Probate Court Records in Beaver County
Beaver County probate court records are filed at the Fifth District Court in Beaver, Utah. This court has served the county since the 1800s, and probate court records here go back to 1851. That makes Beaver County one of the older probate record collections in Utah. If you need to search an estate filing, locate a will, or find guardianship records for Beaver County, you can go to the courthouse, contact the county clerk, or search through the Utah Courts online system. The Utah State Archives also holds historical Beaver County probate court records on microfilm through FamilySearch, making older estate research more accessible than in many rural counties.
Beaver County Quick Facts
Fifth District Court Beaver County Probate
The Fifth District Court handles all Beaver County probate court records. The courthouse is at 2270 South 525 West, PO Box 1683, Beaver, UT 84713. You can reach the court at (435) 438-5309. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The Honorable Ann Marie McIff Allen is the presiding judge. This court covers Beaver, Iron, and Washington Counties as part of the Utah Fifth Judicial District.
Because the Fifth District covers three counties, the same court system that handles Beaver County probate records also handles estate filings from neighboring Iron and Washington counties. If you are researching a family that may have moved between these counties, it is worth checking court records in all three. For Beaver County specifically, probate cases are filed in Beaver and handled by the same district court staff.
The court handles the full range of probate matters under Utah's Uniform Probate Code. That includes will validation, estate administration, intestate proceedings, guardianship appointments, and conservatorship cases. All of these create public records in the Beaver County probate court file that you can search or request copies of.
| Court |
Fifth District Court 2270 South 525 West, PO Box 1683 Beaver, UT 84713 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (435) 438-5309 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Judge | Hon. Ann Marie McIff Allen |
| Judicial District | Fifth Judicial District (Beaver, Iron, Washington Counties) |
Beaver County Clerk Probate Records Access
The Beaver County Clerk/Auditor's office at 105 East Center Street, PO Box 789, Beaver, UT 84713 keeps older probate case files and historical estate records for the county. The office can be reached at (435) 438-6463. For records predating the current courthouse or electronic filing systems, the clerk's office is often the best starting point. They can tell you whether a particular file is held locally or has been transferred to the Utah State Archives.
Historical probate case files for Beaver County from 1851 to 1932 are available on microfilm through FamilySearch. This is a major resource for genealogists and legal researchers. The microfilm collection covers estate settlements, wills, guardianship bonds, letters of administration, and related documents. FamilySearch makes these available online or at Family History Centers, so you may not need to travel to Beaver to access them.
The Utah State Archives at archives.utah.gov also holds Fifth District Court records that cover Beaver County. That collection spans 1896 to 1955 and includes probate, civil, and criminal case files. Court registers, minute books, judgment books, and other materials are part of this collection. Microfilm copies are held both at the Utah State Archives in Salt Lake City and at Southern Utah University in Cedar City.
Note: The Utah State Archives Fifth District Court collection at Southern Utah University is a useful in-person resource for Beaver County probate researchers in the southern part of the state.
State Archives Beaver County Estate Records
The Utah State Archives holds a rich set of Fifth District Court records that include Beaver County probate court records from 1896 to 1955. These records cover estate filings, wills, guardianships, bonds, and letters of administration from the early statehood and territorial periods. Accessing them gives researchers a deep look at Beaver County's legal history.
The screenshot below is from the Utah State Archives Fifth District Court research guide, which describes the full scope of what is available, how the collection is organized, and how to request records or plan a visit.
This research guide from the Utah State Archives is the most complete reference for locating historical Beaver County probate court records that predate electronic systems.
The FamilySearch microfilm collection for Beaver County probate records from 1851 to 1932 is separate from the archives holdings and accessible online or at local Family History Centers. The two collections together give you coverage from 1851 through the modern court system, with very few gaps. For estate research in Beaver County that spans more than a century, these two resources are the foundation.
For recent probate cases, Utah Courts XChange is the main online tool. XChange covers Fifth District Court records and lets you search by name, case number, or filing year. Basic case status is often viewable without a fee. Full document access costs $1.00 per document after setup.
Types of Beaver County Probate Court Records
Beaver County probate court records include will probate cases, intestate estates, guardianship filings, and conservatorship proceedings. Will probate is the most common. The Fifth District Court validates the will and oversees estate distribution. Informal probate handles simple cases with no disputes. Formal probate, which requires a court hearing, is used when heirs contest the will or the estate is unusually complex.
Intestate cases come through when someone dies without a will in Beaver County. The court appoints a personal representative and distributes assets under Utah's intestacy laws. Guardianship and conservatorship cases appear when a minor needs a legal guardian or an incapacitated adult requires someone to manage their finances or personal care. All of these case types create public records under GRAMA that any person can request from the Fifth District Court.
Utah's probate rules under Utah Code Title 75 govern how cases are handled in Beaver County. The three-year window to open a probate case after death and the 120-hour survival rule for heirs both apply here. Small estates with a total value under $100,000 may qualify for a simplified affidavit process, bypassing full court proceedings. The filing fee for standard probate cases in Utah is $375.
Public Access and Fees for Beaver Probate Records
Beaver County probate court records are public under GRAMA at Utah Code ยง 63G-2. This law gives any person the right to view or copy court records. You do not need to be a lawyer or a party to the case. The law applies to all Fifth District Court records in Beaver County.
Standard copy fees apply. Plain copies cost $0.25 per page. Certified copies are $0.50 per page plus a $4.00 certification fee per document. Request copies in person at the courthouse in Beaver, by mail to PO Box 1683, Beaver, UT 84713, or online through XChange at $1.00 per document. For older records at the Utah State Archives or on FamilySearch microfilm, different fees and access rules may apply. Check each source before requesting.
The Utah State Bar can refer you to a probate attorney who handles Fifth District cases in Beaver County. Court forms for probate filings, including petition forms, inventory sheets, and closing documents, are available free at utcourts.gov/forms.
Nearby Utah Counties
Beaver County borders several counties in southern and central Utah. If the decedent lived near a county line, check the last known address to determine which county holds the probate court record.