Washington County Public Records /Washington County Divorce Records

Washington County Divorce Records

How To Find a Divorce Record In Washington County in 2026

WashingtonUTRecords.us provides access to publicly available information related to divorce records in Washington County, Utah. Members of the public may find records such as final divorce decrees, case filing dates, party names, court orders, and related family law documents. Record availability may vary depending on the age of the case, the court of jurisdiction, and any applicable confidentiality orders.

Divorce records in Washington County may be searched through several official channels, including the Utah Courts case management system, the Washington County District Court clerk's office, the Utah Office of Vital Records and Statistics, and the Utah Division of Archives and Records Service. Each resource serves a distinct purpose, and the appropriate starting point depends on the type of document needed and the approximate date of the divorce proceeding.

Online Searches

1. Clerk of Court Case Search

The Utah Courts system provides a publicly accessible online case search portal that allows members of the public to locate divorce case information by party name or case number. Basic case information — including filing dates, case status, and docket entries — is available at no charge. Obtaining copies of specific documents may require payment of applicable fees.

2. State Court System Portal

The Utah Courts self-help portal provides consolidated access to family law case resources across all Utah district courts, including Washington County. This statewide system allows users to search across jurisdictions and access procedural guidance for divorce proceedings.

3. State Vital Records

The Utah Office of Vital Records and Statistics maintains divorce records for the period from 1978 to 2010. Members of the public may order a vital record certificate through the state's online ordering system. For divorces finalized prior to 1978, the Washington County Clerk's office holds the relevant records.

In-Person Searches

Clerk of Court — Fifth District Court (Washington County)
206 West Tabernacle Street
St. George, UT 84770
Phone: (435) 656-6600
Utah Courts — Fifth District

Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Services available in person include:

Searching case files by party name or case number
Viewing filed documents at public access terminals
Requesting certified copies of final decrees and orders
Staff assistance for locating archived or older case files

Washington County Clerk's Office
197 East Tabernacle Street
St. George, UT 84770
Phone: (435) 634-5712
Washington County Clerk

Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

By Mail

Members of the public may submit written requests for divorce records to the Fifth District Court clerk. Requests should be mailed to:

Fifth District Court — Records Division
206 West Tabernacle Street
St. George, UT 84770

Each written request should include:

Full legal names of both parties
Approximate date of the divorce
Case number, if known
Requester's full name and contact information
Purpose of the request, if required
Payment for applicable copy fees
A self-addressed stamped envelope for return correspondence

Processing time for mailed requests is typically one to two weeks, depending on case volume and whether the records require retrieval from off-site storage.

By Phone

The Fifth District Court clerk may be reached at (435) 656-6600. Staff can confirm whether a case exists in the system, provide the case number, verify case status, and confirm the filing date. Detailed document contents, copies of filed documents, and confidential case information cannot be provided by telephone.

Through Attorneys

Licensed attorneys may access divorce case files on behalf of clients and, in appropriate circumstances, may petition the court for access to sealed or restricted documents. Members of the public seeking legal representation may consult the Utah State Bar lawyer referral service for assistance locating qualified family law counsel.

Information Needed for Search

Essential Information:

Full legal names of both spouses, including maiden names where applicable
Approximate date of the divorce or filing
Case number, if previously obtained

Helpful Information:

Date and location of the marriage
Prior residential addresses in Washington County
Names of children, if any
Names of attorneys of record, if known

Search in Correct County

Under Utah Code § 30-3-1, a petition for divorce must be filed in the district court of the county in which at least one of the parties resides at the time of filing. Members of the public searching for a divorce record should confirm that at least one spouse resided in Washington County at the time the case was filed. Searching the county where the marriage ceremony occurred will not yield results unless that county was also a county of residence.

Time Considerations

Divorce decrees finalized within the past several weeks may not yet be fully indexed in online systems. Members of the public should allow a processing period of several days to several weeks following the final hearing before expecting a record to appear in the case search portal. Records from cases finalized prior to the court's transition to electronic filing may exist only in paper format and may require additional retrieval time.

What If You Cannot Find a Record

Common reasons a divorce record may not appear in a search include:

The case was filed in a different county
Name variations or spelling differences between the search query and the filed record
The case has not yet been finalized
The record predates electronic indexing and requires manual retrieval
The case has been sealed by court order

Members of the public encountering these issues may contact the Fifth District Court clerk at (435) 656-6600, attempt alternate name spellings, search under both spouses' names, or consult the Utah Division of Archives and Records Service civil court records guide for guidance on locating historical records.

