Duchesne County Probate Court Records
Duchesne County probate court records have been kept since the county was formed in 1915. The Eighth Judicial District Court serves Duchesne County from two locations, one in Duchesne and one in Roosevelt. Probate cases filed in Duchesne County include estate administration, wills, guardianship, conservatorship, and related trust proceedings. This page explains where to find those records, how to access them online or in person, and what rules govern public access in Duchesne County.
Duchesne County Quick Facts
Eighth District Court and Duchesne County Probate
The Eighth Judicial District Court handles Duchesne County probate matters from two courthouses. The Duchesne location is at 21554 West 9000 South, P.O. Box 990, Duchesne, UT 84021. A second location serves Roosevelt at P.O. Box 1286, Roosevelt, UT 84066. Both operate Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Hon. Samuel P. Chiara is the district judge. Having two court locations reflects the size and geography of this Uinta Basin county.
Duchesne County was created on January 4, 1915, carved from Wasatch County. The county's formal record keeping began that same year. The County Clerk/Auditor maintains marriage, divorce, probate, and court records from 1915 forward. Land records also date to 1915. The County Clerk/Auditor's office is at P.O. Box 910, Duchesne, UT 84021-0270. For probate case-specific records, the Eighth District Court clerk is the direct contact.
The Duchesne County Clerk/Auditor's office provides information on county record services and can help direct you to the right court contact for probate matters in Duchesne County.
The Duchesne County Clerk/Auditor website covers county services and record access options for residents in Duchesne and Roosevelt.
| Court | Eighth Judicial District Court Duchesne: 21554 West 9000 South, P.O. Box 990 Duchesne, UT 84021 Roosevelt: P.O. Box 1286, Roosevelt, UT 84066 |
|---|---|
| Phone | Duchesne: (435) 738-2753 Roosevelt: (435) 722-0235 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | utcourts.gov |
Searching Duchesne County Probate Records Online
Utah Courts XChange provides online access to Duchesne County probate records through the Eighth District Court. The portal is at utcourts.gov/xchange. Search by party name or case number to find probate cases in Duchesne County. Basic case information is free. Document downloads cost $1.00 per file, and searches cost $0.35 each. The system is statewide and covers active and many historical filings from all Utah district courts.
XChange shows case type, filing date, party names, assigned judge, and any upcoming hearings or orders. Most current Duchesne County probate cases are represented in the system. For older cases, particularly from the 1910s through the 1960s, the records may not be digitized. In those situations, the Utah State Archives is the better resource.
For in-person research, visit either the Duchesne or Roosevelt courthouse. Bring a valid government-issued ID and the name or case number you need. The clerk's staff can pull the physical file, allow you to review it, and make copies. Call ahead to either location to confirm fees and what identification you need before making the drive to a rural courthouse location.
Note: Probate records from Duchesne County from approximately 1915 to 1932 have been cataloged on FamilySearch, making that platform a fast starting point for genealogy or historical estate research in this county.
Types of Probate Cases in Duchesne County
Estate administration is the main probate proceeding in Duchesne County. When a resident dies with property, a family member or other qualified person files with the Eighth District Court to become the personal representative. That person collects assets, pays any debts, and distributes what remains to the heirs. The process follows Utah's Uniform Probate Code under Title 75 of the Utah Code.
Utah's three types of probate proceedings all apply in Duchesne County. Informal probate is the most common and does not require a court hearing. Unsupervised formal probate brings a judge into the process but still allows the personal representative to act with some independence. Supervised formal probate is the most structured option, with the court reviewing each major decision. The probate filing fee in Utah is $375 regardless of which type is chosen.
Guardianship and conservatorship cases are a regular part of the Duchesne County probate docket. These arise when a minor child needs a legal guardian, or when an adult cannot manage their own personal or financial affairs. The Eighth District Court appoints a qualified person, often a family member, to act on behalf of the protected person. Trust proceedings and petitions related to wills also come before this court in Duchesne County.
