Rich County Dissolution of Marriage Records
A Rich County divorce decree is issued by the First District Court in Randolph, the county seat of this rural northeastern Utah county. Whether you need to search for an existing divorce record or obtain a certified copy of a divorce decree, the First District Court is the primary source for dissolution of marriage cases in Rich County. This page covers how to search online, how to request records by mail or in person, and where to find historical divorce filings from Rich County going back to the territorial period.
Rich County Quick Facts
Rich County First District Court
The First Judicial District Court serves Rich County from the courthouse in Randolph. The court has general jurisdiction over civil, criminal, family, and probate matters. Divorce cases are handled as family law matters within the First District. The District Court Clerk maintains all case files, stores filed documents, and provides access to divorce decrees and related court records for Rich County.
The Utah State Courts website provides a thorough overview of how divorce and family law cases are handled in Rich County, including information on records access and what types of documents the court maintains.
The court site confirms that divorce records in Rich County are public under GRAMA, while juvenile files, sealed documents, and protected information are withheld from public access.
| Court |
First District Court 20 South Main Street Randolph, UT 84064 Phone: (435) 793-2415 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | utcourts.gov |
Note: Rich County is a rural county with limited staff at the courthouse. Calling ahead to confirm hours and availability before traveling to Randolph is strongly recommended.
Rich County Divorce Filing Requirements
To file for a divorce decree in Rich County, at least one spouse must have been a resident of Utah and of Rich County for at least three months before the date of filing. This residency requirement comes from Utah Code § 30-3-1. You submit your petition for dissolution of marriage to the First District Court Clerk in Randolph and pay the filing fee of approximately $330 at that time.
Utah allows divorce on both fault and no-fault grounds. In Rich County, as across the state, irreconcilable differences is the most common ground for dissolution of marriage. Other grounds under § 30-3-1 include adultery, willful desertion for more than one year, willful neglect to provide necessities of life, habitual drunkenness, conviction of a felony, cruel treatment, and incurable insanity.
Utah imposes a mandatory waiting period before the court can enter a divorce decree. Under Utah Code § 30-3-18, at least 30 days must pass after the petition is filed in cases without minor children. Cases involving minor children require a 90-day wait. The court may waive these periods only in cases of extraordinary circumstances. During this time, either party may seek interim orders from the First District Court in Randolph.
When the divorce involves minor children, both parents in Rich County must complete a mandatory divorce orientation education course before the court will sign the divorce decree. This requirement under Utah Code § 30-3-11.2 applies statewide and is designed to help parents focus on their children's needs through the dissolution process. If the other spouse has filed a formal response, the court may also require mediation before scheduling a final hearing.
Searching Rich County Divorce Decree Records
Rich County divorce records are searchable through several channels. Your choice depends on the age of the case and how much detail you need from the record.
The Utah Courts XChange system is the primary online tool for finding a Rich County divorce decree. XChange holds case information for all district courts statewide, including Rich County, going back to 1997. You register at xchange.utcourts.gov, pay a monthly subscription of $30 for up to 200 searches, and search by party name or case number. The system shows case summaries, filing dates, hearing schedules, and judgments. Documents filed since July 1, 2010 are available as digital images for $0.50 each. Real-time updates keep the system current.
The Utah Courts self-help resource center at utcourts.gov explains the divorce process in detail and points you to court-approved forms and the OCAP guided form program, which generates properly formatted dissolution filings at no cost.
The self-help center is especially useful for parties in Rich County who are handling their own divorce case without an attorney, offering step-by-step guidance on what documents to file and in what order.
For in-person searches in Randolph, bring the full names of both spouses and the approximate year the divorce was filed. Case numbers speed up the search. The clerk can look up records and make certified or plain copies. Bring valid photo ID. For historical Rich County divorce cases predating the XChange database, the Utah State Archives in Salt Lake City maintains territorial and early statehood records on microfilm.
Note: Records not yet digitized require an in-person visit or a written mail request to the Rich County First District Court Clerk at 20 South Main Street, Randolph, UT 84064.
Rich County Divorce Decree Contents
The divorce decree is the core document most people need from Rich County. It is the final court order ending the marriage. Under Utah Code § 30-3-4, the decree may address children, medical coverage, property division, and debts. The court must take evidence, even if only by affidavit, to support the entry of the decree.
Property division in a Rich County dissolution case follows the equitable distribution standard set by Utah Code § 30-3-5. The court divides marital property and debts in a fair manner based on the facts of each case. Alimony, child support, custody schedules, and parent-time arrangements are also addressed in the decree when applicable. The court retains ongoing jurisdiction to modify support and custody orders after the decree is entered.
A Rich County divorce record typically contains these key elements:
- Full names and last known addresses of both parties
- Date and place of marriage
- Grounds for dissolution of marriage
- Date the petition was filed with the court
- Date the decree was signed by the judge
- Orders on property, debts, and support
- Name restoration order if requested by either party
Rich County divorce decrees are generally public records under Utah Code § 63G-2-201. Anyone may request to inspect or copy the decree. Details about minor children, financial account numbers, and Social Security numbers are typically redacted from public copies. Entire case files may be sealed by court order under limited circumstances.
Rich County Divorce Certificates
The Utah Office of Vital Records and Statistics holds statewide divorce certificates for all Utah divorces from 1978 through 2010. A divorce certificate is shorter than a full divorce decree. It confirms that a dissolution of marriage occurred and lists the names, date, and county. It does not include property settlements, custody terms, or other details from the case. For Rich County divorces outside the 1978-2010 window, contact the First District Court in Randolph directly.
The vital records ordering page at vitalrecords.utah.gov explains how to request a certified copy of a Rich County divorce certificate online, by mail, or in person at the Salt Lake City office.
The fee for a divorce certificate is $18 for the first certified copy and $10 for each additional copy requested at the same time. The mailing address is Office of Vital Records and Statistics, 288 North 1460 West, P.O. Box 141012, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-1012. Phone: (801) 538-6105. Mail requests take approximately three weeks to process.
Online Tools for Rich County Divorce Records
Several free online tools can help you track and access Rich County divorce case information. The MyCase portal from Utah Courts is a free service for parties to their own cases. You register with your case number and personal details, then receive email or text notifications whenever a new document is filed or a hearing is scheduled in your Rich County divorce case.
The CORIS system, which feeds data into XChange, records all public case information for Rich County as entries are made in real time. This means a divorce filing, motion, hearing, or judgment entered at the Randolph courthouse is typically visible in XChange the same day. Despite Rich County's rural setting, the court's technology integration keeps records accessible to researchers and parties statewide.
Historical Rich County divorce records predating the court computer system are maintained by the Utah State Archives. The archives research room is at 346 South Rio Grande Street, Salt Lake City, open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Staff can assist with research requests and many records are available on microfilm. An online catalog lets you identify which record series to request before your visit.
Nearby Counties
Rich County shares borders with several other Utah and Wyoming counties. Divorce cases are filed in the county where the petitioner has met the three-month residency requirement. If you are unsure which court has jurisdiction over your case, verify the county of your primary residence at the time of filing.