What Are Washington County Divorce Records?

Washington County divorce records are official court documents generated during and after divorce proceedings filed in the Fifth District Court. These records constitute part of the public court file and are maintained by the clerk of court as the primary custodian. As the Utah Courts divorce information page states, "A divorce ends a marriage. After a divorce, you are no longer married. The court issues a divorce decree. The decree can cover different issues."

Types of Divorce Records

Court Case Files

The complete case file for a divorce proceeding may include:

Petition for dissolution of marriage
Response or answer filed by the respondent
Financial affidavits submitted by both parties
Parenting plans and child custody arrangements
Marital settlement agreements
Motions, stipulations, and court orders issued during the proceeding
Transcripts of court hearings, where prepared
Final judgment of dissolution of marriage

Final Decree

The final decree of divorce is the official court order that legally terminates the marriage. It serves as the primary legal proof of divorce and establishes the date of dissolution, the division of marital property and debts, any spousal support obligations, child custody and parent-time arrangements, child support orders, and any court-ordered name changes. Certified copies of the final decree are available through the Fifth District Court clerk.

Supporting Documents

Supporting documents filed in a divorce case may include financial disclosure statements, property appraisals, business valuations, parenting plan worksheets, child support calculation worksheets, and post-judgment modification orders.

Purpose of Divorce Records

Divorce records serve a range of legal and personal purposes, including:

Establishing proof of marital status for remarriage
Documenting name changes for government identification purposes
Supporting immigration proceedings and visa applications
Facilitating Social Security benefit determinations
Enabling estate planning and property transfer documentation
Assisting with genealogical and family history research

Legal Framework

Divorce proceedings in Utah are governed by Utah Code § 30-3-1 et seq., which establishes the grounds for divorce, residency requirements, and procedural rules. Public access to court records is governed by the Utah Rules of Civil Procedure and the Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA), Utah Code § 63G-2-101 et seq., which establishes the framework for public access to government records, including court filings.

Are Washington County Divorce Records Public?

Divorce records filed in Washington County are public court records subject to the access provisions of GRAMA and the Utah Rules of Civil Procedure. Members of the public may access basic case information, docket entries, and most filed documents without demonstrating a specific need or interest. However, certain categories of information within divorce case files are subject to restriction or redaction under state and federal law.

What Is Public

The following information is accessible to members of the public:

Case number and filing date
Names of the parties (petitioner and respondent)
Names of attorneys of record
Court hearing dates and outcomes
Docket entries reflecting the chronological history of the case
Court orders and judgments, including the final decree
Property division orders
General case status

What May Be Restricted

Financial Information

Social Security numbers are redacted from all publicly accessible documents
Bank account and credit card numbers are redacted
Detailed tax returns and financial statements may be subject to limited access

Children's Information

Names and residential addresses of minor children may be redacted
Schools attended by children are not disclosed in public records
Child custody evaluations and guardian ad litem reports may be sealed by court order
Psychological evaluations involving children are subject to restricted access

Sensitive Personal Information

Domestic violence allegations and supporting evidence may be sealed
Mental health and medical records incorporated into case files are subject to HIPAA protections
Substance abuse treatment records are protected under federal confidentiality regulations
Residential addresses of domestic violence victims are withheld from public access

Sealed Records

A court may seal all or part of a divorce case file upon a showing of good cause. Cases involving allegations of abuse, high-profile parties, or confidential settlement terms may be subject to sealing orders. Mediation communications are confidential by statute and do not become part of the public record.

Who Can Access Records

General public: May access most case information and obtain copies of public documents upon payment of applicable fees
Parties to the case: Have full access to their own case file, including documents subject to restricted public access
Attorneys of record: Have professional access to case files and may petition for access to sealed materials upon a proper showing
Researchers and media: May access public portions of case files; access to sealed records requires a court order

Prohibited Uses

Members of the public who obtain divorce records may not use that information for stalking, harassment, identity theft, or any purpose that violates an existing protective order. Permitted uses include legal proceedings, background verification, genealogical research, news reporting protected by the First Amendment, and academic research.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Divorce Records in Washington County?

