Washington County Family Court Records
Washington County family court records document divorce filings, custody orders, child support determinations, paternity actions, and protective orders handled by the Fifth District Court in St. George, Utah. Washington County is one of Utah's fastest-growing regions, and its family court generates a substantial volume of case records each year. Most records are open to the public under Utah's GRAMA law. This page explains how to find Washington County family court records online and in person, what documents are typically available, and where to turn for legal guidance.
Washington County Quick Facts
Washington County Family Court Records — Public Access
Washington County sits in the southwestern corner of Utah, bordering both Nevada and Arizona. St. George, the county seat, has grown rapidly over the past two decades and now anchors one of the most active real estate and retirement markets in the American West. That growth has made Washington County one of Utah's most active family court venues. Divorce petitions, custody modifications, child support actions, and protective orders are filed at the Fifth District Court located at 206 West Tabernacle Street, St. George, UT 84770. The court can be reached at (435) 986-5700.
Washington County family court records are public under Utah's Government Records Access and Management Act, codified at Utah Code § 63G-2. The Utah Constitution's Article I, Section 11 also provides a right of access to the courts. These legal foundations mean that most documents filed in family court proceedings in Washington County are available for public inspection. Party names, case numbers, docket entries, court orders, and judgments are typically accessible. Restricted materials include juvenile court records, sealed adoption files, mental health evaluations, and documents sealed by court order.
The Washington County Clerk's office is located at 111 East Tabernacle Street, St. George, UT 84770, and can be reached at (435) 634-5712. The clerk maintains and provides access to court records during regular business hours. Copy fees apply when records are printed. A separate justice court at 87 North 200 East, St. George, handles misdemeanors, traffic citations, and small claims; those records are distinct from district court family court records.
Note: Washington County's population has grown so quickly that the Fifth District Court now handles a high volume of family law matters; allowing additional processing time for records requests is recommended during busy court periods.
Fifth District Court in Washington County
The Fifth Judicial District Court serves Washington County and manages one of the largest family court dockets in Utah outside of Salt Lake and Utah counties. The court at 206 West Tabernacle Street in St. George handles divorce, legal separation, custody, child support, paternity, adoption, and protective order cases. It also hears felony criminal matters, civil disputes, probate, and appeals from justice courts. The range of matters handled at the Fifth District Court means that its public records include a wide variety of document types.
Family court cases in Washington County are governed by Utah's Title 81 domestic relations code, which took effect in September 2024 and represents a comprehensive update to the state's domestic relations framework. The code covers how courts evaluate custody arrangements, calculate child support, handle property division in divorce cases, and address domestic violence matters. You can read the full text at law.justia.com/codes/utah/title-81/.
Washington County's red rock landscape and warm climate have made it a popular retirement and vacation destination. Property divisions in Washington County divorce cases often involve recreational real estate, vacation homes, retirement accounts, and investment properties tied to the local tourism economy. These financial matters appear in the disclosure statements and property settlement agreements filed in the Fifth District Court. Such documents are part of the public family court record, subject to any redactions the court orders for sensitive financial data.
The image below shows the Utah court directory, which lists the Fifth District Court serving Washington County along with its contact information and jurisdiction.
The Utah court directory is the authoritative source for finding the correct court location, contact number, and jurisdiction for any county in the state. For Washington County family court matters, the Fifth District Court in St. George is the proper venue for all district-level filings and record requests.
How to Search Washington County Family Court Records
The free online starting point for Washington County family court records is MyCourtCase, operated by the Utah court system. MyCourtCase allows you to search by party name or case number and returns docket-level information including filing dates, case type, hearing schedules, and current status. No login is required, and the portal is available at any time. It is the fastest way to verify whether a case was filed and to check its current standing.
For more detailed access to case documents, XChange provides a subscription-based database through the Utah courts website. XChange costs $30 per month or a per-search fee and gives access to a broader range of documents than the free portal. Legal professionals who regularly search Washington County family court records often use XChange for its more complete coverage. Free public terminals with XChange access are available at the Fifth District Courthouse in St. George during business hours, allowing in-person research without a subscription fee.
Formal GRAMA requests can be submitted in writing to the court clerk at the Washington County address. Under Rule 4-202, the court must respond within 10 business days. Copy fees apply for physical or digital reproductions of court documents. For straightforward requests involving a single case, the response time is often shorter than the maximum allowed under the rule.
