Draper Family Court Records
Draper family court records are maintained at the Salt Lake County District Court. Draper sits in the southern end of Salt Lake County and has grown into one of the largest cities in the state. All family law cases for Draper residents go through the Third Judicial District Court in Salt Lake City. The court clerk keeps custody filings, divorce decrees, child support orders, protective orders, and adoption records for cases filed by Draper residents. You can search Draper family court records online or visit the courthouse in person.
Draper Quick Facts
Where Draper Family Court Records Are Filed
Draper residents file family court cases at the Salt Lake County District Court. The Scott M. Matheson Courthouse serves as the primary courthouse for the Third Judicial District. It is located in downtown Salt Lake City at 450 South State Street. The courthouse handles all family matters for every city in Salt Lake County, including Draper. Cases involving divorce, custody, child support, adoption, guardianship, protective orders, and paternity are all filed here.
| Court | Third Judicial District Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 450 South State Street Salt Lake City, UT 84114 |
| Phone | (801) 238-7300 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | utcourts.gov |
Draper also has a local justice court. The Draper City Justice Court handles misdemeanor cases, traffic violations, and small claims within city limits. However, all family law matters such as divorce and custody are handled at the Third District level in Salt Lake City, not by the local justice court. Plan for the drive to Salt Lake City when you need to access Draper family court records or file a new case.
Paid parking is available near the Matheson Courthouse. Bring valid photo ID when visiting. Security screens all visitors at the entrance before they may enter.
Types of Draper Family Court Records
Family court records in Draper cover a wide range of legal proceedings. The Third District Court handles every type of family law case that comes from Draper and the rest of Salt Lake County. These records become part of the official court file and are generally accessible to the public under GRAMA, Utah Code § 63G-2. Some records or parts of records may be sealed or restricted under court rule or statute.
Common types of family court records for Draper residents include divorce decrees and dissolution filings, child custody orders and parenting plans, child support worksheets and orders, paternity establishment records, domestic violence protective orders, stalking injunctions, adoption finalization orders, guardianship and conservatorship files, and termination of parental rights proceedings. Each type of case creates its own set of documents that the court clerk maintains in the official case file.
Utah overhauled its family law statutes effective September 1, 2024. The state recodified these laws under Title 81, the Utah Domestic Relations Code. Before that date, the same rules appeared in Title 30. The substance of the law did not change. Courts still use the same standards to decide custody, support, and all other family matters for Draper cases.
Note: Juvenile court records, adoption files, and certain custody evaluation reports have additional confidentiality protections and are not fully public even under GRAMA.
Searching Draper Family Court Records Online
The Utah Courts XChange system is the main tool for searching Draper family court records online. XChange is maintained by the Utah State Courts and covers all district and justice courts statewide. You can search by party name, case number, or filing date. The system shows party names, filing dates, hearings scheduled, documents filed, and case status. Go to utcourts.gov to access XChange.
XChange requires registration and a fee to use. Monthly subscriptions cost $30 for unlimited access. Guest and one-time account setup fees range from $5 to $10. Each search costs $0.15 to $0.35 for the first 500 searches per month. Downloading document images costs $0.50 to $1.00 per document. Free public terminals at the Matheson Courthouse let you search at no cost during courthouse hours. The Utah State Law Library at 450 South State Street also provides free public XChange access.
The Utah Courts website at utcourts.gov covers all courts in Salt Lake County. Results for Draper cases will appear when you search the Third District. You can search using just one party's full name if you do not know the case number.
Parties to active cases can use the MyCourtCase portal for free access to their own case records. This portal lets you view hearing dates, filed documents, and court orders. It also sends text or email alerts when activity happens in your case. MyCourtCase is only for people who are actual parties to the case.
The Utah State Courts provide a screenshot of their court forms and resources portal. The Utah Court forms page shows the range of family law forms available online, including petitions, parenting plans, and child support worksheets.
These forms are free to download and are accepted at the Draper family court filing counter. The Online Court Assistance Program (OCAP) helps you fill out forms step by step before you print and file.
