Uintah County Court Records Search
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Uintah County occupies a broad swath of northeastern Utah’s Uinta Basin, with Vernal serving as the county seat. The county’s judicial system handles a wide range of matters — from felony prosecutions and civil disputes to domestic proceedings and estate administration — across a network of courts that includes a District Court, a Juvenile Court, and multiple Justice Courts serving different municipalities and unincorporated areas. Records generated by these courts are vital resources for attorneys, researchers, journalists, background screeners, and members of the public navigating legal matters.
For anyone beginning a records search in Utah, UtahCourts.us is a useful entry point to understand court divisions, access court-specific resources, and connect to publicly available case information. Court records can also be searched through the Utah State Courts’ online systems, public access terminals at courthouse locations, and in-person requests to the clerk’s offices of individual courts.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Uintah County?
Several distinct pathways exist for searching Uintah County court records, depending on whether a case was handled by the District Court, a Justice Court, or historical archives.
Online: Utah XChange
The primary online tool for searching Uintah County court case information is XChange, a statewide repository operated by the Utah State Courts that draws from the Courts Information System (CORIS). XChange contains summary-level data for district and justice court cases, including party names and addresses, assigned judges, attorneys of record, documents filed, scheduled hearings, and judgment outcomes. Images of public documents filed in district court cases since July 1, 2010 are available for purchase through the system.
XChange access is not free. Users may choose between two arrangements:
- Guest access: Pay per individual search at $0.35 per search after the first 500 in a month, plus $1.00 per document download.
- Monthly subscription: Covers 500 searches at no charge, with subsequent searches at $0.35 each.
Free access to XChange via public terminals is available at the Uintah County District Court location during normal courthouse hours, which is a practical option for one-time searches.
Online: My Court Case
Parties directly involved in a pending Uintah County case can use the My Court Case portal, a free tool that allows litigants to view their own case history, pay fines and fees, and monitor upcoming hearing dates without the costs associated with XChange.
In-Person Access
Court clerks at local courthouses maintain paper case files that can be reviewed at the courthouse and reproduced for a fee. Certified copies cost $4.00 per document plus $0.50 per page under Utah Code § 78A-2-301. Requesters should bring specific case information — such as a party name or case number — to facilitate retrieval.
Historical Records: Utah State Archives
The Utah State Archives preserves Uintah County court records for cases more than 50 years old, including civil case files from 1890 and probate registers dating to 1888. The Archives are located at 346 S Rio Grande St, Salt Lake City, UT 84101-1106 (phone: (801) 531-3848) and are open weekdays from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Research visits are by appointment only.
Are Court Records Public in Uintah County?
Utah’s Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA), codified at Utah Code § 63G-2, establishes the framework for public access to government records, recognizing a constitutional presumption in favor of disclosure. Within the courts, Utah Code of Judicial Administration Rule 4-202.02 establishes the specific classification scheme for court records, stating that court records are presumed public unless the rule expressly classifies them otherwise.
Records that are public under Rule 4-202.02 include case dockets, audit reports, orders and decisions, exhibits, and filed arrest warrants.
The following categories are classified as non-public and are excluded from general access:
- Adoption records
- Expunged records
- Gestational agreement records
- Disease testing actions
- Investigations by Child Protective Services (CPS)
- Records disclosing the identity of a confidential informant
- Juvenile delinquency, child welfare, and termination of parental rights cases
A significant 2012 amendment to Rule 4-202.02 made certain civil case records private, specifically in cases involving divorce, separate maintenance, temporary separation, guardianship, conservatorship, cohabitant abuse, custody and support, paternity, and civil stalking. In these case types, the case history with minute entries of public hearings, judgments, orders, and letters of appointment remain public unless sealed by judicial order — but other documents in those files are non-public.
Uintah County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Uintah County are divided between two levels of courts based on offense severity.
The Uintah County District Court (Eighth Judicial District) handles all felony cases and Class A misdemeanors. These proceedings generate the most substantial court records, including indictments, preliminary hearing transcripts, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and appeal filings.
The county’s Justice Courts have jurisdiction over Class B and C misdemeanors, traffic infractions, and violations of municipal and county ordinances committed within their territorial boundaries. Separate justice courts serve different areas of the county:
| Court | Address | Phone | Fax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uintah County Justice Court | 641 E 300 S, Suite 100, Vernal, UT 84078 | (435) 781-5338 | (435) 781-6726 |
| Vernal City Justice Court | 374 E Main Street, Vernal, UT 84078 | (435) 789-7137 | (435) 789-1753 |
| Naples City Justice Court | 1420 E 2850 South, Naples, UT 84078 | (435) 789-9090 | (435) 789-9458 |
Criminal case records from both the District Court and Justice Courts can be searched through XChange. Sealed and expunged records are not displayed. Expungement petitions in the District Court carry a filing fee of $150.00; the fee is $135.00 in Justice Court.
Arrest Records and the Sheriff’s Office
Arrest records, booking data, and inmate information maintained by the Uintah County Sheriff’s Office are treated as law enforcement records and subject to separate access rules under GRAMA. The Uintah County Jail is located at the Public Safety Complex, 641 E 300 S, Vernal, UT 84078 (phone: (435) 781-1300). Members of the public can direct requests for arrest records or inmate information to the Sheriff’s Office directly.
Uintah County Civil Court Records
Civil cases in Uintah County are primarily heard in the District Court when the dispute involves amounts above the small claims threshold or complex legal issues requiring general jurisdiction. Cases involving contract disputes, property litigation, debt collection, landlord-tenant matters, and torts are all resolved at the District Court level.
