Utah Court Records: Difference between revisions

When Utah became a state in 1896, its judicial system included a supreme court, state district courts, and justice of the peace courts. Utah Court Records less than about twenty years old can be searched from the website of the [http://www.peoplesmart.com/court-records/utah Utah Court Administrator]. Records generally less than fifty years old are available at the court. For cases more than fifty years old, check with the [[Utah_State_Archives|Utah State Archives]]. Law firms and [http://www.utcourts.gov/lawlibrary/collections/computer.html law libraries] often have access to either [http://web2.westlaw.com/signon/default.wl?bhcp=1&fn=_top&newdoor=true&rs=WLW13%2E04&vr=2%2E0 Westlaw] $$ or [https://www.lexisnexis.com/start/signin?service=lexis&contractURL=https%3a%2f%2fw3.lexis.com%2fresearch2%2fauthResource.do%3f_m%3db3acc8858d18349e8117013e14d7aecc&key=_cA481E220-12BC-3332-DC86-CC736A44036F_k6BCCC37B-09D8-69FE-37F0-BC79784B131C&event=form LexisNexis] $$ for extensive case reports and abstracts, though not original records.  

'''The Utah Supreme Court''' is the highest state court. It has original jurisdiction over questions from federal courts. It hears appeals from the district courts, state agencies, and in some cases the court of appeals. Records are kept by the clerk of the Utah Supreme Court. Some supreme court records have been sent to the [[Utah_State_Archives|Utah State Archives]], which has prepared a [http://archives.utah.gov/research/guides/courts-supreme.html research guide] for the Supreme Court. Cases since 1996 are on the [http://www.utcourts.gov/courts/sup/ Utah State Courts] website.  

'''The Utah Court of Appeals '''hears appeals from district courts. The [http://www.utcourts.gov/lawlibrary/collections/print.html Utah State Law Library] has copies of appellate decisions, also available online from 1997 or later depending on the type of case appealed. See [http://www.utcourts.gov/opinions/ Appellate Court Opinions]  

'''State district courts.''' In 1896 the state was divided into seven state court districts. Through the years the district boundaries changed several times (see [http://archives.utah.gov/research/guides/courts-jurisdiction.htm chart]), up to the current eight. Courthouses are located in each county, see the [http://www.utcourts.gov/directory/ Directory] from the Utah State Courts. State district courts have jurisdiction in all criminal felonies and civil actions. Domestic relations cases such as divorces, separations, child custody, adoptions, name changes, and will and estate settlements are also handled by these courts. Also, naturalizations are handled through the district courts until around the 1930s.  

The Utah State Archives has a large collection of historical court records. Research guides have been prepared on these topics:

*[http://archives.utah.gov/research/guides/courts-district.html District Court Records] - comprehensive list by district and county of all records, whether found at the Archives or at the court

*[http://archives.utah.gov/research/guides/probate.htm Probates]

*[http://archives.utah.gov/research/guides/naturalizations.htm Naturalizations]

 

FamilySearch has digitized the probate records of many Utah counties mostly before 1930. They are split between [[Utah_County_Probate_Records_(FamilySearch_Historical_Records)|Utah Probate Records, 1851-1961]]  and [[Utah,_State_Archives_Records_(FamilySearch_Historical_Records)|Utah State Archives Records, 1848-2001]].