Family law cases: Divorce, child custody, child support, and spousal support cases.
- Employment disputes: Disputes between employers and employees, such as wrongful termination or discrimination.
- Debt collection cases: These involve a plaintiff who seeks to collect a debt from a defendant.
- Property disputes: Disputes over the ownership, use, or condition of real or personal property.
- Landlord-tenant disputes: Disputes between landlords and tenants, such as eviction proceedings or disputes over security deposits.
- Business disputes: Disputes between businesses, such as breach of contract or partnership disputes.
In Salt Lake County, civil court case records are typically held by the court in which the case was filed. There are certain civil courts in Salt Lake County which include district courts, justice courts, and small claims courts.
Civil court case records in Salt Lake County can be accessed online Utah State Courts website or particular court’s website, or in person at the Salt Lake County District Court. Individuals can also visit the courthouse in person and use the public access terminals and indexes to view civil court case records at no cost. However, copies of civil court case records come at a cost.
Salt Lake County Criminal Court Case Records
Criminal court case records refer to legal documents related to criminal court cases, which are cases where the government brings charges against an individual or organization for violating criminal laws. Criminal court cases involve:
- Drug offenses: These are cases related to illegal possession, sale, distribution, or manufacturing of drugs or controlled substances.
- DUIs: These are cases related to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, which is considered a criminal offense in Salt Lake County.
- Assault and battery: These are cases related to physical violence or harm caused to another person.
- Domestic violence: These are cases related to violence, abuse, or threats of violence within a domestic relationship, such as spouses or family members.
- Theft and burglary: These are cases related to stealing or unauthorized taking of property or money, which is considered a criminal offense in Salt Lake County.
- White-collar crimes: These are cases related to non-violent financial crimes, such as fraud, embezzlement, or insider trading.
In Salt Lake County, criminal court case records are typically held by the court where the case was filed. The types of criminal courts in Salt Lake County include district courts, justice courts, and juvenile courts.
Individuals seeking criminal court case records can either use the Utah State Courts website or access the Salt Lake County court that also allows online requests for case records. They can also visit the court where the case was filed and pay a fee. The Utah Department of Public Safety also maintains criminal history records, and individuals can request them by submitting a request to the Bureau of Criminal Identification and paying a fee.
How to Get Court Records Online for Free
There are options for accessing free court records online in Salt Lake County. These options include:
Utah State Courts Website: Individuals can search for case information by case number, party name, or attorney name to access court records. The website also provides access to some court documents, such as judgments and opinions.
Utah Public Notice Website: The Utah Public Notice website provides access to legal notices, including court notices, published in newspapers across Utah. These notices can include information about upcoming court hearings, court orders, and other court-related information.
Court Websites: Some Salt Lake County courts have their own websites that provide access to court calendars, case information, and some court documents i.e. the Salt Lake City Justice Court.
Considered open to citizens of the United States, court records are available through both traditional, government sources, and through third-party websites and organizations. In many cases, third-party websites make the search easier as they are not limited geographically or by technological limitations. They are considered a good place to start when looking for a specific record or multiple records. In order to gain access to these records, interested parties must typically provide:
- The name of the person listed in the record. Juveniles are typically exempt from this search method.
- The last known or assumed location of the person listed in the record. This includes cities, counties, and states.
While third-party sites offer such services, they are not government sponsored entities, and record availability may vary on these sites when compared to government sources.
Courts in Salt Lake County
Below is a comprehensive list of courts in Salt Lake County, along with their addresses:
Salt Lake City District Court
450 South State Street
P.O. Box 1860
Salt Lake City, UT 84114-1860
(801) 238-7300
West Jordan District Court
8080 South Red Wood Road # 1701
West Jordan, UT 84088
(801) 233-9700
Alta Justice Court
P.O. Box 8016
Alta, UT 84092
(801) 742-2407
Bluffdale Justice Court
14175 South 1700 West
Bluffdale, UT 84065
(801) 446-9219
Draper Justice Court
1020 East Pioneer road
Draper, UT 84020
(801) 576-6544
Herriman City Justice Court
13011 South Pioneer Street
Herriman, UT 84096
(801) 446-5323
Holladay Justice Court
4580 south 2300 East
Holladay, UT 84117
(801) 273-9731
Midvale Justice Court
655 West Center Street
Midvale, UT 84047
(801) 255-4234
Murray City Justice Court
688 East Vine Street
Murray, UT 84107
(801) 284-4280
Riverton Justice Court
12830 South 1700 West
Riverton, UT 84065
(801) 254-0704
Salt Lake City Justice Court
333 South 200 East
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
(801) 535-6300
Sandy City Justice Court
210 West Sego Lily Drive
Sandy, UT 84070
(801) 568-7160
South Jordan Justice Court
1600 West Towne Center Drive
South Jordan, UT 84095
(801) 254-6381
South Salt Lake Justice Court
220 East Morris Avenue (2430 South)
South Salt Lake, UT 84115
(801) 483-6072
Taylorsville Justice Court
2600 West Taylorsville Boulevard
Taylorsville, UT 84118
(801) 963-0268
West Jordan Justice Court
8040 South Redwood Road
West Jordan, UT 84088
(801) 256-2290
West Valley Justice Court
3590 South 2700 West
West Valley City, UT 84119
(801) 963-3590
