Beaver County Family Court Records

Beaver County family court records are held at the Fifth District Court in Beaver, Utah. These records cover divorce, child custody, child support, adoption, guardianship, and other domestic relations matters filed since the county's founding in 1856. Members of the public can search and access many of these court documents in person at the courthouse or online through Utah's official court systems. This guide explains where Beaver County family court records are kept, how to find them, and what types of case files are available to the public.

Beaver County Family Court Records — District Court Access

The Fifth District Court in Beaver handles all family law matters for Beaver County residents. This court has general jurisdiction, which means it hears a wide range of case types including divorce, legal separation, child custody, child support, paternity, adoption, and protective orders. All of these proceedings generate family court records that become part of the public file once they are filed with the clerk.

The courthouse is located at 2270 South 525 West in Beaver, Utah 84713. The phone number is (435) 438-5531. Court staff can help members of the public locate case files, confirm court dates, and provide guidance on the records request process. The court is open Monday through Friday during regular business hours. If you plan to visit in person, calling ahead is a good idea since staffing and hours can vary.

Beaver County also has a Justice Court at the same address. The Justice Court handles Class B and C misdemeanors, traffic infractions, local ordinance violations, and small claims cases up to $10,000. These are lower-level matters and are separate from the family law cases filed in District Court. Family court records, including divorce filings and custody orders, are always handled at the District Court level.

An overview of Beaver County court records and access information is available at utcourts.gov.

The Fifth District Court serves a large geographic area in southwestern Utah, covering Beaver, Iron, Washington, Kane, and Garfield counties. This means the court clerk handles records for multiple counties, though each county's files are kept separately. Beaver County family court records are indexed by case number and party name, making it straightforward to search for a specific filing once you have basic information about the case.

Searching Beaver County Family Court Records

There are three main ways to search Beaver County family court records. Each method works well depending on how much detail you already have and whether you need certified copies or just basic case information.

The first option is XChange, the Utah courts' online case search system available at utcourts.gov. XChange gives subscribers access to civil, criminal, and family case records from courts across the state. A subscription costs $30 per month, or you can pay per search at $0.15 to $0.35 depending on the type of record. Many basic case details, including party names, filing dates, and case numbers, are available without a paid account. If you want full docket histories or document images, a subscription is typically required. Free public access terminals for XChange are available inside the courthouse for those who prefer not to pay for online access.

The second option is visiting the courthouse in person. Court clerks can pull case files, confirm whether a case exists, and help you request copies of specific documents. Copy fees apply. In-person visits are best when you need certified copies of orders or when you want to review a file that may not be fully digitized.

The third option is a GRAMA request. Under Utah's Government Records Access and Management Act, Utah Code § 63G-2, the public has the right to request access to government records, including court documents. You can submit a GRAMA request in writing to the court clerk. Under Rule 4-202, the court must respond within 10 business days. Most routine family court records are public unless a judge has sealed them or they fall under a specific exemption such as adoption records or juvenile case files.

The free MyCourtCase portal gives parties direct access to their own active cases at no cost. This is useful if you are involved in an ongoing Beaver County family law matter and want to check upcoming hearing dates or review recent filings.

Note: Sealed records, including most adoption files and cases involving minors, are not available through public search tools regardless of the method used.

Types of Family Court Cases in Beaver County

Family court cases in Beaver County cover a range of domestic relations matters. These are the case types most commonly filed at the Fifth District Court for Beaver County residents.

Divorce cases, called petitions for dissolution of marriage in Utah, are among the most common family law filings. These case files include the original petition, responses, financial disclosures, parenting plans if children are involved, and the final decree of divorce. All of these documents become part of the public record unless the court orders specific portions sealed.

Child custody and parent-time cases are often filed as part of a divorce or as separate actions. These records contain parenting plans, custody evaluations, and court orders specifying where children live and how much time each parent spends with them. Utah courts apply the best interests of the child standard per § 81-9-202 of the new Title 81 Domestic Relations Code, which took effect in September 2024.

Child support orders are another major category of family court filings in Beaver County. These documents detail monthly support amounts, how support was calculated, and any modification orders issued over time. Paternity cases, which establish legal fatherhood before support or custody orders can be issued, are also filed at the District Court level.

