St. George Divorce Decree Records
A St. George Divorce Decree is filed at the Fifth District Court in Washington County. St. George is the county seat and the largest city in southern Utah, serving a fast-growing population of over 90,000 residents. All divorce cases for St. George go through the Fifth District Court. The court clerk maintains all divorce files and provides certified copies of final decrees to those who need them.
St. George Quick Facts
Where to Get a Divorce Decree in St. George
St. George residents file for divorce and obtain divorce decree records at the Fifth District Court in Washington County. The courthouse sits in the historic downtown area of St. George on West Tabernacle Street. This is the only court in Washington County that handles divorce cases. The court clerk maintains all divorce filings and issues certified copies upon request.
| Court | Fifth Judicial District Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 206 W Tabernacle Street St. George, UT 84770 |
| Phone | (435) 986-5700 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | utcourts.gov |
The Fifth District Court serves all of Washington County, including St. George and surrounding communities. Bring a valid photo ID when visiting the courthouse. Security screens all visitors at the entrance. Parking is available near the Tabernacle Street location in St. George.
Note: The St. George City Recorder and St. George Justice Court do not handle divorce cases or divorce decree records. All divorce matters go to the Fifth District Court at 206 W Tabernacle Street.
How to Search St. George Divorce Decree Records
You can search for a St. George Divorce Decree in several ways. The Utah Courts case portal lets you look up basic case information online at no cost. In-person visits to the courthouse let you review the full case file and get certified copies the same day. Both options give St. George residents access to divorce records going back many years.
Start your search at mycase.utcourts.gov. This free tool lets you search by party name or case number. You can confirm that a divorce was filed in Washington County before you make the trip to St. George. The site shows filing dates, party names, and case status. For full document copies, you still need to contact the Fifth District Court directly.
To search divorce decree records in St. George, have this information ready:
- Full name of at least one spouse
- Approximate year the divorce was filed
- Case number, if you already know it
- Washington County as the filing location
For in-person searches, go to 206 W Tabernacle Street in St. George. Staff can look up cases by name or case number. Certified copies cost $8 per document plus $0.50 per page. Call the Fifth District Court at (435) 986-5700 to ask about current fees and what to bring. Mail requests are also accepted at the same address; include full case information, payment, and a self-addressed stamped envelope.
The XChange system provides a paid search option for court records. It covers cases filed after 1997. XChange charges a monthly subscription fee plus per-search and per-document fees. This tool works well for legal professionals or researchers who need to search many cases across Washington County and other Utah courts.
The Utah State Courts website offers forms, instructions, and self-help tools for people looking up or requesting a divorce decree in St. George. Under Utah Code § 63G-2-201, members of the public have the right to inspect public records. The divorce decree itself remains open to inspection under Utah Code § 30-3-4.
The Utah State Courts website provides valuable resources for searching public court records in St. George.
The Utah State Courts portal covers all district courts, including the Fifth District serving Washington County and St. George.
St. George Divorce Decree Filing Process
St. George residents follow Utah state law when filing for divorce. The process starts at the Fifth District Court in Washington County. Each document filed becomes part of the case record. You can request copies of any filed document once it is part of the case file. The final document in the case is the divorce decree itself.
Utah requires a residency period before you can file. Under Utah Code § 30-3-1, at least one spouse must have lived in Utah and in Washington County for at least three months before filing. St. George residents who meet this standard can file at the Fifth District Court.
You file the divorce petition at the District Court Clerk in St. George. The filing fee is approximately $330. After filing, you must serve your spouse with the court papers. You can use the Washington County Sheriff, a licensed process server, or another method allowed under Utah law. Proof of service becomes part of the court file.
Utah is a no-fault divorce state. You can file based on irreconcilable differences under Utah Code § 30-3-1. Other grounds include adultery, willful desertion for more than one year, habitual drunkenness, felony conviction, and cruel treatment. St. George residents must meet at least one of these grounds before the court can finalize the divorce.
