Beaver County Divorce Decree Records
Beaver County divorce decree records are held by the Fifth District Court at the Beaver County Courthouse, 105 East Center Street, Beaver, Utah. The Fifth District serves Beaver, Iron, and Washington counties in southwestern Utah. If you need a certified copy of a divorce decree or want to search for a past case, the District Court Clerk is your starting point. Records go back to 1856, when Beaver County was first established. This guide covers every way to find and obtain a divorce decree in Beaver County.
Beaver County Quick Facts
Beaver County Fifth District Court
The Fifth District Court handles all divorce cases filed in Beaver County. The clerk's office maintains every divorce decree as a permanent record. Staff can search cases by party name or case number, and they can prepare certified copies when you need one. The court also has a public access terminal on site for those who want to browse records in person.
The Fifth District Court serves residents across Beaver, Iron, and Washington counties. When a divorce is granted, the signed decree becomes the controlling legal document for all matters addressed in the case, including property, support, and custody. Under Utah Code § 30-3-4, the decree must set out the court's findings and orders in clear terms. The clerk files the original and keeps it permanently.
The Fifth District Court website provides information on court locations, filing procedures, and self-help resources for Beaver County residents going through a divorce.
The court site lists clerk hours, contact information, and links to filing guides that can help you prepare documents before your visit.
| Court | Fifth District Court, Beaver Department 105 East Center Street Beaver, UT 84713 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (435) 438-5300 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | utcourts.gov |
How to Find a Beaver County Divorce Decree
You have several ways to search for a divorce decree in Beaver County. The method you choose depends on what you know about the case and what you need from it. Online tools work well when you need basic details fast. In-person visits give you access to the full file and let you get certified copies right away.
The XChange public case search system covers court cases from 1997 forward. It is fee-based: a $25 signup fee plus $30 per month for up to 200 searches. You can search by party name or case number. Results show filing date, case status, and parties involved. XChange does not let you download full documents, but it confirms that a case exists and gives you the case number you need for a certified copy request.
To search in person, visit the clerk's office at 105 East Center Street in Beaver. Bring the full name of one or both spouses and an approximate year the divorce was filed. Staff will look up the case and pull the file. You can review documents at the counter and request copies. Bring a photo ID. Copy fees vary by page count, and certified copies cost more than plain ones.
You can also submit a written GRAMA request to the court. Under Utah Code § 63G-2-201, every person has the right to inspect a public record free of charge during normal working hours. Written requests work well when you cannot visit in person. Include the case name, approximate year, and what you need. The court will respond within the time limits set by state law.
Note: For cases filed before 1997, the XChange system will not have results. You must contact the court directly or check the Utah State Archives for older records.
Beaver County Divorce Filing Process
Every divorce filed in Beaver County follows the steps set by Utah law. Each step creates documents that become part of the permanent case file. The petition is the first paper filed, and the divorce decree is the last. Everything in between is also part of the public court record.
Before filing, at least one spouse must have lived in Utah and in Beaver County for at least three months. This is the residency rule under Utah Code § 30-3-1. Utah allows no-fault divorce based on irreconcilable differences. Other grounds include adultery, willful desertion for more than one year, willful neglect, habitual drunkenness, felony conviction, and cruel treatment. You file the petition at the Fifth District Court clerk's office and pay the filing fee of approximately $330 at that time.
After filing, you must serve your spouse with the divorce papers. Proof of service is filed with the court. Utah law requires a waiting period before the court can grant the final decree. Under Utah Code § 30-3-18, the wait is 30 days when no minor children are involved and 90 days when there are minor children. When children are involved, both parents must also complete a mandatory divorce orientation course under Utah Code § 30-3-11.2 before the court issues the final decree.
The court addresses property division and spousal support as part of the same case under Utah Code § 30-3-5. Utah follows equitable distribution, meaning the court divides marital property fairly, though not always equally. Once the judge signs the decree, it becomes absolute as described in Utah Code § 30-3-7. The clerk enters the decree and it becomes part of the permanent record in Beaver County.
What a Beaver County Divorce Decree Contains
A divorce decree from Beaver County is a court order that ends a marriage. It is the document most people need for legal purposes after a divorce. Banks, title companies, and government agencies typically ask for a certified copy of the decree, not just a summary.
The decree typically includes the names of both parties, the date the marriage is dissolved, any orders on property division, any orders on spousal support, custody and visitation terms when children are involved, child support amounts, and any name restoration if one party requested it. All of these terms are binding orders from the court. Violating them can result in contempt proceedings.
