Find Probate Records in Midvale
Midvale probate court records are handled by the Third Judicial District Court in Salt Lake County. Whether you are searching for an estate case, a filed will, a guardianship proceeding, or a conservatorship petition tied to a Midvale resident, that court is where you will find it. You can search online using the Utah XChange system or visit the Scott M. Matheson Courthouse in Salt Lake City. Midvale has its own Justice Court, but it handles minor matters only. All probate work for Midvale goes to the district court level.
Midvale Quick Facts
Where Midvale Probate Cases Are Filed
Midvale is part of Salt Lake County, and all probate matters for Midvale residents go to the Third Judicial District Court. The court sits at the Scott M. Matheson Courthouse, 450 South State Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84114. The main line is (801) 238-7300. If you have a question specific to probate, the probate division handles those inquiries. The courthouse is open Monday through Friday. The Midvale Justice Court, which is a city-level court, handles misdemeanors, traffic cases, and small claims only. It does not have jurisdiction over probate, estate, or guardianship matters.
The Third District Court is where a personal representative files to open an estate, where a will gets admitted to probate, where creditor claims are reviewed, and where guardianship or conservatorship cases are heard. All of these case types are tied to Midvale through Salt Lake County. The court has managed these filings for the county since 1852, so the record base is deep, particularly for older estates and historical family research.
| Court | Third Judicial District Court |
|---|---|
| Address | Scott M. Matheson Courthouse 450 South State Street Salt Lake City, UT 84114 |
| Phone | (801) 238-7300 |
| Website | utcourts.gov |
Search Midvale Probate Records Online
Utah Courts XChange is the main online system for finding Third District Court records, including those tied to Midvale estates and guardianships. You can search by the name of the deceased, the personal representative, the case number, or the year of filing. Results include case status, party names, filing dates, scheduled hearings, and document images where available. XChange pulls data directly from the court system, so it is more current and complete than any third-party aggregator.
The account setup fee is $5.00. Each search costs $0.35 and each document view costs $1.00. If you need to look up multiple cases or pull several documents, the $40.00 monthly flat-rate subscription covers all searches and document access for that month. It is worth doing the math before you start. A few one-off searches are cheaper individually. A day of heavy research makes the monthly rate the better deal. Sign up at utcourts.gov/xchange.
For free basic access, MyCourtCase shows docket activity and party names for Third District Court cases. It does not show document images, but it is enough to confirm a case was filed or to retrieve a case number before logging into XChange.
The screenshot below shows the Midvale City Government website, which serves as the local reference point for Salt Lake County resources and confirms that probate matters for Midvale residents are handled at the Third District Court level.
Midvale City's official site connects residents to Salt Lake County services, reinforcing that the Third Judicial District Court is the correct venue for all Midvale probate court records.
Midvale Probate Records Copies and Fees
Plain copies of Midvale probate court records cost $0.25 per page at the courthouse. Certified copies run $0.50 per page plus a $4.00 certification fee per document. A 12-page estate inventory would be $3.00 as a plain copy or $10.00 certified. Banks, title companies, and out-of-state probate courts often ask for certified copies of letters testamentary, orders, or the will itself. Plan for the higher rate if you are dealing with financial institutions.
To get copies in person, go to the District Court Clerk window at the Matheson Courthouse during regular business hours. Bring photo ID. If you have a case number, the lookup is fast. If you only know the name of the deceased or the estate, the clerk can search by name but it may take a few extra minutes. Mail requests are also accepted. Send the court a written request with the case name, the specific documents you need, and a check for the estimated amount. Online payments go through utcourts.gov/epayments.
Note: For older Midvale estate records from the 1800s or early 1900s, contact the Utah State Archives at archives.utah.gov before heading to the courthouse, since some of that material has been transferred out of active court files.
Probate Case Types for Midvale Estates
Utah probate runs through two main paths. Informal probate is for cases where a valid will exists, all heirs are in agreement, and there are no contests or unusual complications. No formal court hearing is required for informal probate. It is faster and more straightforward. Formal probate is needed when there is no will, when someone challenges the will or the person appointed to manage the estate, or when legal disputes arise during administration. The filing fee is $375.00 to open either type of case at the Third District Court.
Midvale estates under $100,000 with no real property may qualify for a simplified small estate affidavit process under Utah law. If eligible, the estate can skip formal probate entirely. The person signing the affidavit accepts legal responsibility for its accuracy. If the deceased owned a home, vacant land, or any other real estate in Midvale or elsewhere in Utah, that property cannot transfer by affidavit. It has to go through the court, regardless of the total estate value.
Utah Law Governing Midvale Probate Cases
Midvale probate cases are governed by Utah Title 75, the Utah Uniform Probate Code. This applies statewide. Two provisions matter most when researching or filing in Salt Lake County. Utah Code Section 75-2-104, the 120-hour survival rule, says an heir must live at least 120 hours longer than the deceased to inherit. This rule matters most when two people die close together in the same incident and controls which estate passes assets to which. Utah Code Section 75-3-107 gives a three-year window to open formal probate after a death. Miss that deadline and the court will not accept a formal petition.
Utah's Government Records Access and Management Act, known as GRAMA, gives the public the right to access most court filings. Midvale probate records are generally open. A judge can seal records under narrow legal conditions, but standard estate proceedings are not sealed. GRAMA is the legal basis for requesting copies of Midvale probate filings from the Third District Court.
The screenshot below shows the Utah Courts XChange portal, which is the official system for searching Midvale probate records and other Third District Court filings online.
XChange is operated directly by the Utah court system and provides the most complete online access to Midvale probate court records available outside the courthouse.
Historical and Genealogical Probate Records
Salt Lake County probate records date back to 1852. FamilySearch has free access to many of these older Salt Lake County records through its Utah Probate Records collection. If you are doing genealogy work or trying to trace an estate from the territorial or early statehood period, FamilySearch is a good starting point before digging into the court archives directly.
The Utah State Archives at 4505 South 5600 West, West Valley City, holds historical Salt Lake County probate records that have been moved out of the active courthouse files. Before visiting, check archives.utah.gov to confirm what is held and how to request access. Staff can help you identify which collection covers the time period and county you are researching.
Court Forms and Filing Help
Free Utah probate forms are available at utcourts.gov/forms. The site groups them by proceeding type, so you can find forms for informal probate, formal probate, small estate affidavits, guardianship, or conservatorship without sorting through unrelated materials. Always print from the current version since older forms are rejected by the court. The Third District Court also has a self-help center at the Matheson Courthouse where staff can walk you through which forms to use and how the filing process works. They do not give legal advice, but they do help with procedural questions.
If you need an attorney for a Midvale probate case, the Utah State Bar at utahbar.org operates a referral service with attorneys in Salt Lake County who handle estate and probate matters. The service can connect you with someone quickly if you are working against a deadline or facing a contested estate.
Nearby Cities in Salt Lake County
These cities are also in Salt Lake County and file probate cases at the same Third District Court as Midvale.