Utah law sets a waiting period before the court can issue the divorce decree. The standard wait is 30 days when no minor children are involved. Cases with minor children carry a 90-day waiting period. The court may waive this only when extraordinary circumstances exist. Under Utah Code § 30-3-11.2, when minor children are part of the case, both spouses must complete a mandatory divorce education course before the court will grant the final decree. This is a unique Utah requirement designed to address children's needs.
Property and support issues are addressed under Utah Code § 30-3-5. The court divides property through equitable distribution and may order alimony or child support as part of the same case. Once signed, the decree becomes part of the public record. The Washington County court file for your divorce will remain at the Fifth District Court in St. George.
Note: If you need to modify a divorce decree after it is final in St. George, you return to the Fifth District Court and file a motion to modify under Utah Code § 30-3-5. The court retains ongoing jurisdiction over child and support matters.
Divorce Certificates vs. Divorce Decree in St. George
St. George residents sometimes confuse divorce certificates with divorce decrees. These are two different documents. The divorce decree is the full court order from the Fifth District Court. It contains all terms of the divorce including property, custody, and support. The divorce certificate is a shorter summary document maintained by the state.
The Utah Office of Vital Records and Statistics maintains divorce certificates from 1978 to 2010. Certificates cost $18 for the first copy and $10 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. The mailing address is 288 North 1460 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-1012. Their phone number is (801) 538-6105. For divorces before 1978 or after 2010, you must go to the district court where the divorce was granted.
For divorces finalized in St. George, that means the Fifth District Court at 206 W Tabernacle Street. Most legal purposes require the full decree rather than the certificate. The decree shows all court orders while the certificate only confirms basic facts like names, date, and county.
Note: Under Utah law, marriage and divorce records become public after 75 years. Records less than 75 years old are restricted to the parties, immediate family members, legal guardians, or those with a direct legal interest under Utah Code § 63G-2-302.
Online Access to St. George Court Records
Several online tools let you research divorce decree records connected to St. George without visiting the Fifth District Court in person. These tools vary in cost and the level of detail they provide. Starting online can save you a trip to the courthouse.
The Utah XChange case search system offers public access to court case information across all Utah judicial districts, including the Fifth District covering Washington County.
Using the XChange case search system, you can search for divorce cases filed in St. George and Washington County by name or case number. This is a good starting point before requesting certified copies from the court.
The MyCase portal at mycase.utcourts.gov lets parties to a case log in and view their own case documents. This service is free and sends alerts when new documents are filed. It is separate from the public XChange search system. St. George residents who are parties to a divorce case can use MyCase to monitor filings without visiting the courthouse.
The XChange system at xchange.utcourts.gov is a subscription-based search tool for court records. It covers divorce cases filed after 1997. Viewing documents costs $0.50 per page. The system requires an account and payment of fees set under Utah Court rules.
Filing for Divorce in St. George Without a Lawyer
Some St. George residents handle their own divorce without hiring an attorney. This is called filing pro se. It works best when both spouses agree on all terms and there are no complex property or custody disputes. The court cannot give legal advice, but several free resources can help you navigate the process.
The Utah Court System at utcourts.gov has all the forms you need to file for divorce in St. George. The Online Court Assistance Program (OCAP) guides you through a step-by-step interview to produce properly formatted court forms. All forms are free to download. Staff at the Fifth District Court can tell you which forms you need, but they cannot give legal advice.
If minor children are part of your St. George divorce case, you will need additional forms. These include a parenting plan and child support worksheets. Both parties must also complete the mandatory divorce education course required under Utah Code § 30-3-11.2 before the court will issue the divorce decree in St. George.
Washington County Divorce Decree Records
St. George is the county seat of Washington County. All divorce filings in St. George go through the Washington County Fifth District Court. For more on fees, related records, and county-level resources, visit the Washington County divorce records page.
Nearby Utah Cities
Residents of cities near St. George file for divorce through their own county courts. Pick a city below to learn about divorce decree records in that area.