The full case file also contains the original petition, the summons, proof of service, any responses filed by the other spouse, financial disclosure statements, and any agreements or stipulations the parties signed. Most of these documents are public under Utah Code § 63G-2-201. Some financial details and information about minor children may be redacted or sealed, but the decree itself is open to public inspection under Utah Code § 30-3-4.
Note: If you need the decree for a name change at the DMV or Social Security office, request a certified copy, not a plain photocopy. The certification stamp confirms it is a true copy of the original.
Public Access to Beaver County Divorce Records
Beaver County divorce records are generally public. Utah's Government Records Access and Management Act, known as GRAMA, sets the rules for accessing court and government records. You do not have to be a party to the case to request a copy. Any member of the public can ask to see a divorce decree from Beaver County.
GRAMA classifies records as public, private, controlled, or protected. Under Utah Code § 63G-2-302, some information in a case file can be private. This includes Social Security numbers, financial account details, and certain information about minor children. Courts routinely redact these items before releasing copies to the general public. The divorce decree itself, however, remains open for inspection.
Marriage and divorce records that are 75 years or older become fully public under Utah law. For older records in Beaver County, dating back to the county's founding in 1856, the Utah State Archives is an excellent resource. The Archives holds historical divorce records from the county and provides free access to researchers. You can also browse digitized records through the FamilySearch collection, which includes many Utah State Archives holdings from 1848 through 2001.
Historical Beaver County Divorce Records
Beaver County was created from Iron County on January 10, 1856, and the county has maintained court records since that time. There are no known courthouse disasters in Beaver County's history, which means historical records are well preserved. The Utah State Archives maintains historical divorce records for Beaver County going back to the territorial period.
The Utah State Archives research page provides guides and catalogs for Beaver County court records, including divorce filings from the 1800s through more recent decades.
Researchers can visit the Archives research room at 300 S. Rio Grande Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84101, or use the online catalog to identify records before their visit. Staff can assist with locating specific record series and microfilm collections for Beaver County.
During the territorial period, the federal district courts and probate courts shared jurisdiction over divorce cases. After Utah became a state in 1896, the state district courts took over. Records from both periods survive and are accessible through the Archives. The FamilySearch collection also includes digitized images from the Utah State Archives covering Beaver County records from 1848 to 2001.
Divorce Certificates for Beaver County
The Utah Office of Vital Records and Statistics issues divorce certificates as a shorter alternative to the full court decree. A certificate confirms that a divorce occurred. It shows the names of the parties, the date of the divorce, and the county where it was granted. It does not include property terms, custody orders, or other details from the decree itself.
The state office holds divorce certificates for the period from 1978 to 2010. The fee is $18 for the first copy and $10 for each additional copy requested at the same time. You can order online through the state's SILVER portal at vitalrecords.utah.gov, by mail, or in person at the Cannon Health Building, 288 North 1460 West, Salt Lake City, Utah. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and the phone number is (801) 538-6105.
For divorces that took place before 1978 or after 2010, the state vital records office does not have a certificate. You must contact the Fifth District Court in Beaver County directly. The CDC vital records guide also covers where to write for Utah divorce certificates if you need federal guidance on the process.
Under Utah Code § 26-2-22, divorce certificates are restricted to parties named in the record, immediate family members, legal representatives, and others with a direct and tangible interest. Most legal purposes, however, require the actual divorce decree from the court, not just a certificate.
Legal Help and Resources in Beaver County
Filing for divorce or searching for a divorce decree can be complicated. Several resources are available to help Beaver County residents at no cost or low cost.
The Utah State Courts website has a self-help center with court-approved forms and step-by-step guides for divorce cases. The Online Court Assistance Program (OCAP) walks you through a guided interview to generate properly formatted court documents. This is especially useful for people who are representing themselves. The Utah State Courts website also provides court locations, filing guides, and general information about the court process in Beaver County and across Utah.
Utah Legal Services provides free civil legal help to low-income residents throughout Utah, including Beaver County. For a family law attorney referral, contact the Utah State Bar referral service. You can also check with the MyCourtCase portal to review your own active case online without visiting the courthouse.
Note: Legal aid organizations can help with forms and advice, but they may not be able to take every case. Contact them early in the process to find out what help is available to you in Beaver County.
Cities in Beaver County
Beaver County is a rural county in southwestern Utah. The county seat is Beaver, and all divorce cases for county residents are filed at the Fifth District Court in Beaver. The county has no separate city pages in this directory at this time, but residents of all communities in Beaver County file their divorce cases at the same courthouse location at 105 East Center Street in Beaver.
Nearby Counties
Beaver County borders several other Utah counties. If you are unsure which county courthouse handles your divorce case, check where you have lived for the past three months. Under Utah law, you must file in the county where you have been a resident for at least three months before filing.