The Fifth District Court charges standard fees for copies and certified documents in accordance with the Utah Court fee schedule established under Utah Code § 78A-2-301. Current fees are as follows:

Service	Fee
Copies of court documents (per page)	$0.25 per page
Certified copy of final decree	$4.00 per document
Certification fee (per document)	$4.00
Electronic document access (XChange)	Varies by subscription
Search fee	No separate search fee

Inspection of records: Members of the public may inspect case files at the courthouse at no charge during regular business hours.
Electronic access: The Utah Courts XChange system provides electronic access to case documents for registered users; fees vary by account type.
Vital records copies: The Utah Office of Vital Records charges a separate fee for divorce certificates ordered through the state system; current fees are listed on the order a vital record certificate page.
Accepted payment methods: The Fifth District Court accepts cash, check, money order, and credit or debit cards for copy and certification fees.
Fee waivers: Parties who qualify as indigent may petition the court for a waiver of fees pursuant to applicable Utah Court rules.

What's Included in Divorce Records in Washington County

A complete divorce case file maintained by the Fifth District Court clerk contains documents generated at every stage of the proceeding.

Basic Case Information

The case caption identifies the case number, the court name and division, the names of the petitioner and respondent, the judge assigned to the matter, and the attorneys of record. Filing information reflects the date the petition was filed, the case type, and the jurisdictional basis for the proceeding.

Initial Pleadings

The petition for dissolution of marriage sets forth the petitioner's identifying information, the date and location of the marriage, the date of separation if applicable, the grounds for divorce, information regarding minor children, claims regarding marital property, and the relief requested. Under Utah law, the sole ground for divorce is irreconcilable differences, consistent with the no-fault framework established in Utah Code § 30-3-1. The respondent's answer or response sets forth the respondent's position, admissions or denials of the petition's allegations, and any counterpetition for relief.

Financial affidavits filed by both parties disclose income from all sources, monthly expenses, assets including real property, vehicles, bank accounts, investments, and personal property, and all liabilities including mortgages, loans, and credit card debt.

Discovery Documents

Discovery materials filed with the court may include interrogatories and responses, requests for production of documents, financial disclosure statements, tax returns, pay stubs, bank and investment account statements, retirement account statements, and business financial records where a party owns or operates a business.

Property-Related Documents

The marital asset inventory identifies and values all property subject to division, including real property, vehicles, financial accounts, retirement accounts, business interests, and personal property. The debt inventory identifies all marital liabilities. Appraisals and expert valuations of real property, businesses, and personal property may be filed as exhibits.

Children-Related Documents

Where the parties have minor children, the case file includes a parenting plan establishing legal and physical custody, the parent-time schedule for regular periods, holidays, and vacations, transportation arrangements, and provisions for decision-making regarding education, healthcare, and extracurricular activities. The child support calculation worksheet reflects both parties' income, the number of overnights with each parent, health insurance costs, and childcare expenses. Court-ordered custody evaluations and guardian ad litem reports, where prepared, are part of the case file but may be subject to restricted access.

Support Documents

Spousal support provisions, where applicable, identify the type of alimony ordered, the monthly amount, the duration, payment schedule, and conditions for modification or termination. Calculation worksheets reflect the parties' respective incomes, the marital standard of living, and the need and ability to pay analysis conducted by the court.

Settlement Documents

A marital settlement agreement, where the parties resolve issues by agreement, constitutes a comprehensive document addressing property division, debt allocation, spousal support, and child-related provisions. Mediation agreements, where the parties participated in mediation, may be incorporated into the settlement agreement; however, mediation communications themselves are confidential and do not appear in the public record.

Court Orders and Judgments

Temporary orders issued during the pendency of the proceeding may address temporary custody, temporary support, temporary use of marital property, and restraining orders. The final judgment of dissolution constitutes the court's definitive order terminating the marriage, establishing all property rights, support obligations, and custody arrangements, and bearing the judge's signature and court seal. Where retirement accounts are divided, a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) is prepared as a separate order directing the plan administrator to divide the benefit.

Post-Judgment Documents

Post-judgment filings may include petitions to modify custody or support, court orders on modification requests, contempt motions alleging non-compliance with court orders, income deduction orders for support enforcement, and lien filings.

