West Jordan Divorce Decree Lookup
West Jordan is a city of about 116,000 people in Salt Lake County, located in the southwestern part of the Salt Lake Valley. Residents who need to find or file a divorce decree go through the Third Judicial District Court, which has a location right on Redwood Road in West Jordan. All divorce cases for the city are handled at the district court level. The West Jordan Justice Court does not have authority over divorce matters. This guide explains where to search, how to file, and how to get certified copies of a West Jordan divorce decree.
West Jordan Quick Facts
Where West Jordan Residents File for Divorce
The Third Judicial District Court is the correct court for all West Jordan divorce matters. West Jordan has its own dedicated Third District Court location at 8080 S Redwood Road, which is convenient for city residents. This courthouse serves all of Salt Lake County and handles the full range of family law matters, including divorce, child custody, and property division.
West Jordan also has a Justice Court, which operates separately from the district court. The Justice Court at 8040 S Redwood Road handles Class B and C misdemeanors, traffic citations, and small claims. It does not have jurisdiction over divorce proceedings. If you show up at the Justice Court seeking a divorce decree, staff will direct you to the Third District Court next door.
| Court | Third Judicial District Court - West Jordan |
|---|---|
| Address | 8080 S Redwood Rd, West Jordan, UT 84088 |
| Phone | (801) 256-7400 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | utcourts.gov |
The Matheson Courthouse downtown at 450 S State Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84111 is also part of the Third District. West Jordan residents can use either location. Call (801) 238-7300 for the Salt Lake City courthouse.
Note: The West Jordan Third District Court location and the West Jordan Justice Court are both on Redwood Road but at different addresses. The Third District Court at 8080 S Redwood Road handles divorce. The Justice Court at 8040 S Redwood Road does not.
West Jordan Court System Overview
The West Jordan Justice Court serves the city for local misdemeanor and traffic matters, but divorce cases are handled at a different level of the court system.
The West Jordan Justice Court pictured here handles city-level misdemeanor cases, not divorces. All West Jordan divorce decree filings and record requests belong at the Third Judicial District Court, also located on Redwood Road just steps away.
Searching West Jordan Divorce Decree Records
West Jordan residents can search for divorce decree records in several ways. The free starting point is mycase.utcourts.gov, where anyone can look up basic case information by party name. The MyCase portal shows filing dates, case numbers, and current status for Third District Court cases. Parties to a case get additional access to documents through their personal login.
The XChange system at xchange.utcourts.gov is a paid search tool that covers Third District Court cases including West Jordan divorces. A subscription costs $25 to sign up plus $30 per month for up to 200 searches. Individual documents cost 50 cents each to view. XChange covers cases filed since 1997 and includes documents filed since July 2010. Public access terminals at the West Jordan courthouse also provide XChange access at no charge during business hours.
In-person visits to the Third District Court clerk window give you the most direct access to West Jordan divorce decree records. Bring a valid photo ID and the names of both parties or the case number. Staff can search the records and pull a copy of the decree. Certified copies are the accepted form of proof for legal and financial matters. Call (801) 256-7400 before going to confirm current fees and hours.
Divorce Decree Filing Steps in West Jordan
The divorce process in West Jordan follows Utah state law. The steps are the same statewide, but West Jordan residents file at the Third Judicial District Court in Salt Lake County. Every document filed in your case becomes part of the court record and is subject to public access rules under Utah Code § 63G-2-201.
Residency comes first. Under Utah Code § 30-3-1, at least one spouse must have lived in Utah and in Salt Lake County for at least three months before filing. West Jordan is in Salt Lake County, so if you live there now, you satisfy the county residency requirement.
You file the petition for divorce with the District Court Clerk at the West Jordan courthouse. The filing fee is approximately $330 for a standard divorce case. After filing, you must serve your spouse. Acceptable service methods include the county sheriff, a licensed private process server, or signed acknowledgment by your spouse. Proof of service is filed with the court as part of your West Jordan divorce case.
Utah permits no-fault divorce based on irreconcilable differences under § 30-3-1. Fault grounds are also available. They include adultery, willful desertion for more than one year, willful neglect, habitual drunkenness, felony conviction, and cruel treatment causing bodily injury or great mental distress.
