Start here: Which document do you actually need?
“Divorce record” can mean several different documents. Picking the right one first saves time and money. Use the table below, then jump to the matching section for step-by-step instructions.
You need to… | Request this | Where it comes from |
Show the full court orders (custody, support, property, name change) | Divorce Decree (certified copy) | The district court that handled the case |
Provide simple proof of divorce (date, names, place) for a name change, SSA, DMV, insurance | Divorce Certificate | Utah Vital Records — only for divorces finalized 1978–2010 |
Record or enforce the divorce in another U.S. state | Exemplified copy of the decree | The district court |
Use the document in a foreign country | Apostille or Certificate of Authentication added to a certified copy | The Utah Lieutenant Governor’s Office |
Most important rule of thumb:
For any divorce finalized after 2010, there is no state certificate — you must get the decree from the court.
For divorces finalized 1978–2010, you can choose either the short certificate (Vital Records) or the full decree (court).
Option 1 — Divorce Decree (from the District Court)
The decree is the official court order signed by the judge. It contains all the terms of the divorce and is what you’ll want for most legal and personal purposes. It’s available for any year, directly from the court that handled the case.
Provo and Spanish Fork cases are both handled by the Fourth District Court, Utah County.
Copy types the court can issue
Plain (regular) copy — an unofficial photocopy.
Certified copy — signed, dated, and stamped by the Clerk of Court; this is the official version accepted by agencies.
Exemplified copy — a certified copy with extra judicial authentication (see Option 3).
Steps
Find your case number. The clerk needs it, or — if you don’t have it — both spouses’ full names and the approximate date of the divorce.
Parties to the case can look it up via the Utah Courts MyCase portal: https://www.utcourts.gov/en/case-search.html
The public Xchange portal also lists case information (registration and a fee apply): https://www.utcourts.gov/en/court-records-publications/records/online-records.html
Complete a Copy Request form. Get it from the court’s records page: https://www.utcourts.gov/en/court-records-publications/records/request-a-court-record.html
List the document as “Decree of Divorce” and indicate the copy type and number of copies.
Submit it to the courthouse that handled the case — by email, mail, or in person.
Pay the fee before processing. Approximate court fees:
Plain copy: $0.25 per page
Certified copy: about $4.00 per document, plus $0.25 per page
A search fee may apply if staff need more than ~15 minutes to locate the file.
Confirm the exact total with the clerk, as fees can vary slightly.
Fourth District Court — Utah County locations
Location | Address | Phone |
Provo | 125 North 100 West, Provo, UT 84601 | (801) 429-1000 |
Spanish Fork | 775 West Center, Spanish Fork, UT 84660 | (801) 804-4800 |
American Fork | 75 East 80 North, Suite 202, American Fork, UT 84003 | (801) 756-9654 |
Salem | 30 West 100 South, Salem, UT 84653 | (801) 423-2770 |
If you’re not sure which courthouse handled the case, call either Provo or Spanish Fork with the names and approximate date and the clerk can locate it.
Privacy note: Because divorce files can contain sensitive information, the court generally releases the full decree only to a party on the case (or someone with a notarized authorization letter from a party).
Option 2 — Divorce Certificate (from Utah Vital Records)
This is a short, one-page document confirming that a divorce happened — the names, date, and location. It’s commonly accepted for name changes, Social Security, DMV, and insurance. It does not include the court’s detailed orders.
Availability: Divorce certificates are only issued for divorces finalized between 1978 and 2010. For any other year, request the decree from the court (Option 1).
Who can request it
The person named on the record, an immediate family member (spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild) with proof of relationship, a legal guardian, or a designated legal representative.
Steps
Order online (fastest) at https://vitalrecords.utah.gov — orders are routed through your local health department. (Note: processing times can run several weeks during high-volume periods.)
Or download the Marriage/Divorce Certificate Request Application and mail or bring it in.
Provide valid ID and, if requesting for a relative, proof of relationship.
