Piute County Divorce Decree Records
A Piute County divorce decree is the official court order that ends a marriage under Utah law. The Sixth District Court in Junction handles all dissolution of marriage cases filed in Piute County. This page explains how to search for divorce records, where to obtain certified copies, and what steps to take whether your case is recent or historical. Piute County is one of Utah's least populated counties, so in-person visits to the courthouse often yield the fastest results when you need a divorce decree or related court document.
Piute County Quick Facts
Piute County Sixth District Court
The Sixth Judicial District Court in Junction handles all divorce cases filed in Piute County. The District Court Clerk keeps the official divorce decree for every case on file. Staff can pull records, confirm case status, and make certified copies for you. Because Piute County has limited administrative staff, calling ahead before you visit saves time and ensures someone is available to help.
The Utah State Courts website provides a clear overview of how the Sixth District Court operates and what kinds of records it holds, including divorce decrees and family law judgments.
The court site confirms that the District Court handles serious civil matters including domestic relations cases such as dissolution of marriage, and that court records are public under GRAMA.
| Court |
Sixth District Court 550 North Main Street Junction, UT 84740 Phone: (435) 577-2840 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | utcourts.gov |
Note: Piute County has limited staff. Office hours may vary seasonally, so confirm by phone before making the drive to Junction for a divorce record request.
Piute County Clerk/Auditor Office
The Piute County Clerk/Auditor office is located at the same courthouse address in Junction. The Clerk/Auditor handles county-level records, business licenses, and GRAMA requests. For a divorce decree specifically, you will be directed to the District Court Clerk. However, the Clerk/Auditor office can help confirm whether a marriage license or other county document exists in their files and can point you to the right department for divorce filings.
The Piute County Clerk/Auditor page on the official county website lists current staff and contact details for records requests, making it a useful first stop when you begin searching for a Piute County divorce decree.
The Clerk/Auditor's fax number is (435) 577-2802, and processing for document requests typically takes five to ten business days.
How to Find a Piute County Divorce Record
You have several options for searching Piute County divorce records. The right method depends on how old the case is and how much detail you need. Each option gives you a different level of access to the divorce filing.
The Utah Courts XChange system at xchange.utcourts.gov covers Piute County divorce cases filed after 1997. You register for an account, pay a small fee, and search by party name or case number. XChange shows case summaries including filing dates, parties, hearings, and judgments. Document images for cases filed since July 1, 2010 are available for purchase. This is the fastest way to locate a case without traveling to Junction. Free public terminals at the Piute County Courthouse also let you search XChange at no cost during business hours.
For older divorce cases, the Utah State Archives maintains historical Piute County court records going back to 1872. The research room is at 300 South Rio Grande Street in Salt Lake City, open Monday through Friday. Many records are on microfilm, and staff can assist with searches. The FamilySearch database also holds digitized images from the Utah State Archives collection for Piute County, which can be useful for genealogical searches of historical dissolution cases.
To search in person at Junction, bring the full name of one or both spouses and the approximate year the divorce was filed. If you have a case number, bring that too. The clerk can search by name or case number and can make copies on the spot.
Note: Because Piute County divorce records are stored on-site in Junction, digital access for older or non-digitized records requires an in-person visit. Plan accordingly if the case predates 1997.
Filing a Divorce Decree in Piute County
To file for divorce in Piute County, at least one spouse must have lived in Utah and in Piute County for a minimum of three months before filing. This residency requirement is set by Utah Code § 30-3-1. You file your petition for dissolution of marriage with the Sixth District Court Clerk in Junction and pay the approximately $330 filing fee at that time.
Utah is a no-fault divorce state. Irreconcilable differences is the most common ground for a dissolution of marriage in Piute County. Other grounds under § 30-3-1 include adultery, willful desertion for more than one year, habitual drunkenness, conviction of a felony, and cruel treatment causing bodily injury or mental distress.
After you file, Utah law requires a waiting period before the court can finalize the divorce. Under Utah Code § 30-3-18, the court cannot hold a hearing for a divorce decree until at least 30 days have passed since the petition was filed when there are no minor children involved. Cases with minor children require 90 days. The court may grant exceptions only for extraordinary circumstances.
When minor children are part of a Piute County divorce case, both parents must attend a mandatory divorce orientation education course as required by Utah Code § 30-3-11.2. This course focuses on children's needs during and after the dissolution of marriage. Completion is a prerequisite before the court will enter the final divorce decree.
What a Piute County Divorce Decree Includes
The divorce decree is the final court order that formally ends the marriage. In Piute County, the Sixth District Court signs the decree after reviewing evidence and finding the legal requirements have been met. Under Utah Code § 30-3-4, the decree may include orders regarding children, medical coverage, property division, and debts.
Property division in Piute County follows Utah's equitable distribution standard under Utah Code § 30-3-5. The court considers all marital assets and debts and divides them fairly, though not necessarily equally. The decree will state each party's share. If the parties reach a settlement, it is often attached to the decree as a stipulation.
Typical contents of a Piute County divorce decree include the names of both parties, the date of marriage, the date the petition was filed, the grounds for dissolution, and any orders on property, debts, custody, child support, and alimony. If a spouse requested a name change, that is recorded in the decree as well.
Note: Under GRAMA, Utah Code § 63G-2-201, divorce decrees in Piute County are public records. However, details about minor children, Social Security numbers, and financial account numbers may be redacted from copies provided to the general public.
Piute County Divorce Certificates from Vital Records
The Utah Office of Vital Records and Statistics in Salt Lake City maintains divorce certificates for all Utah divorces from 1978 through 2010. A divorce certificate is a short-form document that confirms a dissolution of marriage took place. It shows the names, date, and county but does not include the full terms of any settlement. For divorces before 1978 or after 2010, you must contact the Sixth District Court in Junction directly.
You can order a Piute County divorce certificate by mail, in person in Salt Lake City, or online. The fee is $18 for the first certified copy and $10 for each additional copy requested at the same time. Mail requests go to: Office of Vital Records and Statistics, 288 North 1460 West, P.O. Box 141012, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-1012. You can also call (801) 538-6105 for recorded information. Online ordering is available through the state's secure portal at vitalrecords.utah.gov.
A certificate works for some purposes like verifying a prior divorce before remarrying. Most legal matters, however, require the full divorce decree from the Piute County court clerk.
Online Access to Piute County Divorce Cases
The MyCase portal from Utah Courts lets parties to a divorce case monitor their own case online. You can check hearing dates, view filed documents, and receive email or text notifications when new actions are taken in your Piute County divorce case. Registration is free and requires your case number and basic identifying information. This is separate from the public XChange system and provides more detailed access to your own case file.
For members of the public searching for someone else's divorce record, the XChange system at utcourts.gov is the primary online tool. A monthly subscription costs $30 for up to 200 searches. Individual searches cost $0.10 each beyond that, and document images cost $0.50 each. Free searches are available at public terminals inside the Piute County Courthouse in Junction.
The Utah Courts website at utcourts.gov also provides self-help resources, court-approved forms, and guidance for people filing for divorce without an attorney in Piute County. The Online Court Assistance Program (OCAP) generates properly formatted divorce forms through a guided interview process at no cost.
Nearby Counties
Piute County borders several other Utah counties. If you are unsure which county court has jurisdiction over your divorce case, your county of residence at the time of filing determines where you must file. Each county maintains its own divorce records at its district court clerk's office.