Salt Lake County Probate Records

Salt Lake County probate records document actions related to estate settlements in the county. Key documents in these records typically include wills, letters of administration, estate inventories, orders, claims, petitions, and any document filed or generated during a probate proceeding.

Probate is the judicial process of administering a deceased person's estate, including validating their will (if they have one), paying debts, and distributing assets to heirs or beneficiaries. This process is initiated upon the death of a person when the deceased owned assets solely in their name and did not have a trust or a comprehensive estate plan. In Utah, probate can be informal or formal. An informal probate does not involve a court hearing, while a formal probate requires one.

Probate records in Salt Lake are public, like other Salt Lake county court records. Generally, individuals seek out these records to verify inheritance, resolve disputes, or conduct genealogical research.

Are Probate Records Public?

Yes. Probate records are public in Salt Lake County under the Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA)—codified in Utah Code Section 63G-2-101 et seq. Per GRAMA, any record created or maintained by a government entity, including courthouses, is considered a public record unless otherwise exempted by law. To this effect, individuals can request access to files or records of probate cases handled in Salt Lake County.

However, while most documents in probate records are public, some are not. To protect privacy, documents containing sensitive personal information, such as bank details, social security numbers, and medical records, are exempt from public disclosure. Also, adoption records, documents filed for probate under Rule 4-202.04(3), and certain records in guardianship and conservatorship matters are restricted from public access (Utah Code of Judicial Administration 4-202.02).

What is Probate Court in Salt Lake County?

The probate court in Salt Lake County handles wills and administers decedents' estates according to the provisions of the Utah Probate Code. This court also handles guardianship and conservatorship matters. In Salt Lake County, the Third District Court, among other things, handles probate cases.

Below is the contact address of this court in Salt Lake County.

3rd District Court - Salt Lake County (Salt Lake City)
Matheson Courthouse
450 South State Street
P.O. Box 1860,
Salt Lake City, UT 84114-1860
Phone: (801) 238-7300

3rd District Court - Salt Lake County (West Jordan)
8080 South Redwood Road
Suite 1701
West Jordan, UT 84088
Phone: (801) 233-9700

Probate Court Case Lookup

Interested individuals can contact the Salt Lake County District Court or search its database for probate records by visiting its courthouses Monday through Friday during business hours to use a free public terminal. They can also submit a completed "Request for a Record" form in person or by mail to request copies of probate records. The court requires basic information such as case numbers or party names to locate records. Note that fees apply for copies.

District Court (Salt Lake City)
Matheson Courthouse
450 South State Street
P.O. Box 1860,
Salt Lake City, UT 84114-1860
Phone: (801) 238-7300

District Court (West Jordan)
8080 South Redwood Road, Suite 1701
West Jordan, UT 84088
Phone: (801) 233-9700

Additionally, individuals can look up these records online by registering an account on the "Xchange" public search portal. This portal provides information about cases heard in the district court, including probate cases. Through the portal, one can review filed documents, hearings, judgments, and outcomes of probate cases.

How to Find Probate Records Online Free

Individuals seeking free probate records online can visit the Salt Lake County district courthouses. At these locations, they can utilize the free public XChange access. However, this access only allows for reviewing the records; obtaining copies will incur associated costs.

How Long Does Probate Take in Utah

Probate cases in Utah typically take six to 18 months or longer. Generally, while complex probate cases take significantly longer to complete than simple ones, the actual time it takes for a specific probate case to be finalized depends on any or several of these factors:

• Complexity of the estate
• The type of probate—informal or formal
• The presence or absence of a will
• Debt and creditors
• Disputes among beneficiaries
• Court schedule
• Tax issues.

Are Wills Public Record?

Yes. Wills become public records after being filed for probate in Salt Lake County. Before probate, they are not public documents. They are also not public records if the testators choose to deposit their wills with the probate court until their death.

However, even though not common, a will that is supposed to be public after being admitted for probate can be classified as private or protected under Rule 4-202.04(3) of the Code of Judicial Administration.

How to Find Out If Someone Has a Will

To find out if someone has a will, individuals can:

• Ask the testator directly if they are still alive about the existence and location of their will.
• Search the probate records in the county where the testator lived or died. If a will exists and has been filed for probate after a testator’s passing, the court can provide a copy upon request. The Salt Lake County district court maintains probate records and handles requests for these records, including wills.
• If unable to find a will through probate records, reach out to the executor (if known), the attorney who drafted the will, or any beneficiaries named in the will.

Salt Lake County Family Court Case Search

Salt Lake County family law cases are handled in the Salt Lake County District Court. This includes divorce, child custody and support, adoption, domestic violence, and paternity cases. To request access or obtain copies of these records, individuals should contact the Salt Lake County district court or visit the courthouse locations to use a free public terminal to search the court's database.

Additionally, requestors may complete a "Request for a Record" form and submit it in person or by mail to the Salt Lake County district court to request copies of family case records. Search or request criteria include party names, case numbers, or filing dates.

District Court (Salt Lake City)
Matheson Courthouse
450 South State Street
P.O. Box 1860
Salt Lake City, UT 84114-1860
Phone: (801) 238-7300

District Court (West Jordan)
8080 South Redwood Road, Suite 1701
West Jordan, UT, 84088
Phone: (801) 233-9700

Alternatively, interested parties may register and use the Xchange public search portal to find these records online. Xchange offers summary information about cases, including filed documents, held hearings, entered judgments, and the outcomes of completed cases.

While family court records are generally presumed public, exceptions exist. Adoption, domestic violence case records, custody and support records, and paternity are typically exempt from disclosure (Utah Code of Judicial Administration 4-202.02).