What Is Typically Confidential or Sealed

The following categories of information are redacted or restricted from public access:

Social Security numbers and financial account numbers
Residential addresses and school information for minor children
Domestic violence allegations and supporting evidence, where sealed
Mental health evaluations and medical records
Substance abuse treatment records
Trade secrets incorporated into business valuations
Settlement negotiation communications
Mediation communications

How to Get Proof of Divorce in Washington County

Proof of divorce in Washington County is obtained through a certified copy of the final decree of dissolution issued by the Fifth District Court or, for divorces finalized between 1978 and 2010, through a divorce certificate issued by the Utah Office of Vital Records and Statistics.

Obtaining a Certified Copy from the Court

Members of the public may request a certified copy of the final divorce decree in person at the Fifth District Court clerk's office at 206 West Tabernacle Street, St. George, UT 84770, by telephone at (435) 656-6600, or by written request submitted by mail. The requester must provide the names of both parties and the case number if known. The current certification fee is $4.00 per document. Certified copies bear the court's official seal and the clerk's signature, making them acceptable as legal proof of divorce for remarriage, name change, immigration, and other official purposes.

Obtaining a Divorce Certificate from State Vital Records

For divorces finalized between 1978 and 2010, members of the public may order a vital record certificate through the Utah Office of Vital Records and Statistics. This certificate provides summary information about the divorce and is suitable for many official purposes. For divorces finalized prior to 1978, the Washington County Clerk's office at 197 East Tabernacle Street, St. George, UT 84770, maintains the relevant records.

Obtaining Records Through the Recorder's Office

Where a divorce decree has been recorded as a property document, members of the public may search the Washington County Recorder's document search to locate recorded decrees affecting real property. This resource is particularly useful for verifying property transfers effectuated by a divorce decree.

The Utah Division of Archives and Records Service civil court records guide notes that divorce records are available from 1896 to the present and that divorces must be filed in the county in which at least one of the parties resided at the time the complaint was filed.

Can a Divorce Be Confidential in Washington County?

Divorce proceedings in Washington County are presumptively public under GRAMA and the Utah Rules of Civil Procedure; however, a court may order all or part of a case file sealed upon a proper showing of good cause.

Circumstances under which a divorce record or portions thereof may be confidential include:

Domestic violence cases: Residential addresses and identifying information for victims of domestic violence are withheld from public access pursuant to Utah's domestic violence confidentiality protections.
Sealed case files: A party may petition the court to seal the entire case file or specific documents by demonstrating that the privacy interest at stake outweighs the public interest in access.
Children's information: Names, addresses, schools, and other identifying information for minor children may be redacted from publicly accessible documents.
Mental health and medical records: Documents containing protected health information are subject to HIPAA and are not disclosed in the public record.
Mediation communications: All communications made during court-ordered mediation are confidential by statute and do not become part of the public court file.
Confidential settlements: Terms of settlement that the parties designate as confidential may be incorporated by reference into the final decree without being disclosed in full in the public record.

Members of the public seeking access to sealed records must file a motion with the Fifth District Court demonstrating a legitimate legal basis for access. The court evaluates such requests on a case-by-case basis, applying a balancing test between the requester's interest and the privacy interests protected by the sealing order.

How Long Does Washington County Keep Divorce Records?

Washington County divorce records are retained in accordance with the Utah State Archives records retention schedules applicable to district court case files.

Retention periods for divorce records are as follows:

Final decrees and judgments: Retained permanently. Final judgments of dissolution of marriage are considered permanent records and are not subject to destruction.
Complete case files: District court civil case files, including divorce proceedings, are retained for a minimum of 75 years from the date of final disposition under current Utah State Archives schedules.
Post-judgment modification records: Retained as part of the original case file for the same retention period applicable to the underlying case.
Temporary orders and interlocutory documents: Retained as part of the complete case file.
Archived records: Cases older than the court's electronic filing transition period exist in paper format and are maintained by the Utah Division of Archives and Records Service. The civil court records guide provides guidance on accessing historical records dating from 1896 to the present.
Vital records certificates: Divorce certificates maintained by the Utah Office of Vital Records are retained permanently as part of the state's vital statistics records.

Members of the public seeking records from cases that have been transferred to the state archives should contact the Utah Division of Archives and Records Service directly for retrieval assistance.