The Utah Public Index aggregates public court record data from across the state and may surface Washington County case information. It is a privately run index and should be verified against official sources. For reliable, authoritative records, the MyCourtCase portal and direct courthouse access are preferred.
Types of Family Court Cases in Washington County
Washington County's Fifth District Court handles the full range of family court matters. Divorce is the most common filing, reflecting the county's large and growing population. A Washington County divorce record typically contains the original petition, temporary orders, financial disclosures, any parenting plan or custody agreement, and the final decree. Post-decree modification petitions, filed when parties seek to change an existing order, also become part of the case file and are accessible as public records.
Custody cases, both those tied to divorces and standalone proceedings, create orders governing where children live and how parenting time is structured. Washington County judges apply the best-interest standard under Utah's Title 81 code. Parent-time schedules, relocation requests, and custody modification petitions are all public records. Documents that specifically identify minor children may carry additional access restrictions depending on the court's handling of the particular case.
Child support orders are public records and may include wage withholding directives. Paternity cases establish legal parentage and often lead to support and custody orders. Protective orders issued in Washington County family court cases are public documents, including party names and the specific terms of the order.
- Divorce petitions, responses, and final decrees
- Temporary and final custody and parent-time orders
- Child support orders, modifications, and wage assignments
- Paternity and parentage determinations
- Protective orders and civil stalking injunctions
- Legal separation filings
Adoption files are sealed under Utah law and are not accessible through standard public record channels. Mental health evaluations ordered as part of custody proceedings are also restricted from public access. Juvenile court records, if connected to a Washington County family court matter, remain confidential even if the related family court documents are public.
Washington County Court Records — What Is Public
Understanding what is public in Washington County family court records helps you set realistic expectations before beginning your search. Most case-level information is open. Party names, case numbers, filing dates, docket entries, court orders, judgments, and final decrees are generally accessible under GRAMA and Utah court rules.
Financial affidavits and income declarations filed in divorce or child support cases may be available in full or in partially redacted form, depending on how the court handles sensitive personal financial data. Property settlement agreements are typically public. Records of hearings, including minute entries and transcripts where available, are part of the public file.
The image below is from the Reporters Committee Open Courts Compendium for Utah, a resource that documents the legal rights of the public and press to access court records in this state.
The Open Courts Compendium is a detailed reference for understanding what records you have a legal right to see in Utah courts. It covers both constitutional and statutory access rights, explains which records are presumptively open, and identifies categories that are restricted. For anyone who encounters an access denial at the Washington County courthouse or through the online portal, the Compendium can help you understand your options for appeal or further request.
Records that are restricted include sealed adoption files, juvenile court proceedings, mental health evaluations, domestic violence records in some circumstances, and any records sealed by court order. When access is denied, the court must provide a written denial explaining the legal basis under GRAMA. You have the right to appeal that denial through the State Records Committee or through the courts.
Note: Washington County's rapid population growth means that the volume of public family court records is increasing year over year; recent cases are generally well-indexed in digital systems while older cases may require in-person access at the courthouse.
Legal Help for Washington County Family Court
Washington County residents involved in family court cases have access to a range of legal resources. The Utah Courts website offers free court forms at utcourts.gov/forms/, covering divorce petitions, custody modification requests, child support worksheets, and protective order applications. Instructions accompany each form. The court self-help center at the Fifth District Courthouse in St. George can answer procedural questions, though staff cannot give legal advice.
For residents who cannot afford a private attorney, Utah Legal Services provides free civil legal assistance to qualifying low-income individuals. Family law matters, including protective orders and custody disputes, are among the types of cases Utah Legal Services handles. Contact their office to ask about eligibility and whether their services extend to Washington County residents. Some assistance may be available by phone or video for residents who cannot travel easily.
The Utah Courts directory at utcourts.gov/courts/ lists all court locations and contact information, including the Fifth District Court in St. George. The State Archives at archives.utah.gov/research/courts/ holds older Washington County court records that predate electronic filing systems. For those who want a detailed understanding of their access rights, GRAMA at Utah Code § 63G-2 and the Open Courts Compendium are the best legal references available.
Cities in Washington County
Washington County includes St. George and several growing communities throughout the county's red rock desert region.
Nearby Counties
Washington County shares borders with other Utah counties in the state's southwestern corner. Each has its own district court and family court record system.