The waiting period in Utah is 30 days for cases with no minor children. Cases involving minor children require a 90-day wait, as provided in Utah Code § 30-3-18. The court can enter temporary orders during this time. Once the waiting period ends and all issues are resolved, the judge signs the divorce decree. That signed order dissolves the marriage and becomes a permanent court record in Salt Lake County.
Property and debt division, alimony, and child support are all resolved within the same case file under Utah Code § 30-3-5. The divorce decree includes all of those terms. If both parties agree on everything, you can submit a stipulation and the case can move faster.
Note: When minor children are involved in a West Jordan divorce, both parents must complete a mandatory divorce orientation education course before the court will issue the final decree. This requirement applies statewide under Utah Code § 30-3-11.2.
Getting Certified Copies of a West Jordan Divorce Decree
After a divorce is final in West Jordan, you can get a certified copy of the decree from the Third District Court. Certified copies carry the court's official seal and the clerk's signature. Most agencies that need proof of a final divorce require a certified copy rather than a plain photocopy.
Certified copy fees at the Third District Court are approximately $8 per document plus $0.50 per page. Call (801) 256-7400 to confirm current rates. Payment methods include cash, check, money order, and credit card. Mail requests are also accepted. Write a letter with the names of both parties, the approximate divorce date, and the case number if you know it. Include a check or money order and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Mail to: Third District Court, 8080 S Redwood Rd, West Jordan, UT 84088.
The decree itself is a public record under Utah Code § 63G-2-302, though some portions of the case file may be restricted. Financial account details, Social Security numbers, and information about minor children may be redacted from copies provided to third parties. The core divorce decree with names, dates, and court orders is open for public inspection.
West Jordan Divorce Certificates from Vital Records
A divorce certificate is different from a divorce decree. The certificate is a short document from the Utah Department of Health that confirms a divorce occurred. The decree is the full court order with all terms. Most legal situations require the decree, but some agencies will accept a certificate for basic verification.
The Utah Office of Vital Records at 288 North 1460 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-1012 holds divorce certificates for divorces from 1978 to 2010. The phone number is (801) 538-6105. The fee is $18 for the first certified copy and $10 for each additional copy requested at the same time. For West Jordan divorces before 1978 or after 2010, go to the Third District Court Clerk for the full decree.
Historical West Jordan divorce records from Salt Lake County going back to the 1800s are held at the Utah State Archives at 300 S Rio Grande Street, Salt Lake City. Free public access is available during regular hours. Researchers can search digitized records through the Archives' online catalog or in person at no charge.
Note: Vital records certificates are restricted to persons named in the record, immediate family members, legal guardians, and authorized representatives. Records become public after 75 years under Utah law.
Utah Courts Divorce Decree How-To Guide
The Utah Courts how-to divorce page offers step-by-step guidance for West Jordan residents navigating the divorce decree process.
Forms, filing instructions, and links to the Online Court Assistance Program are all available through Utah Courts for West Jordan filers working through the Third District Court system.
Filing for Divorce in West Jordan Without a Lawyer
Some West Jordan residents handle their own divorce cases without an attorney. Pro se filing works best when both spouses agree on all terms and the case does not involve complex property or contested custody. The court cannot give legal advice, but self-help tools make the process much more manageable.
The Utah Courts website at utcourts.gov offers the Online Court Assistance Program (OCAP). OCAP asks you questions about your case and generates properly formatted court forms based on your answers. The tool is free and covers all required divorce forms for West Jordan cases filed in the Third District.
If you cannot afford the filing fee, you may apply for a fee waiver at the clerk's window. You fill out a petition that shows your income and financial situation. The court reviews it and decides whether you qualify. Ask for the fee waiver form when you arrive at the West Jordan Third District courthouse.
Salt Lake County Divorce Decree Records
West Jordan is located in Salt Lake County. All West Jordan divorce decrees are part of the Salt Lake County district court record system. For more details on Salt Lake County court procedures, complete fee schedules, and related resources, visit the county page.
Nearby Utah Cities
Residents of cities near West Jordan file divorce cases at their local district courthouse. Select a city below to find divorce decree information for that area.