Wayne County Utah Divorce Decree Records
A Wayne County Divorce Decree is the official court order that ends a marriage in this rural south-central Utah county. The Sixth District Court handles all dissolution cases for Wayne County residents. The District Court Clerk in Loa keeps all divorce records on file and can provide certified copies. Wayne County is one of Utah's least populous counties, known for Capitol Reef National Park and its remote canyon landscape. This guide covers how to find and request a Wayne County Divorce Decree through the courts, vital records, and historical archives.
Wayne County Quick Facts
Wayne County Sixth District Court
The Sixth District Court handles divorce cases for Wayne County. The courthouse is in Loa, the county seat. The Sixth District also covers Garfield, Kane, Piute, Sanpete, and Sevier counties. Because Wayne County is small and rural, court resources are more limited than in larger Utah counties. Plan ahead before visiting in person. Call to confirm hours, staffing, and what you need to bring.
The Wayne County Courthouse is at 18 South Main Street, Loa, UT 84747, phone (435) 836-1301. The Wayne County official website at waynecountyutah.org provides county information, commission meeting minutes, and contact details for county offices. Court services for Wayne County can also be accessed through the statewide Utah Courts portal.
The Wayne County official website lists office contacts, public notices, and agendas that keep residents informed about county government and services.
| Court |
Sixth District Court Wayne County Courthouse 18 South Main Street Loa, UT 84747 Phone: (435) 836-1301 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, standard business hours (call to confirm) |
| Website | utcourts.gov |
Note: Wayne County was created from Piute County on March 10, 1892. It was named after Wayne County, Tennessee. Divorce records in Wayne County date back to 1898, and older records may require a search of both county and state archives.
Searching Wayne County Divorce Decree Records
You can search for Wayne County divorce records online or by contacting the court directly. The Utah Courts XChange system at xchange.utcourts.gov is the primary online tool. XChange covers cases filed after 1997 across all Utah districts, including the Sixth District. You can search by party name or case number. A monthly subscription costs $30 for up to 200 searches, or you can pay per search. Each document view costs $0.50.
If you are a party to the case, use mycase.utcourts.gov for free access. This portal lets you view your own Wayne County divorce documents and receive hearing notifications without any cost. It is separate from XChange and shows more detail to the parties in the case.
For in-person searches, visit the Sixth District Court at 18 South Main Street in Loa. Wayne County is remote, so call ahead at (435) 836-1301 before making the trip. Bring the full names of both spouses, the approximate year of divorce, and your photo ID. Staff can look up cases and make copies. Older records from 1898 onward are available at the courthouse or through the Utah State Archives.
The Utah State Archives at archives.utah.gov holds historical court records for Wayne County going back to 1898. Some records are indexed online through the Archives catalog. The Archives is open to the public at 300 S. Rio Grande Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84101, phone (801) 531-3800. FamilySearch has also digitized some historical Wayne County records as part of their Utah State Archives collection covering years 1848 through 2001.
Filing a Divorce Decree in Wayne County
To file for divorce in Wayne County, you start at the Sixth District Court Clerk's office in Loa. You submit your Petition for Divorce and pay the filing fee of approximately $330. The clerk assigns a case number and your record begins. Under Utah Code § 30-3-1, you must have lived in Utah and in Wayne County for at least three months before filing. Given the county's small population, verify residency requirements with the clerk if you have recently moved.
After filing, you must serve the respondent with the divorce papers. You can use the county sheriff, a private process server, or certified mail with return receipt. Proof of service goes in the court file. Utah allows no-fault divorce on the ground of irreconcilable differences. Fault grounds under § 30-3-1 include adultery, willful desertion for more than one year, habitual drunkenness, felony conviction, and cruel treatment.
Cases with minor children require both parties to complete the mandatory divorce orientation course under Utah Code § 30-3-11.2 before the court can finalize the divorce. Utah law also sets waiting periods under Utah Code § 30-3-18. Thirty days must pass after filing for cases without minor children. Ninety days are required for cases that involve children.
Once all steps are complete, the judge signs the Divorce Decree. Under Utah Code § 30-3-7, the decree is final when entered by the clerk. Property and support terms in the decree are governed by Utah Code § 30-3-5, which requires equitable orders on all marital property, debts, custody, and support obligations.
What Wayne County Divorce Records Contain
A Wayne County divorce case file holds the full record of the proceedings. It starts with the Petition for Divorce. Financial Declarations show income and assets. A Parenting Plan is included when children are involved. The Property Settlement Agreement covers how property and debts are divided. Temporary Orders may be issued during the case. The Final Decree of Divorce closes the file.
The Divorce Decree is the document most people need. It is the signed court order dissolving the marriage. Certified copies are required for legal name changes, property transfers, and many financial matters. You can request certified copies from the Sixth District Court Clerk in Loa. Copy fees are $0.25 per page, and certified copies cost $8.00 plus $0.50 per page.
Wayne County divorce records are public under Utah Code § 63G-2-201. Any person may request to view them. Personal financial details and information about minor children are redacted from public copies under Utah Code § 63G-2-302. The decree itself remains open to public inspection. Marriage and divorce records become fully public after 75 years in Utah.
Wayne County Divorce Certificates and Vital Records
The Utah Office of Vital Records holds short-form divorce certificates for Wayne County cases from 1978 through 2010. A certificate confirms the divorce took place and lists the names, date, and county, but it does not include the full terms of the settlement. Order online at vitalrecords.utah.gov, by mail, or in person at 288 North 1460 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-1012, phone (801) 538-6105. The first copy costs $18 and each additional copy ordered the same day costs $10.
For the full Divorce Decree or for divorces before 1978 or after 2010, contact the Sixth District Court Clerk in Loa. Wayne County records go back to 1898 at the courthouse. For older historical records, contact the Utah State Archives. Because Wayne County is small, some older records may require more search time to locate.
The Utah Courts how-to guide at utcourts.gov provides step-by-step instructions for obtaining divorce records in any Utah county, including Wayne County's Sixth District.
Note: Wayne County divorce records begin in 1898. The county was carved from Piute County that same decade. Historical records prior to 1898 may be found in Piute County archives or through the Utah State Archives collection for the Sixth District.
Research Resources for Wayne County Divorce Records
Finding older Wayne County divorce records takes some planning. Wayne County is remote and sparsely populated. Resources are fewer than in large urban counties. Start online. The XChange system and FamilySearch are your best first steps for cases filed after 1997 and before that, respectively.
The Tri-County Bookmobile serves Wayne County with library services at 79 N 100 W, Bicknell, UT 84715, phone (435) 425-3170. While it does not hold court records, it provides internet access and interlibrary loan services that can help with genealogy and records research in Wayne County.
FamilySearch at familysearch.org has digitized portions of the Utah State Archives collection including records from many Utah counties through 2001. Wayne County records are in this collection. Some records are indexed and some must be searched in order by date. The FamilySearch collection is free to search and includes divorce records mixed with other court files from the Sixth District.
The Wayne County Historical Society maintains local records and county history books at the County Clerk's office in Loa. Two published histories of Wayne County are available: "A History of Wayne County" by Mariam B. Murphy and "Rainbow Views: A History of Wayne County" by Anne Snow. These can provide context when researching family records and may help confirm dates and names for divorce searches.
Nearby Counties
Wayne County borders several other rural Utah counties. The Sixth District Court handles cases for Wayne and several neighboring counties. File your divorce in the county where you live and where you have met the three-month residency requirement.