Draper Custody and Child Support Records
Custody cases filed by Draper residents are heard at the Third District Court. Under Title 81, Utah courts decide custody based on the best interests of the child. Factors include each parent's past conduct, ability to provide a safe home, history of domestic violence or neglect, and the child's relationship with each parent. These findings become part of the public court record. The parenting plan and custody order are kept in the case file at the Matheson Courthouse.
Child support orders from Draper cases are also on file with the Third District. Section 81-6-105 of the Utah Domestic Relations Code addresses financial responsibilities including pregnancy expenses. Support worksheets are filed with the court and show income figures for both parents. The Utah Office of Recovery Services enforces child support orders statewide. If a parent falls behind on payments, ORS has tools to collect including wage withholding and license suspension.
Note: Child support worksheets filed in court contain financial data. Courts may redact sensitive financial details from public copies in some cases.
In-Person Access to Draper Court Records
You can visit the Third District Court Clerk's office to search Draper family court records in person. Staff can search by party name or case number. You can review the case file and request copies of any public documents. Plain paper copies cost $0.25 per page. Certified copies cost more. Call (801) 238-7300 ahead of time to ask about current fees and what to bring.
Mail requests for Draper family court records are another option. Send a written request with the party name, approximate filing year, and case number if you have it. Include payment for copy fees. Average mail request costs run $15 to $30 total. Allow extra time for processing. If you have an urgent need, note that Utah law requires courts to respond to GRAMA requests within 10 business days, or 5 business days if you document an urgent need under Utah Code § 63G-2-204.
The Utah State Archives holds historical court records from Salt Lake County going back to 1852. For older Draper cases or records from before modern computerization, contact the Utah State Archives at 346 South Rio Grande Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84101. The Digital Archives portal also provides online access to some historical records.
Legal Help for Draper Family Court Cases
Draper residents can find legal help through several channels. Some options are free for those who qualify. Others offer reduced-cost initial meetings. The right help depends on your income, case type, and whether the other party has a lawyer.
Utah Legal Services provides free civil legal help to people in Salt Lake County who meet income guidelines. They assist with family law matters including custody, protective orders, and divorce. Their website has information on how to apply for help and what types of cases they take. The Utah State Bar runs a lawyer referral service at (801) 531-9077. This service can connect you with a family law attorney in the Salt Lake City area who can help with Draper cases.
The Utah Courts self-help center at utcourts.gov provides step-by-step guides, approved court forms, and instructions for people who represent themselves. If children are involved in your Draper family court case, you may need a parenting plan, child support worksheet, and other additional forms. Court staff can tell you what forms are required but cannot give legal advice.
Protective Orders in Draper Family Court Records
Protective orders filed in Draper go through the Third District Court. These orders are separate from divorce or custody cases, though they often arise from the same situations. A protective order requires one party to stay away from another. Violation of an order is a criminal offense. The court file for a protective order is a public record, though some details about victims may be restricted to protect their safety.
To request a protective order in Draper, you file a petition at the Third District Court Clerk. The court can issue an ex parte temporary protective order the same day if the judge finds sufficient cause. A full hearing is then scheduled where both parties can appear. The Utah Courts forms page has all petition forms needed to start this process. No filing fee is required for protective order petitions.
If you are facing a domestic violence situation in Draper, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 at any time. Safety planning and legal advocacy resources are available in Salt Lake County for survivors. The Utah Courts also provide information on protective orders at their main website.
Note: Stalking injunctions follow a similar process to protective orders but are filed under a different statute and may involve non-family situations.
Salt Lake County Family Court Records
Draper is part of Salt Lake County, and all family court filings go through the Salt Lake County District Court. The county court handles all cases across the county. For more detail on the county court system, full fee schedules, record types, and other resources available to Draper residents, visit the Salt Lake County family court records page.
Nearby Utah Cities
Residents of nearby cities also file family court cases at the Salt Lake County District Court. Select a city below to learn about family court records in that area.