Washington County Divorce Records

Washington County divorce records are among the oldest in Utah, with court documents dating back to 1874 and divorce records from 1878. Named for President George Washington, this county in southwest Utah is served by the Fifth District Court in St. George. The court handles all divorce filings for county residents and maintains the official case files. You can search Washington County divorce records through the Utah court system online or visit the courthouse at 206 West Tabernacle Street in St. George to review files and obtain certified copies of decrees.

Washington County Fifth District Court

The Fifth District Court serves Washington County from its main courthouse at 206 West Tabernacle Street in St. George. The court phone number is (435) 986-5700. The District Court Clerk at this location handles all divorce case filings and maintains the official court files. Staff can search for cases by party name or case number and provide certified copies of decrees and other documents. This is the primary office for Washington County divorce records.

The Fifth District covers more than just Washington County. Beaver, Garfield, and Iron counties are also within this judicial district. However, divorce cases for Washington County residents are filed and kept at the St. George courthouse. The County Clerk and Auditor office for Washington County is at 111 East Tabernacle Street in St. George, which is close to the courthouse. The County Clerk holds marriage records from 1887, divorce records from 1878, and probate and court records from 1874.

Searching Washington County Divorce Records

The Utah court system provides online access to divorce case information for Washington County. XChange is the statewide subscription portal with a $25 one-time signup fee plus a monthly access cost. It lets you search by name or case number across all Utah courts, including the Fifth District in St. George. MyCase is a free option for parties to a case and their legal representatives. Both portals are available through utcourts.gov.

Washington County divorce records are public under GRAMA, Utah Code Section 63G-2. The decree and court orders are open to the public. Those who have full access to the complete case file include the parties to the divorce, their immediate family members, legal representatives, and anyone who holds a court order permitting access. Sensitive details about finances and minor children may be redacted in public copies. Records that are at least 75 years old are fully public with no restrictions.

For in-person searches, visit the Fifth District Court at 206 West Tabernacle Street in St. George. Bring your ID. Staff can look up cases and pull files. Washington County has some of Utah's earliest divorce records, so older cases may be in physical form and may take more time to locate.

Note: If a record you are searching for was filed before the court's digital system was in use, contact the clerk directly at (435) 986-5700 or reach out to the Utah Division of Archives for historical records assistance.

Washington County Divorce Filing Process

At least one spouse must have lived in Utah and in Washington County for a minimum of three months before filing for divorce. This residency rule comes from Utah Code Section 30-3. You file your petition at the Fifth District Court in St. George. The filing fee is approximately $330. Income-based fee waivers are available for those who qualify.

After filing, the petitioner must serve the other spouse with the divorce papers. The court assigns a case number at the time of filing. Utah imposes a waiting period before the judge can sign the final decree. The wait is 30 days if no minor children are involved. If minor children are part of the case, the court requires a 90-day waiting period. During that time, the parties may be required to complete divorce orientation or parent education classes. The divorce decree becomes a public record in Washington County once it is entered by the judge.

Utah uses equitable distribution to divide marital property. This means the court decides what is fair based on the circumstances of each marriage, not a strict 50-50 split. Spousal support, property division, and child-related matters are all resolved within the same divorce case. The Utah Courts self-help center has free forms and plain-language instructions for people who handle their own divorce in Washington County.

Washington County Divorce Certificates and Vital Records

The Southwest Utah Public Health Department at 620 South 400 East in St. George, reachable at (435) 673-3528, issues divorce certificates for events recorded between 1978 and 2010. A divorce certificate is a brief document that confirms a divorce occurred. It shows the parties' names and the date but not the details of any settlement or property division. Many people in Washington County use these certificates to prove marital status for purposes like name changes or remarriage applications.

For divorces before 1978 or after 2010, request a certified copy of the decree from the Fifth District Court Clerk in St. George. The state Office of Vital Records at vitalrecords.utah.gov also handles statewide vital records requests. Online and mail orders for certificates can be submitted through the vital records certificate order page. The CDC's where-to-write guide at cdc.gov also has information on obtaining Utah vital records, including Washington County divorce certificates.

The image below links to the Utah vital records site. Utah Vital Records processes requests for certificates covering events statewide, including divorces recorded in Washington County during the covered years.

Washington County Historical Divorce Records

Washington County holds some of Utah's oldest civil records. Court records go back to 1874, making this one of the longest-running record collections in the state. Divorce records are available from 1878, and marriage records go back to 1887. These older documents may be held in physical archives rather than digital systems. The Utah Division of Archives can assist with locating records from Washington County's early years. Genealogists and researchers can also consult the FamilySearch Utah Divorce Records guide for tips on finding historical records across the state.

The image below connects to information on Utah's archival resources. The Utah Division of Archives preserves older government records, including historic divorce case files and court documents from Washington County and other Utah jurisdictions.

Nearby Counties

Washington County sits in the southwest corner of Utah, bordered by Garfield, Iron, and Kane counties. Residents who are unsure which county to file in should check the county listed for their home address. You must file in the county where you have met the three-month residency requirement.

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