Rich County Probate Court Records

Rich County probate court records are filed through the First Judicial District, the same district that serves Cache and Box Elder counties in northern Utah. The county clerk in Randolph handles court-related functions locally, while the First District Court oversees probate matters for the county. If you need to search probate court records for Rich County, the Utah Courts XChange system is the primary online tool, or you can contact the clerk's office directly. The county is remote and small, so calling ahead before visiting the office in Randolph is strongly recommended.

Rich County Clerk-Auditor Office

The Rich County Clerk-Auditor, Anneliesa Peart, manages the clerk's office in Randolph and oversees elections, marriage records, and passport services for the county. The mailing address is P.O. Box 218, 20 S. Main, Randolph, UT 84064, and the phone number is (435) 793-2415. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to noon and 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM. The midday break is worth keeping in mind if you are driving a distance to reach the office.

For court records including probate matters, the clerk's office is the local contact point within Rich County. The First District Court, which shares jurisdiction with Cache and Box Elder counties, handles formal district court proceedings. Rich County probate court records held at the local level go back to 1896, the year of Utah statehood. If you need records from before that date, it's worth checking with the Utah State Archives to see what territorial-era materials might exist.

The Rich County Clerk-Auditor page has up-to-date contact details and a description of the office's responsibilities. Check it before you call or plan a visit to confirm hours and what documents the office can provide directly.

The screenshot below comes from the Rich County Clerk-Auditor official page, showing the office's listed services and contact information for those seeking probate and court records.

The clerk-auditor page is the starting point for any Rich County probate court records inquiry, covering both what the local office holds and how to reach the right person.

Rich County Recorder and Land Records

Rich County's Recorder-Surveyor, Kaia Bowden, operates a separate office from the clerk and handles recorded documents including deeds, liens, and property-related instruments. The recorder's mailing address is P.O. Box 322, Randolph, UT 84064, and the phone number is (435) 793-2005. When a probate case involves real property in Rich County, documents transferring title after an estate closes will go through the recorder's office.

Fees at the Rich County Recorder are set by state law. Recording an instrument costs $40.00. Certified copies are $5.00. There is also a per-page charge of $1.00. These fees were established under House Bill 247, passed on March 14, 2019. Knowing these costs in advance helps when you are budgeting for an estate closing that involves recorded property documents in Rich County.

The Rich County Recorder-Surveyor page has current details on the office's services, the types of documents it records, and how to submit a request. It is a useful reference when you need to transfer property out of an estate that was probated in Rich County.

Below is a screenshot from the Rich County Recorder-Surveyor page, showing the office's function and how it connects to probate-related property transfers in the county.

Checking the recorder page before submitting property transfer documents tied to a Rich County probate case can save time and help you confirm current recording fees.

Note: Recording fees in Rich County are set by state statute and apply to all instruments submitted through the recorder's office, including deed transfers that result from probate proceedings.

How to Search Rich County Probate Records

Online searches for Rich County probate court records start with the Utah Courts XChange system. XChange lets you look up cases by party name, case number, or year across all Utah district courts. The First District Court, which covers Rich County along with Cache and Box Elder counties, has its records in the XChange database. Basic case information is often free to view, while document downloads carry a per-page fee.

Rich County is small. The volume of probate filings is lower here than in urban counties, which means results may be limited if you are searching for a common name. Try full legal names and alternate spellings when possible. If you are researching an older estate and don't find it online, a direct call to the clerk's office at (435) 793-2415 is the next step. The clerk can check internal indexes that may not be fully reflected in the online system.

For genealogical research involving Rich County probate court records, the Utah State Archives at archives.utah.gov holds some older materials. Rich County probate records begin in 1896. If you are looking for records that predate statehood in this part of Utah, Bear Lake area research may also involve Cache County or territorial court records held at the state level.

Probate Law Basics for Rich County Estates

Utah probate law under Utah Code Title 75 applies statewide, including in Rich County. The three types of probate used in Utah are informal, formal, and supervised. Most straightforward estates in Rich County go through informal probate, which requires no court hearing as long as the will is valid and there are no disputes. Formal probate is needed when heirs contest the will or the estate is more complicated. Supervised probate gives the court direct oversight throughout the process.

Utah's 120-hour rule under § 75-2-104 requires that an heir outlive the deceased by at least five days to inherit through probate. Missing this window affects who is listed in the Rich County probate court records as an heir. There is also a three-year limit under § 75-3-107 to open probate after death. If that window closes without a filing, the estate may need to go through a different legal process to transfer assets.

Small estates valued under $100,000 can use an affidavit process that bypasses the full probate filing in Rich County. These cases typically do not appear in the standard probate court records. If an estate falls in that range, contact the clerk's office to confirm what process applies and what documentation is needed.

Access to Rich County probate court records is governed by GRAMA under Utah Code § 63G-2. These records are public. Anyone can request copies at the courthouse or through XChange without being a party to the case. For legal help, the Utah State Bar referral service can match you with an attorney who handles probate in northern Utah. Court forms are also available at utcourts.gov/forms.

Nearby Counties

Rich County is in the northeast corner of Utah and borders several other northern Utah counties. If you are trying to determine which county holds a probate filing, the person's last known address is the deciding factor.

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