Small estates valued under $100,000 in Duchesne County may qualify for the affidavit procedure. Heirs can collect assets without opening a formal probate case by using a statutory affidavit. This is a practical path for many rural Duchesne County families where estates involve land, vehicles, and modest savings rather than complex financial portfolios. Utah Code § 75-3-107 sets a three-year window to start probate after death.
Duchesne County Probate Law and Access Rules
Probate proceedings in Duchesne County are governed by Utah Code Title 75. This statute covers how estates are opened, how personal representatives are selected and supervised, how assets are inventoried and managed, and how courts resolve disputes. The 120-hour survival rule at Utah Code § 75-2-104 requires that an heir survive the decedent by at least five full days to inherit. Duchesne County courts apply this rule in all estate proceedings just as courts do statewide.
Access to Duchesne County probate records is governed by GRAMA, the Government Records Access and Management Act, at Utah Code § 63G-2. Any person may request to view or copy public court records without needing to show a specific reason. Clerks must respond within a set time frame and may charge a reasonable fee. Not everything in a probate file is public. Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and minor children's personal details are typically protected and will be redacted from public copies.
Mail requests for copies are an option if you cannot travel to either Eighth District Court location in Duchesne County. Send a written request with the case name, approximate filing year, and your contact information to the courthouse address. Include a check for estimated copy fees. Staff will locate the record and mail copies to you. Turnaround times vary, so it is worth calling in advance to ask about current processing time and fee estimates for Duchesne County record requests.
Historical Probate Records for Duchesne County
Duchesne County was formed in 1915 from Wasatch County. That history means the county's earliest probate records date to the same year the county was organized. The Duchesne County Courthouse is at 255 S. State, Roosevelt, UT 84066, and older physical records may be held there or transferred to the Utah State Archives. Probate case files from approximately 1915 to 1932 have been cataloged on FamilySearch, making historical research accessible online for free.
The Utah State Archives at archives.utah.gov holds older county records from across Utah, including Duchesne County. Their catalog is searchable online, and their reading room in Salt Lake City is open by appointment. If you are tracing a family estate from the early homesteading period in the Uinta Basin, the archives will likely have what you need.
For records from 1915 through roughly the mid-20th century, both FamilySearch and the state archives are your best tools. The court clerk in Duchesne County handles records from more recent decades. Combining these sources gives you the most complete picture of Duchesne County's probate history from its earliest days to the present.
Legal Help for Probate in Duchesne County
Probate law in Duchesne County is the same as the rest of Utah, but geography matters. The Eighth District covers a large rural area, and not every attorney practices locally in Duchesne or Roosevelt. The Utah State Bar maintains a lawyer referral service and a directory of licensed attorneys statewide. You can search for probate or estate attorneys willing to take Duchesne County cases, including those who work remotely or by appointment in rural areas.
Self-represented litigants can find free forms and detailed instructions at utcourts.gov/forms. The Utah court system provides guide packets for informal probate, guardianship, conservatorship, and other common probate matters. These forms are accepted in all Utah district courts, including the Eighth District Court in Duchesne County. Download the correct packet and follow the step-by-step instructions before filing with the court in Duchesne or Roosevelt.
Utah Legal Services provides civil legal assistance to low-income residents. While their offices are in larger cities, they serve rural clients including those in Duchesne County through phone consultations and referrals. If you have limited income and need help understanding the probate process or completing forms for a Duchesne County estate, contact their intake line to see if you qualify.
Note: The Eighth District Court clerk's staff at both Duchesne locations can answer procedural questions about filing and fees, but they cannot provide legal advice about your specific estate case.
Cities in Duchesne County
Duchesne County includes the county seat of Duchesne along with Roosevelt, Myton, Tabiona, and other small communities in the Uinta Basin. All probate cases for residents throughout Duchesne County are filed with the Eighth Judicial District Court at the Duchesne or Roosevelt courthouse locations.
Nearby Counties
Duchesne County is surrounded by several other Utah counties in the Uinta Basin and central Utah. If you are searching for probate records involving property or a person in a bordering county, each county's district court holds its own records. Check the residence of the deceased or the location of estate property to identify the right court.