By Jill Coil, Founder and Family Law Attorney

Quick answer: Salt Lake County divorces are filed with the Third District Court, which sits at the Matheson Courthouse at 450 S. State Street in Salt Lake City and also hears family matters at the West Jordan courthouse. One spouse must have lived in a single Utah county for at least three months before filing, and Utah requires a 30-day waiting period between the petition and the final decree. CoilLaw represents families across the valley from our Sandy office.

Salt Lake County covers the whole valley, from Salt Lake City and the Avenues south through Murray, Midvale and Sandy to Draper and Riverton, and west through Taylorsville, West Valley City and West Jordan. It is the busiest family law docket in the state. CoilLaw handles divorce, custody, support and property division throughout the county under the Utah Code. Our main office is in Sandy.

Filing for Divorce in Salt Lake County

• Where it is filed. The Third District Court. The main courthouse is the Scott M. Matheson Courthouse at 450 S. State Street, Salt Lake City, and family matters are also heard at the West Jordan courthouse. Most documents are filed electronically.
• Residency. You or your spouse must have lived in a single Utah county for three months or more immediately before filing.
• The waiting period. Utah requires 30 days between filing the petition and entry of the decree. A judge may waive it in extraordinary circumstances.
• Filing fee. $350 to file the petition. If you cannot afford it, you can ask the court to waive the fee.
• Divorce education. Parents of minor children complete the mandatory divorce orientation and divorce education courses before the decree is entered.

To talk through a Salt Lake County filing, call 801-850-0852.

What Makes Salt Lake County Cases Different

Volume and pace. The Third District carries the heaviest family law caseload in Utah. That cuts both ways: the judges and commissioners see every fact pattern and are hard to surprise, but hearing dates are further out than in smaller districts, so temporary orders matter more here than almost anywhere else in the state. What gets ordered at the temporary orders stage often sets the pattern for the rest of the case.

Complex assets. Salt Lake County households are more likely to hold professional practices, executive compensation, rental property and retirement accounts built over long careers. Dividing a pension or a closely held interest correctly usually takes a valuation professional, and getting that work started early is what keeps a case from stalling.

Family Law Services in Salt Lake County

• Contested and uncontested divorce.
• Child custody and parent-time, including relocation and the 150-mile rule.
• Child support under the Utah guidelines.
• Alimony and spousal support.
• High-asset divorce, business interests and executive compensation.
• DCFS defense for Salt Lake County families.
• Mediation, which keeps sensitive financial detail out of the public record.
• Modifications and enforcement of existing Third District orders.

Salt Lake City itself is the county seat and where the Third District Court sits. If you live in the city, our Salt Lake City divorce lawyer page covers filing, custody and property division specific to city residents.

Cities We Serve in Salt Lake County

Salt Lake City · Sandy · West Jordan · West Valley City · Murray · Midvale · Draper · Taylorsville · Riverton · South Jordan · Herriman · Holladay · Millcreek · Cottonwood Heights

Salt Lake City neighborhoods: Sugar House · The Avenues

Neighboring counties: Utah · Davis · Tooele · Summit

Why Salt Lake County Families Choose CoilLaw

Family law is the only thing our firm does. CoilLaw is a women-owned firm, and from our Sandy office we represent families across the valley, in cases that are straightforward and in cases where the financial picture is genuinely complicated.

We are candid about outcomes. Nobody can guarantee a result in family court, and an attorney who promises one should give you pause. What we commit to is thorough preparation, plain answers and prompt communication.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I file for divorce in Salt Lake County?

With the Third District Court. The main location is the Matheson Courthouse at 450 S. State Street in Salt Lake City, and family matters are also heard at the West Jordan courthouse. Filing is electronic in nearly all cases.

How long do I have to live here before I can file?

You or your spouse must have lived in a single Utah county for at least three months immediately before the petition is filed. If children are involved, custody orders generally require the child to have lived in Utah for six months.

How long does a Salt Lake County divorce take?

An uncontested divorce is often final shortly after the 30-day waiting period. Contested cases in the Third District commonly run six months to well over a year, in part because the docket is the busiest in the state.

Why do temporary orders matter so much here?

Because the wait for a final hearing is long. Whatever schedule and support arrangement is in place while the case is pending tends to become the status quo, and courts are reluctant to disturb a workable status quo at trial.

Do we have to go to mediation?

In most contested Utah divorce cases the parties are required to attempt mediation before the court will set a trial. Many cases settle there, which is usually faster and cheaper than litigating.

Can my ex move away with our children?

A parent who intends to move 150 miles or more from the other parent must give written notice, generally 60 days in advance, and the court can revisit parent-time. Moves within the valley rarely require a change to the order.

Talk to a Salt Lake County Divorce Lawyer

Call 801-850-0852 or request a consultation online. CoilLaw, 10815 South 700 East, Sandy, UT 84070.

This page is for general information and is not legal advice. Every case is different. For advice about your specific situation, speak with a licensed Utah attorney.