Draper Probate Court Records
Probate court records for Draper are kept at the Third Judicial District Court, which serves all of Salt Lake County. The court handles estate cases, wills, guardianships, and conservatorships for Draper residents. You can search these records online through the Utah XChange system, check basic docket info at MyCourtCase, or go to the courthouse in person. Most probate filings become public once a case is opened. This page covers how to find and get Draper probate court records through each method available to you.
Draper Quick Facts
Where Draper Probate Records Are Filed
Draper is part of Salt Lake County, so all probate cases go through the Third Judicial District Court. The main courthouse is the Scott M. Matheson Courthouse at 450 South State Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84114. The probate division can be reached at (801) 238-7164, and general court inquiries go to (801) 238-7300. This is the office that files new cases, gives out copies, and handles all estate, guardianship, and conservatorship proceedings for Draper residents.
| Court | Third Judicial District Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 450 South State Street Salt Lake City, UT 84114 |
| Probate Division | (801) 238-7164 |
| General Phone | (801) 238-7300 |
| Website | utcourts.gov |
Salt Lake County probate records go back to 1852. Records from the 19th century and early 20th century may be stored at the Utah State Archives rather than the courthouse. If you need old records, contact the Utah State Archives at 346 South Rio Grande Street in Salt Lake City before driving to the Matheson Courthouse.
The Salt Lake County Recorder is located at 2001 S State Street, Salt Lake City. The Recorder handles property deed transfers that often follow a probate case, but the probate records themselves stay with the District Court Clerk.
Searching Draper Probate Records Online
The Utah Courts XChange system is the main way to search probate court records for Draper cases from home. XChange lets you look up cases by the name of the deceased, the estate administrator, or the case number. You get access to party information, filing dates, case status, and document images for Third District Court cases including all Salt Lake County probate filings. It covers cases that are open and many that have been closed.
XChange charges a $5 one-time account setup fee. After that, each search costs $0.35 and each document costs $1.00 to view. If you plan to check a lot of records, a $40 flat monthly rate covers all searches and documents. Go to utcourts.gov/xchange to create an account. This is the fastest option if you are in Draper or anywhere outside Salt Lake City and do not want to make the trip downtown.
For basic docket lookups, the Utah Courts also offer MyCourtCase at no cost. That system shows party names and hearing dates but does not give you access to actual documents. Use it to confirm a case exists or to find a case number before paying for XChange access.
The screenshot below shows the Draper City Government website, which directs Salt Lake County residents to court resources including probate filings for the Draper area.
Draper City's official site connects residents to Salt Lake County services, including the Third District Court that handles probate cases for the area.
In-Person Access to Draper Probate Filings
You can search and view Draper probate court records at the Scott M. Matheson Courthouse without a subscription or any advance payment. Public access terminals are available at the courthouse and let you search the case index for free. Staff at the District Court Clerk window can confirm whether a probate case was filed, pull case files for review, and make copies on request.
Copy fees for probate records are $0.25 per page for plain copies. Certified copies cost $0.50 per page plus a $4.00 certification fee per document. If you need a certified copy of a will, letters testamentary, or a probate court order, add that certification fee to your budget. Ask the clerk how many pages are in the document before you order, so you know the total cost.
Older Salt Lake County probate records that are no longer active at the courthouse may be held at the Utah State Archives. The Archives are at 4505 South 5600 West in West Valley City for the Salt Lake County collection. Call ahead to check on records from the 1800s or early 1900s before you visit.
Note: Call (801) 238-7164 before visiting to confirm current hours and whether your records are at the courthouse or need to be pulled from off-site storage.
Probate Case Types for Draper Residents
Utah has two main types of probate. Informal probate works for cases where a valid will exists and the heirs agree on the distribution. No court hearing is needed, and the estate can move faster. Formal probate applies when there is no will, when the will is challenged, or when disputes arise among heirs or creditors. Both types are filed at the Third District Court in Salt Lake City for Draper estates. The filing fee to open either type is $375.
Small estates have a simpler path. If the total estate value is under $100,000 and no real property is involved, heirs can use a small estate affidavit to transfer assets without opening a full probate case. This avoids the $375 filing fee and the full court process. The person who signs the affidavit takes on legal responsibility for its accuracy under Utah law. Real property in Draper or anywhere else in Utah always requires formal court action to transfer title, so the affidavit route is not an option if real estate is part of the estate.
Guardianship and conservatorship cases for minors or incapacitated adults are also handled at the Third District Court. These are separate from estate cases but are indexed in the same probate case system and can be searched through XChange.
Utah Probate Law and Draper Cases
All Draper probate cases are governed by Utah Title 75, the Utah Uniform Probate Code. Two parts of that law come up often when people search or file probate court records in Salt Lake County.
Utah Code Section 75-2-104 sets a 120-hour survival rule. A person must outlive the deceased by at least five days to inherit under a will or through intestate succession. When two people die in the same accident or close in time, this rule controls which estate inherits from the other and shapes which cases end up in the Third District Court records.
Utah Code Section 75-3-107 sets a three-year deadline to start formal probate. After three years from the date of death, formal probate is generally not allowed. That means some older estates were never filed in court, and no probate record exists for them. If you search Draper probate records and find nothing, the estate may have used the small estate affidavit process or was simply not filed within the time limit.
Utah's Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA) protects public access to court records. Most probate filings are public records. A small number of records can be sealed by court order, but that is the exception. The general rule favors open access for Salt Lake County probate filings including Draper cases.
Historical Salt Lake County Probate Records
Salt Lake County probate records date back to 1852. Many of the earliest records have been digitized and are available for free through genealogy databases. FamilySearch has indexed Salt Lake County probate and court records going back to the territorial period. This is a good first stop for records from the 1800s or early 1900s before you contact the Archives or the courthouse.
The Utah State Archives holds historical records that are no longer kept at the courthouse. For old Draper or Salt Lake County probate cases, the Archives staff can help you figure out what exists and whether it has been digitized. Reach them through archives.utah.gov before making a visit. Some older collections are indexed online, and others need an in-person request.
The screenshot below is from the Utah Courts XChange portal, which also covers Salt Lake County probate records for more recent cases including those from Draper.
XChange is the main online tool for current Salt Lake County probate case records, while FamilySearch and the State Archives cover historical filings.
Draper Probate Court Forms and Help
All probate forms for Draper cases are free to download at utcourts.gov/forms. The site groups forms by case type, so you can find petitions for informal and formal probate, applications for letters testamentary, and forms to close an estate without sorting through unrelated categories. Always download fresh copies before filing since forms are updated periodically and older versions may be rejected.
The Third District Court has self-help resources for people who are not using an attorney. Court staff can explain the filing process and point you to the right forms, but they cannot give legal advice on which option to choose or how to complete documents. If you need an attorney for a Draper probate case, the Utah State Bar runs a lawyer referral service at utahbar.org.
Note: Court staff at (801) 238-7164 can confirm filing requirements and copy fees for Salt Lake County probate cases but cannot advise on legal strategy or how to interpret Utah Title 75.
Nearby Cities in Salt Lake County
These cities are also in Salt Lake County and use the same Third District Court for probate filings.