Davis County Probate Court Records
Davis County probate court records are filed with the Second District Court, which has locations in Farmington and Bountiful. The court handles all estate cases in Davis County, including wills, estate administration, guardianship, and conservatorship proceedings. If you need to search or obtain Davis County probate court records, the Utah Courts XChange system is the main online tool, and the Farmington or Bountiful courthouses serve in-person requests. Records in Davis County date back to 1853, making this one of Utah's older court archives.
Davis County Quick Facts
Second District Court - Davis County
The Second Judicial District Court serves Davis County from two locations. The main courthouse is in Farmington at 800 West State Street, which is also where the County Clerk/Auditor office is located. A second court in Bountiful at 805 South Main serves residents in the southern part of the county. Both handle Davis County probate court records and are part of the same unified court system. You can reach the Farmington courthouse at (801) 447-3800 and the Bountiful location at (801) 397-7000.
The Davis County Clerk/Auditor is located at 61 South Main Street, Room 101, Farmington, UT 84025, phone (801) 451-3213. This office is the Chief Administrative Officer under GRAMA for county government records. For probate court records specifically, your contact is the District Court Clerk at the Farmington or Bountiful courthouse. These are different offices that handle different types of records, so it helps to know which one you need before you call. Court hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM at both locations.
| Farmington Location |
Second District Court 800 West State Street, P.O. Box 769 Farmington, UT 84025 Phone: (801) 447-3800 |
|---|---|
| Bountiful Location |
Second District Court 805 South Main Bountiful, UT 84010 Phone: (801) 397-7000 |
| County Clerk/Auditor |
61 South Main Street, Room 101 Farmington, UT 84025 Phone: (801) 451-3213 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
How to Access Davis County Probate Records
Davis County probate court records can be searched online or at the courthouse. Both options are available, and the right choice depends on what you need from the record and how much detail you require.
Online access is available through the Utah Courts XChange system. This platform covers probate court records for all Utah counties, including Davis County. You can search by the name of the deceased, a case number, or the year the case was filed. XChange charges $5 to register, $0.20 per search, and $1.00 per document to view. A monthly plan is also offered for regular users. The system is available at any time, which makes it useful when you cannot visit during court hours.
For in-person access, visit either the Farmington or Bountiful courthouse during regular hours. The Farmington location handles most Davis County probate court records. Bring the name of the deceased, an approximate year of death or filing, or a case number if you have one. Clerks can search the system while you wait and print copies on site. Copy fees are $0.25 to $0.50 per page depending on whether you need plain or certified copies. Staff can also help you submit a written request if you need documents mailed to you.
The Davis County court records page at davisrecords.us gives an overview of how to search and request records from the Second District Court in Davis County.
Note: GRAMA, codified at Utah Code § 63G-2, gives the public the right to access Davis County probate court records. You do not need to be a party to the case.
Probate Case Types in Davis County
Davis County probate court records include several types of cases. The most common are estate probate cases, which open when a person dies and leaves assets that need to be distributed. Whether there is a will or not, the court may need to be involved.
Informal probate is used when a valid will exists and there are no disputes. The process is handled largely by the personal representative without court hearings. It is quicker and less expensive than other types of probate in Davis County. Formal probate requires a court hearing and applies when the will is disputed or there is no will. The court oversees the process more closely in these cases. Supervised formal probate is the most involved type and is used when the estate is complex or there is concern about how it is being managed. All three types generate probate court records in Davis County that can be searched and obtained by the public.
Guardianship and conservatorship cases also appear in Davis County probate court records. These involve appointing someone to care for a minor child or an incapacitated adult. The court regularly reviews these cases to ensure the protected person's needs are being met. Small estates under $100,000 can use a simplified affidavit procedure under Utah Code Title 75, which reduces the court's involvement significantly.
Historical Davis County Probate Court Records
Davis County has court records going back to 1852, with probate records starting in 1853 and marriage records from 1887. This history spans more than 170 years of estate filings in one of Utah's older counties.
The image below links to the Davis County court records resource, which covers how to access both modern and historical records through the Second District Court and related archives.
This page is a practical guide for anyone searching Davis County probate court records, including information on what records are held at each courthouse location and what is available digitally.
For older Davis County probate court records that predate the modern court system, the Utah State Archives is the main resource. The archives hold court files that have been transferred from the active court and organized by county and year. Researchers can contact the archives to learn what Davis County estate records are available and whether any have been digitized. The Library of Congress Utah courthouse records guide also points to relevant collections for Davis County genealogy and legal history.
Fees for Davis County Probate Records
Davis County uses the same fee schedule as all Utah courts for probate filings and record copies. Filing a new probate case costs $375 as the base fee. This covers most standard informal and formal probate petitions filed with the Second District Court. Small estate affidavits carry a lower filing cost.
For copies of probate court records, the Davis County courthouse charges $0.25 to $0.50 per page. Plain copies are at the lower end and certified copies cost more due to the official seal and certification process. If you need documents delivered by mail, ask about prepayment when you call or submit your request. Online copies through XChange cost $1.00 per document after the search fee. XChange also offers a monthly subscription plan for those who need regular access to Davis County probate court records and other Utah court records.
GRAMA, Utah Code § 63G-2, ensures that Davis County probate court records are open to the public. Any person can request access without stating a reason or being a party to the case. Limited exceptions apply, such as sealed adoption records and certain protected financial details.
Legal Help for Davis County Probate
Several resources can help you handle a probate matter in Davis County, whether you are doing it yourself or looking for professional assistance.
The Utah Courts website at utcourts.gov/forms offers all standard probate forms accepted by the Second District Court in Davis County. These include petitions, inventories, and closing documents, each with written instructions. The Utah State Bar lawyer referral service can connect you with an attorney who handles estate cases in Davis County. For residents who qualify based on income, Utah Legal Services provides free civil legal help, including probate and guardianship matters. Their offices serve northern Utah, which includes Davis County.
The three-year deadline to open probate, set by Utah Code § 75-3-107, applies to Davis County cases just as it does throughout the state. If more than three years have passed since the date of death, opening a standard probate case becomes much harder. The 120-hour survival rule under Utah Code § 75-2-104 also affects who qualifies to inherit in Davis County estates. Heirs who do not survive the deceased by at least five days cannot inherit under that provision.
Note: The Utah State Bar can verify whether an attorney is licensed to practice in Utah and whether any disciplinary actions have been taken before you hire someone to handle probate in Davis County.
Cities in Davis County
Davis County includes several cities in the area between Salt Lake City and Ogden. All probate court records for residents of these cities are handled by the Second District Court in Farmington or Bountiful.
Nearby Counties
Davis County sits between Salt Lake County and Weber County along the Wasatch Front. If you are uncertain whether a probate case belongs in Davis County or a neighboring county, the key factor is where the deceased person lived at the time of death.