Grand County Divorce Decree Records in Moab
Grand County divorce decree records are held by the Seventh District Court in Moab, Utah. The county seat sits near Arches and Canyonlands National Parks in eastern Utah. Anyone needing a certified copy of a divorce decree or wanting to search a past dissolution case can contact the court directly. This page explains how to find Grand County divorce records, which court handles filings, and what steps to take when you need official copies of a divorce judgment or case file.
Grand County Quick Facts
Grand County Seventh District Court
The Seventh District Court in Moab handles all divorce cases filed in Grand County. This court is one of eight judicial districts in Utah. The District Court Clerk maintains the official divorce decree for every case filed in Grand County since 1896. Staff at this office can help you search for a case, request copies, and confirm what documents are part of the public court file.
The Grand County District Court staff directory lists court personnel who assist with case inquiries and record requests for divorce and other civil matters.
The Clerk/Auditor office at Grand County handles county records but is separate from the District Court Clerk. For divorce decree copies, contact the District Court directly.
| Court |
Seventh District Court Grand County Courthouse 125 East Center Street Moab, UT 84532 Phone: (435) 259-1355 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | utcourts.gov |
Note: The Grand County Clerk/Auditor at 125 E. Main St. maintains county administrative records. That office does not hold court records or divorce decrees. Always contact the District Court Clerk for divorce case documents.
How to Find a Grand County Divorce Decree
You can search for a Grand County divorce decree online or by visiting the courthouse in Moab. Online searches through XChange let you look up case index information by name or case number. This system covers divorce filings going back to 1997. For older records, an in-person visit to the courthouse or a written request to the District Court Clerk is your best option.
The Utah State Courts website at utcourts.gov offers a court locator, self-help guides, and links to forms used in divorce proceedings. This is a good starting point whether you are a party to a case or a researcher looking for a historical dissolution record.
To search for a Grand County divorce case, gather as much information as you can before you search. The more details you have, the faster the clerk can find the record.
- Full legal name of at least one spouse
- Approximate year the case was filed
- Case number if available
- Whether the divorce involved minor children
You can also submit a written public records request to the Grand County District Court Clerk. Include your contact information, a description of the record you need, and the purpose of your request. The court will respond in a reasonable time under Utah Code § 63G-2-201, which gives every person the right to inspect public records during normal business hours.
Grand County Divorce Records and What They Contain
A divorce case in Grand County builds a file over time. The initial filing is the petition for divorce. It states the grounds for the dissolution and what the petitioner is seeking from the court. The responding spouse then files an answer. If the parties reach an agreement, a stipulated settlement goes into the file as well. All of these papers become part of the public court record under Utah Code § 63G-2-201.
The divorce decree itself is the most important document in the file. It is the signed court order that officially ends the marriage. Under Utah Code § 30-3-4, the decree may include orders about children, medical coverage, property division, and debts. Certified copies of the Grand County divorce decree are often required when changing a name, transferring property, or applying for benefits.
Property and support orders are part of the decree in most cases. Under Utah Code § 30-3-5, the court divides marital property in an equitable manner and may address spousal support. Both issues appear in the same divorce case file and are accessible as part of the public record in Grand County.
Note: Some portions of a divorce case file may be restricted. Financial details, Social Security numbers, and information about minor children can be redacted from public copies. The decree itself remains open to public inspection per Utah law.
Grand County Court Staff and District Contacts
The Grand County District Court staff directory lists the judicial assistants and clerks who handle divorce decree requests and case inquiries in Moab.
Loni Page serves as judicial assistant for the court. Other staff members include Pam Bridwell, Kyla Lewis, Claudia Page, Melissa Parriott, Jennifer Robertson, and Terri Yelonek. Calling ahead before your visit helps confirm which staff member handles your type of request.
Grand County is part of the Seventh Judicial District, which also includes Carbon, Emery, San Juan, and Uintah counties. Each county in the district has its own courthouse, but the same judicial district rules apply. If you are unsure which county handled a particular divorce, start with the county where the parties lived at the time of filing.
Filing a Divorce Decree Petition in Grand County
To file for divorce in Grand County, at least one spouse must have lived in Utah and in Grand County for at least three months before filing. This residency requirement is set by Utah Code § 30-3-1. You file the petition with the Seventh District Court Clerk at 125 East Center Street in Moab. The current filing fee is approximately $330.
After filing, you must serve your spouse with the divorce papers. The clerk assigns a case number at that point. Utah law allows no-fault divorce based on irreconcilable differences. Fault grounds under § 30-3-1 include adultery, willful desertion for more than one year, habitual drunkenness, felony conviction, and cruel treatment causing bodily injury or great mental distress.
A waiting period applies before the court can finalize your divorce. Under Utah Code § 30-3-18, cases without minor children require a 30-day wait from the date of filing. Cases involving minor children require 90 days. The court may shorten the wait only in extraordinary circumstances.
When minor children are part of the case, both parties must complete a mandatory divorce orientation education course. This is required under Utah Code § 30-3-11.2. The course covers children's needs during and after the divorce process. Proof of completion is filed with the court before the final decree is entered.
Note: The decree becomes final and absolute upon signing and entry by the clerk, as set out in Utah Code § 30-3-7. The court may extend the time period by up to six months in some cases.
Grand County Divorce Certificates from Vital Records
The Utah Office of Vital Records and Statistics maintains divorce certificates for divorces that took place between 1978 and 2010. These certificates are shorter documents that confirm a dissolution occurred. They show the names, date, and county but not the full terms of any settlement agreement or custody order.
Grand County residents can order divorce certificates through the Utah Vital Records office at 288 North 1460 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-1012. The phone number is (801) 538-6105. The first certified copy costs $18 and each additional copy ordered at the same time costs $10. For divorces before 1978 or after 2010, you must contact the Seventh District Court in Moab directly.
A divorce certificate is useful for many purposes but is not a substitute for the full court decree. Legal matters involving property transfers, debt settlements, and custody modifications typically require a certified copy of the actual divorce decree from the Grand County courthouse.
Related Grand County Records and Resources
Grand County keeps records of marriages, property transfers, and probate matters that often connect to divorce cases. The Grand County marriage licenses page provides information about obtaining marriage records, which you may need to prove a marriage existed before the dissolution.
Marriage records in Grand County go back to 1890, while divorce and court records are available from 1896. These historical records are also accessible through the Utah State Archives for research and genealogy purposes.
The Utah State Archives maintains older divorce records from the territorial and early statehood periods. For very old records, the Archives at 300 S. Rio Grande Street in Salt Lake City can assist with your research. Some of these records have been digitized and are available online through FamilySearch, which covers Grand County records from the late 1800s.
Nearby Counties
Grand County is in eastern Utah and borders several other counties. Each county has its own district court for divorce filings. File in the county where you live to ensure proper jurisdiction over your case.