Salt Lake City Probate Court Records
Salt Lake City probate court records are held at the Third District Court in downtown Salt Lake City. When someone dies with or without a will in Salt Lake City, their estate case goes through this court. The records are public and include petitions, inventories, wills, and final orders. You can search Salt Lake City probate filings online through the Utah Courts XChange system or visit the Matheson Courthouse in person to review case files and request copies.
Salt Lake City Quick Facts
Third District Court: Salt Lake City Probate
All probate filings for Salt Lake City go to the Third Judicial District Court. The court sits at the Scott M. Matheson Courthouse at 450 South State Street. This building handles estate administration, will contests, guardianships, conservatorships, and all related probate matters for Salt Lake County. Salt Lake City is the county seat, so the courthouse is central and easy to reach.
The probate division can be reached by phone at (801) 238-7164. General court inquiries go to (801) 238-7300. The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. If you need document copies by mail, send your request and payment to P.O. Box 1860, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-1860. You can also email copy requests to slccopy@utcourts.gov. Plain copies cost $0.25 per page and certified copies are $0.50 per page plus a $4.00 certification fee.
| Court | Third Judicial District Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 450 South State St, P.O. Box 1860, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-1860 |
| Probate Division | (801) 238-7164 |
| General Line | (801) 238-7300 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Mail Copies | P.O. Box 1860, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-1860 |
| Email Copies | slccopy@utcourts.gov |
The Third District Court serves Salt Lake County and handles the largest volume of probate cases in Utah. Because Salt Lake City has about 200,000 residents, the court sees a high volume of estate filings each year. Parking is available at nearby paid garages. Bring a photo ID when you visit.
For more on how to access Salt Lake City probate records through the court, the Salt Lake County probate records page has useful details on what records are available and how to get them.
The Third District Court at the Matheson Courthouse handles all Salt Lake City estate and probate filings. The probate court overview covers what the Third District Court handles and how cases move through the system.
Search Salt Lake City Probate Records Online
The primary tool for searching probate court records in Salt Lake City is the Utah Courts XChange system. XChange gives you access to case index data, party names, filing dates, hearing schedules, and case status. You do not need an account to run a basic name search. For document-level access, you pay per search and per document. The fee is $5.00 to start an account, $0.35 per search, and $1.00 per document viewed. A $40.00 monthly flat-rate subscription is also available for frequent users.
To use XChange, go to utcourts.gov/xchange. Search by the name of the deceased person or case number. XChange covers cases from all Utah district courts, including the Third District. For Salt Lake City probate records from recent decades, XChange is your best starting point.
The Salt Lake County court records portal also provides information on how to access filings and navigate the court system for probate matters. Parties to a case can use MyCourtCase at no charge to view their own case documents.
The Salt Lake County court access page at saltlakecountycourt.us outlines the different ways to reach probate records for Salt Lake City estates filed at the Third District Court.
Salt Lake City Probate Records: What They Contain
Probate court records in Salt Lake City include documents filed from the time a petition is submitted through the close of the estate. Most cases begin with a petition for formal or informal probate, a death certificate, and any last will and testament. From there, records grow to include an inventory of assets, notices to creditors, claims filed by creditors, court orders on disputes, and a final accounting. The probate decree or order closing the estate is the last document added.
Some records types you may find in a Salt Lake City probate file:
- Petition for probate or appointment of personal representative
- Will and codicils (if any)
- Inventory and appraisement of estate assets
- Creditor claims and court rulings on them
- Orders and decrees from the judge
- Final accounting and distribution records
- Guardianship and conservatorship petitions
Salt Lake City probate records go back to 1852. The Salt Lake County Archives at 4505 South 5600 West, West Valley City, UT 84120 holds historical probate records, including 43 microfilm rolls covering 1852 through 1910. For genealogy research, the FamilySearch Salt Lake County genealogy guide explains where to find older probate and court records. Divorce and court records begin from 1896 in that database.
Note: Not all records are available online. Very old Salt Lake City probate records may only exist on microfilm at the Salt Lake County Archives or at the Utah State Archives.
Filing Probate in Salt Lake City
When a Salt Lake City resident dies, the person responsible for the estate must open a probate case at the Third District Court within three years of the death. Utah law sets this limit under Utah Code Title 75, which governs all estate and probate matters in the state. Missing the three-year window can make it very hard to administer the estate properly.
The initial filing fee for a probate case in Salt Lake City is $375. This covers the cost of opening the case at the Third District Court. You file a petition for appointment of a personal representative and attach the will if one exists. If no will exists, Utah's intestacy rules under Title 75 determine who inherits. The court issues Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration to give the personal representative legal authority to act.
Small estates under $100,000 may qualify for the simplified affidavit process. Rather than opening a full probate case, an heir can use a small estate affidavit to collect assets directly. This approach skips formal court involvement and saves time and money for Salt Lake City families handling modest estates. Forms for this process are available at utcourts.gov/forms.
Utah also requires heirs to survive the decedent by at least 120 hours to inherit under the 120-hour rule. This rule is set out in Utah Code and applies to Salt Lake City estates as it does statewide. If an heir does not survive that period, their share passes as if they died before the decedent. The court uses this rule when reviewing heirship during probate.
Historical Probate Records: Salt Lake City Archives
For estate cases filed before the digital era, Salt Lake City researchers often turn to physical archives. The Salt Lake County Archives in West Valley City holds many older probate files. The Utah State Archives at 346 South Rio Grande Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84101 holds statewide historical records. You can call the Utah State Archives at (801) 538-3012 or visit their research page at archives.utah.gov.
FamilySearch is also a strong resource for older Salt Lake City probate records. The Utah Probate Records guide on FamilySearch explains what collections exist, which years are covered, and where originals are held. Salt Lake City probate records dating to 1852 are among the earliest in the state and are frequently used for genealogy research. Many early records have been digitized and are available to browse without a fee.
Legal Help for Probate in Salt Lake City
Probate can be complex, especially when there are disputes over a will or large assets involved. Salt Lake City has many licensed attorneys who handle estate and probate matters. The Utah State Bar has a lawyer referral service to help you find a probate attorney in Salt Lake City. You can search by practice area and location.
For those who cannot afford a private attorney, Utah Legal Services offers free legal help to qualifying residents. Call or visit their office serving Salt Lake City to find out if you qualify based on income. The court self-help center at the Matheson Courthouse also helps pro se filers understand how to complete forms and what steps to follow. All court forms are free at utcourts.gov/forms.
Utah law governing probate is found in Utah Code Title 75, the Utah Uniform Probate Code. This covers everything from intestate succession to personal representative duties. Public access to probate records in Salt Lake City is governed by the Government Records Access and Management Act at Utah Code Title 63G, Chapter 2.
Nearby Cities: Salt Lake County Probate
The cities below are all in Salt Lake County and use the same Third District Court for probate filings. Residents of any Salt Lake County city file at the same Matheson Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.