Wayne County Probate Court Records
Wayne County probate court records are filed at the Sixth District Court in Loa, Utah. This small, rural county has kept probate court records since 1898, and the county clerk's office holds birth, death, marriage, and probate records going back to that same year. If you need to find an estate filing or look up a probate case for Wayne County, you can visit the courthouse in Loa, contact the county clerk, or search online through the Utah Courts system. This page covers how to access Wayne County probate court records, what types of cases the court handles, and what you can expect when you request files.
Wayne County Quick Facts
Sixth District Court Wayne County Probate
The Sixth District Court handles Wayne County probate court records. The courthouse is at 18 S Main, Loa, Utah 84747. You can reach the court at 435-836-2765. The court is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. This is where estate filings, will probate cases, guardianship proceedings, and conservatorship matters are filed for Wayne County residents.
Wayne County is one of the smaller counties in Utah, with a population of around 2,700. The Sixth District also serves Sevier County to the north, with the same judicial oversight covering both areas. For probate court records in Wayne County specifically, the Loa courthouse handles filings for residents of the county at the time of their death. Staff at the clerk's office can help you locate a case or explain the steps for accessing files.
Because Wayne County is rural and small, the court processes fewer cases than larger Utah counties. That can be an advantage for researchers. Files tend to be well organized, and staff are often easier to reach by phone. Call the courthouse at 435-836-2765 before you visit to confirm what records are available in person and what must be requested through state systems.
| Court |
Sixth District Court 18 S Main, PO Box 189 Loa, UT 84747 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 435-836-2765 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Judicial District | Sixth Judicial District |
Wayne County Clerk Records and Contact
The Wayne County Clerk, currently Felicia Snow, holds a wide range of records for the county. The clerk's office keeps birth and death records from 1898 to 1927, as well as marriage, divorce, and probate records going back to 1898. These records go back to the year the county was formed. Wayne County was created on March 10, 1892, from Piute County, but record-keeping in the clerk's office begins in 1898.
You can reach the Wayne County Clerk at 435-836-1300. The office address is the same as the main county offices. The screenshot below links to the Wayne County official county offices page, which lists contact information for all county offices including the clerk, the justice court, and other departments.
This page on the Wayne County website shows office contacts and is the starting point for reaching the clerk or justice court for records requests.
The Justice Court Clerk, Jakelle Pace, can be reached at 435-836-1321, also Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM. Online payment is available for certain court fees through the justice court. For probate court records specifically, the county clerk's office and the Sixth District Court are the primary contacts.
Note: Older Wayne County probate records from before 1898 may not exist in county files, since the county itself was not formed until 1892 and systematic record-keeping began a few years later.
How to Search Wayne County Probate Records
For online searches, the best tool is Utah Courts XChange. XChange covers all Utah district courts, so Sixth District Court probate cases from Wayne County will appear there. You can search by name, case year, or case number. Basic case status is often available without cost. Full document downloads carry a per-document fee. If you need certified copies, you will need to contact the court directly or submit a written request.
In-person visits to the Loa courthouse let you review the full file and get certified copies on the spot. Bring a photo ID and the name of the deceased. If you know the approximate year of death, that helps narrow the search. The clerk's office can search both current and older records, including files that may not be fully indexed in online systems. For estate cases that are decades old, in-person or mail requests are often more reliable.
The Utah State Archives at archives.utah.gov is a useful resource for Wayne County probate court records that predate electronic filing. The archives may hold microfilm or physical copies of older case files. Searching the archives catalog before you contact the courthouse can help you determine where the records you need are stored.
Free court forms for Utah probate cases are available at utcourts.gov/forms. These include forms for informal and formal probate, guardianship, and estate inventory filings. All forms work for the Sixth District Court in Loa.
Wayne County Probate Laws and Case Types
Wayne County probate court records cover will probate cases, intestate estates, guardianships, and conservatorships. The process in Wayne County follows the same rules as the rest of Utah under Utah Code Title 75, which adopts the Uniform Probate Code. Both informal and formal probate cases are filed at the Sixth District Court in Loa.
Informal probate is the simpler path. There is no court hearing required as long as there are no disputes among heirs and the will is straightforward. Formal probate involves a judge and a hearing. That is the route for contested wills or complex estates with multiple heirs or unclear asset distribution. Both types create public probate court records in Wayne County that you can access under GRAMA.
When someone dies without a will in Wayne County, the court handles the intestate estate. A personal representative is appointed, and assets go to heirs based on Utah's intestacy statutes. Guardianship cases in Wayne County probate records involve the court placing a minor child or incapacitated adult under the care of a named guardian. These cases stay on file at the Sixth District Court and can be requested through standard records procedures.
Small estates under $100,000 in Utah can use a simplified affidavit process. These do not go through full probate, so they may not show up as a formal case in Wayne County probate court records. The three-year window to open a probate case after a death and the 120-hour survival rule both apply in Wayne County under Utah Code Title 75. The filing fee for a new probate case in Utah is $375.
Access and Fees for Wayne County Probate Files
Wayne County probate court records are public under GRAMA, Utah's Government Records Access and Management Act at Utah Code ยง 63G-2. You do not need to be related to the deceased or have an attorney to request records. Any person can ask for a copy of a probate filing from the Sixth District Court in Loa.
Copy fees at Utah district courts are set by state rules. Plain paper copies cost $0.25 per page, and certified copies cost $0.50 per page plus a $4.00 certification fee per document. Mail requests should be sent to 18 S Main, PO Box 189, Loa, UT 84747 with a prepayment. Online copies through XChange cost $1.00 per document. Always confirm fees before submitting any request, as court rules can change.
If you need an attorney for a Wayne County probate case, the Utah State Bar lawyer referral service can connect you with a probate lawyer who handles cases in rural Utah. Legal aid may also be available for lower-income residents of Wayne County.
Nearby Utah Counties
Wayne County borders several other counties in south-central Utah. Probate is filed where the decedent lived at the time of death. If you are unsure which county has the record, check the last known address.