Pay the fee:
$18 for the first certified copy (includes the record search; non-refundable)
$10 for each additional copy ordered at the same time
$15 optional expedited processing
Vital Records contact
Online orders: https://vitalrecords.utah.gov
Phone: (801) 538-6105 • Fax: (801) 538-7012
Email: vrequest@utah.gov
Mailing address: Office of Vital Records and Statistics, PO Box 141012, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-1012
Physical address: 288 North 1460 West, Salt Lake City, UT
Option 3 — Exemplified Copy (for use in another U.S. state)
An exemplified copy is a certified copy with an added layer of authentication: the Clerk of Court certifies the judge’s signature, and the judge certifies the clerk’s authority. You’d need this to record or enforce your Utah divorce judgment in another state.
Steps
Follow the Option 1 process at the district court, but on the Copy Request form select “Exemplified” as the copy type.
Expect a fee higher than a standard certified copy (commonly in the range of about $6 per document plus per-page costs). Confirm the current amount with the clerk.
For international use, you do not want an exemplified copy — you want an apostille (Option 4).
Option 4 — Apostille / Certificate of Authentication (for use in a foreign country)
If the document will be used abroad, a certified copy alone isn’t enough — it needs authentication from the Utah Lieutenant Governor’s Office.
Apostille — for countries in the Hague Apostille Convention.
Certificate of Authentication — for countries that are not in the Hague Convention.
(Utah issues a single certificate that functions as whichever the destination country requires.)
Steps
First obtain a certified copy of the decree from the district court (Option 1). The Lieutenant Governor authenticates the certified court document — so this step must come first.
Complete the Document Authentication Request Form and note the destination country: https://authentications.utah.gov/request-form/
Submit by mail or in person with payment.
Pay the fee (effective July 1, 2025):
Apostille or Certificate of Authentication (3–5 business days): $19.00 per document
Next-business-day processing: +$34.00
Same-day processing: +$74.00
Lieutenant Governor’s Office contact
Website: https://authentications.utah.gov
Phone: (801) 538-1041
Email: authentications@utah.gov
Walk-in / courier address: Office of the Lieutenant Governor, Utah State Capitol Building, 350 North State Street, Suite 220, Salt Lake City, UT 84114
USPS mailing address: Office of the Lieutenant Governor, PO Box 142325, Salt Lake City, UT 84114
Appointments are recommended for in-person service. Including a self-addressed, prepaid, trackable return envelope is encouraged.
Quick reference — all contacts
Office | Purpose | Phone | Web / Email |
4th District Court — Provo | Decree, certified & exemplified copies | (801) 429-1000 | utcourts.gov |
4th District Court — Spanish Fork | Decree, certified & exemplified copies | (801) 804-4800 | utcourts.gov |
Utah Vital Records | Divorce certificate (1978–2010) | (801) 538-6105 | vitalrecords.utah.gov • vrequest@utah.gov |
Lt. Governor’s Office | Apostille / authentication (international) | (801) 538-1041 | authentications.utah.gov • authentications@utah.gov |
Frequently asked questions
My divorce was finalized after 2010 and Vital Records says they don’t have a certificate. What do I do?
That’s expected. Request a certified copy of the decree from the district court (Option 1) — it serves the same proof-of-divorce purpose and contains more detail.
Which is “official” — the certificate or the decree?
Both can be issued as official certified documents. The certificate is a brief summary; the decree is the full court order. Ask the agency that’s requesting it which one they require.
I need it for a country overseas.
Get a certified copy of the decree from the court first, then send it to the Lieutenant Governor’s Office for an apostille/authentication (Option 4).
I don’t have my case number.
Provide both spouses’ full names and the approximate date of the divorce; the clerk can locate the case. Parties can also look it up through MyCase.
Can I get my ex-spouse’s decree?
Generally only parties to the case (or someone with notarized authorization from a party) can obtain the full decree, because the file may contain private information.
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Fees and processing times are subject to change. When in doubt, call the relevant office above to confirm current requirements before submitting payment. This guide is informational and is not legal advice.