Other family court case types include adoptions, guardianships, protective orders in domestic violence situations, and cases involving the termination of parental rights. Protective order case files may have restricted access depending on the nature of the matter. Adoption files are sealed under Utah law and are not available to the general public.

Beaver County Historical Court Records (Archives)

The Utah State Archives holds historical Beaver County court records going back to the county's founding year of 1856. You can explore the Archives' research page for Beaver County at archives.utah.gov.

The State Archives collection for Beaver County includes Probate Court records from 1856 to 1896. These early probate records document estate settlements, guardianships, and adoptions that were handled by the probate court before district courts took over many of those functions. Civil and criminal case records from the District Court are available from 1870 to 1960. Divorce records are part of this collection through 1887, when jurisdiction for divorce cases was formally transferred to the district courts.

Naturalization records are another notable part of the Beaver County collection at the State Archives. These include Certificates of Naturalization from 1878 to 1896, Declarations of Intention from 1874 to 1906, and Petition and Record files from 1907 to 1942. These records document immigrants who went through the naturalization process in Beaver County and are valuable for genealogical research.

FamilySearch.org has digitized many of these Beaver County records, making them available online at no cost. The FamilySearch collection includes naturalization records and some probate documents, which can be searched by name from home without a trip to Salt Lake City. For records not yet digitized, researchers can visit the State Archives building at 346 South Rio Grande Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84101.

Note: Pre-1875 court records from Beaver County may include both civil and criminal entries in the same volumes, as record-keeping practices differed significantly from modern standards.

What Family Court Records Show in Beaver County

Beaver County family court records contain a wide range of information depending on the type of case. Understanding what is typically included helps people know what to expect when they search for a case file.

Most family court documents include the names of all parties involved, the date the case was filed, the assigned case number, and the type of proceeding. Docket entries show every event in the case from the initial filing through final disposition. These entries list hearing dates, motions filed by each side, and orders issued by the judge.

In divorce and custody cases, the records often include financial disclosures that detail each party's income, assets, and debts. These financial documents are part of the public record in most situations, though courts can restrict access to sensitive financial details in some cases. Parenting plans and custody orders list specific terms about where children live, school arrangements, and holiday schedules.

Court orders are among the most requested documents in Beaver County family court files. These include temporary orders issued at the start of a case, amended orders made during the proceedings, and the final judgment that closes the case. Certified copies of court orders are often needed to enforce the order with a third party such as a school, employer, or other government agency.

Some information in family court records is restricted by law. Juvenile records, adoption case files, mental health evaluations ordered by the court, and records that have been sealed by a judge are not available through public search. Parties who are directly involved in a sealed case may be able to access those records with proper identification and a showing of standing.

Legal Help and Resources for Beaver County

Beaver County residents dealing with family court matters have several resources available. The Utah State Courts website at utcourts.gov provides free court forms for many common family law filings. These forms cover divorce, custody, child support, protective orders, and other standard matters. You can find the full library of forms at utcourts.gov/forms.

Utah Legal Services provides free civil legal help to qualifying low-income residents across the state, including those in Beaver County. They can assist with family court matters, help people understand their rights, and in some cases provide representation. Given Beaver County's small size and limited local legal resources, Utah Legal Services is often the most accessible option for residents who cannot afford private counsel.

The Utah State Law Library and the Open Courts Compendium, available at rcfp.org, provide detailed information about public access to Utah court records. These resources are helpful for journalists, researchers, and members of the public who want to understand the full scope of their right to access family court documents.

The court directory at utcourts.gov/courts lists contact information and hours for every court in Utah, including the Fifth District Court in Beaver. This is the best place to confirm current hours, find the right phone number, or locate a specific court location before making a trip.

Beaver County is one of Utah's smaller counties, created from Iron County in 1856. The county was named for the many beaver dams found along local waterways. With a population of around 7,000, Beaver County has a close-knit community where the courthouse serves as a central hub for legal matters of all kinds. All family court cases for residents of the entire county are handled at the single Fifth District Court location in the city of Beaver.