Uintah County District and Juvenile Courts
Address: 920 East Highway 40, Vernal, UT 84078
Phone: (District): (435) 781-9300
Phone: (Juvenile): (435) 781-9335
Civil Filing Fees (Effective May 6, 2026)
Under Utah Code § 78A-2-301, civil filing fees in Utah district courts are tiered by the amount in controversy:
| Claim Amount | Filing Fee |
|---|---|
| $2,000 or less | $105.00 |
| Greater than $2,000 and less than $10,000 | $215.00 |
| $10,000 or more | $375.00 |
Small Claims
Small claims cases — for amounts up to $20,000 — are filed in Justice Courts, not the District Court. Filing fees for small claims are similarly tiered: $60.00 for claims of $2,000 or less, $100.00 for claims between $2,001 and $7,500, and $185.00 for claims between $7,500 and $20,000.
Civil case records are searchable through XChange by party name or case number, and paper files are accessible at the District Court clerk’s office. The Utah Courts self-help resources provide a complete current fee schedule and fee waiver information for eligible parties.
Uintah County Family Court Records
Family law matters in Uintah County — including divorce, legal separation, child custody, child support, domestic violence protective orders, paternity, guardianship, conservatorship, and adoption — are handled in the District Court at 920 East Highway 40, Vernal, UT 84078.
Divorce
Filing a divorce petition in Uintah County District Court requires a filing fee of $350.00 for the petitioner. A responding party filing a counter-petition pays $130.00. Petitions to modify an existing divorce decree cost $100.00. As noted above, the internal documents in divorce files are classified as non-public under Rule 4-202.02, though judgments, orders, and decrees remain publicly accessible unless specifically sealed.
Marriage Records
Marriage licenses are issued by the Uintah County Clerk/Auditor’s Office. Both parties must appear together in person. The fee is $30.00, with an optional $10.00 donation to domestic violence shelters. Additional certified copies of the marriage license cost $6.00 per copy.
Uintah County Clerk/Auditor’s Office
Address: 147 East Main, Vernal, UT 84078
Phone: (435) 781-5361
Fax: (435) 781-6701
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (last applications accepted by 4:30 PM)
Under Utah law, marriage records are not public for 75 years after recordation. After the 75-year period, they become fully public. Until then, certified copies are available only to the parties named on the license, their immediate family members (parents, siblings, children, grandparents, grandchildren), or authorized legal representatives.
Vital Records: Birth, Death, and Divorce Certificates
For events occurring in Uintah County, vital records are maintained by two agencies. The TriCounty Health Department provides vital records from its Vernal and Roosevelt offices. Fees at the TriCounty Health Department are as follows:
- Birth Certificate: $25.00
- Death Certificate: $35.00
- Marriage or Divorce Certificate: $25.00
- Certificate Amendments: $25.00
- Expedited Processing: additional $25.00
- Additional copies of any certificate: $10.00 each
The Utah Office of Vital Records and Statistics (OVRS) maintains statewide records from 1905 to the present for births and deaths, and from 1978 to 2010 for marriages and divorces. Orders can be placed through the OVRS website using the UtahID portal, or by completing the appropriate paper application form and mailing it with payment and a copy of acceptable photo identification. Birth records become public after 100 years; death records after 50 years; marriage and divorce records after 75 years.
Divorce certificates from 1978 to 2010 are accessible through both the OVRS and the TriCounty Health Department using the Marriage/Divorce Certificate Request Form. For divorce records outside that date range, requests should be directed to the District Court clerk’s office where the case was adjudicated.
Adoption and Juvenile Matters
Adoption records and juvenile court records are confidential under Utah law and are not accessible through XChange or the clerk’s office. Access requires a court order. The Uintah County Juvenile Court is collocated with the District Court at 920 East Highway 40, Vernal, UT 84078, and can be reached at (435) 781-9335.
Uintah County Probate Court Records
Probate jurisdiction in Utah rests with the District Court. The Uintah County District Court at 920 East Highway 40, Vernal, UT 84078 handles all probate matters, including the validation of wills, formal and informal estate administration, appointment of personal representatives, adult guardianships, and conservatorships.
Common Probate Filings
Probate proceedings generate a range of public records, including petitions for probate, inventories and accountings of estate assets, letters of appointment authorizing personal representatives, creditor notices, and final distribution orders. Guardianship and conservatorship files include the original petition, medical documentation, annual reports on the ward’s condition, and any court orders modifying or terminating the arrangement.
Filing Fees for Estate Accountings
Utah Code § 78A-2-301 sets estate accounting fees on a sliding scale based on estate value:
| Estate Value | Fee |
|---|---|
| $50,000 or less | $15.00 |
| $50,001–$75,000 | $30.00 |
| $75,001–$112,000 | $50.00 |
| $112,001–$168,000 | $90.00 |
| More than $168,000 | $175.00 |
Accessing Probate Records
Probate case records are public and can be searched through XChange or reviewed in person at the District Court clerk’s office. Historical probate records — including probate registers of action dating from 1888 and older estate files — are available through the Utah State Archives’ probate records collection, which is searchable online and accessible by appointment in Salt Lake City.
Property Records
Real property records for Uintah County are maintained by the Uintah County Recorder’s Office at 147 East Main, Vernal, UT 84078. The office holds land records dating from 1894, with computerized and microfilmed records from 1983 onward. Subscribers can access Uintah County’s Land Information Database System (LIDS) electronically through the Recorder’s website for indexed records from 1995 to present. The Recorder’s Office can be reached at (435) 781-5461 (main), (435) 781-5398, or (435) 781-5467 for property plat inquiries.