Find Daggett County Dissolution Of Marriage Cases
Daggett County dissolution of marriage cases are handled by the Eighth District Court, which holds sessions in Manila, the county seat. Daggett County is the most recently created county in Utah, formed in 1918 from parts of Summit and Uintah Counties. It sits in the northeast corner of the state along the Wyoming border. The county's small size shapes how its court operates, with sessions held only once a month. This guide covers where to search records, how to file, and what to expect from the local process.
Daggett County Quick Facts
Eighth District Court Daggett County Sessions
The Eighth District Court holds court in Daggett County just one day per month. Sessions begin at 9:30 AM, and all parties must be present and ready by that time. Missing the start of the session can delay your case to the following month's date, which makes punctuality especially important in this small rural county.
The Daggett County 8th District Court information page provides the current court calendar along with instructions for scheduling hearings. You can also check hearing dates through the Utah Courts website. Because sessions happen only monthly, checking the calendar before making any travel or work arrangements is essential.
The image below is from the Daggett County page describing how the Eighth District Court operates locally in Manila.
The Eighth District Court also serves Duchesne and Uintah Counties. The full Utah Courts directory lists contact information for all court locations within the district, including phone numbers and physical addresses. For most Daggett County matters, your first call should go to the Daggett County Clerk's office, which provides direct support for court-related needs.
Daggett County Clerk and Court Support
The Daggett County Clerk/Treasurer's office is the central administrative hub for court-related services in Manila. The office is located at the Daggett County Courthouse, 95 North 1st West, P.O. Box 219, Manila UT 84046. You can reach the office by phone at (435) 784-3154 or by fax at (435) 784-3335.
The clerk provides a wide range of services that support the dissolution of marriage process. These include assistance with Eighth District Court filings, access to a public court computer for case research, and general guidance on the paperwork involved in a dissolution case. Contact Vicki Tanner at (435) 784-3154 for questions about public computer access or to find out how to search for an existing case.
The image below is from the Daggett County Clerk's official page, where residents can find information about the office's services and hours.
The Daggett County Clerk page is the best online starting point for anyone navigating the dissolution process locally. It outlines the office's scope of services and links to court calendar information. The clerk also handles marriage licenses, passports, cemetery records, and voter registration, making it the county's primary administrative contact for most civil matters.
Note: Because Daggett County is one of Utah's smallest counties by population, the clerk's office staff can often answer case-specific questions more directly than larger counties with higher caseloads.
Filing a Dissolution Of Marriage in Daggett County
To file for dissolution of marriage in Daggett County, at least one spouse must have lived in Utah for three months and in Daggett County for three months before the filing date. Utah Code Section 30-3-1 sets out this dual residency rule along with the grounds available to petitioners. Common grounds include irreconcilable differences, adultery, willful desertion lasting one year or more, felony conviction, habitual drunkenness, cruel treatment, and incurable insanity.
After a petition is filed and served, the law imposes a waiting period before the court can enter a final decree. Couples with no minor children must wait at least 30 days. Couples with minor children must wait 90 days. These waiting periods are part of Utah's statutory framework under Section 30-3-18 and apply uniformly across all counties including Daggett.
Because the Eighth District Court sits in Daggett County only once a month, the waiting period may extend beyond the minimum depending on when the hearing is scheduled. If your 30-day wait ends one week after the monthly court session, you would be waiting until the next session. Plan your filing date with this in mind.
The filing fee is approximately $325. If you cannot afford this fee, ask about a waiver when you submit your paperwork at the clerk's office.
OCAP Forms and Self-Help for Daggett County
The Online Court Assistance Program, known as OCAP, is one of the most useful tools available to Daggett County residents filing for dissolution. OCAP costs $20 and walks you through a set of questions about your situation. It then generates completed, court-ready forms that match your specific case. The Utah Courts self-help divorce page explains how to access OCAP and what it covers.
For a rural county like Daggett, where legal resources are limited and the nearest attorney may be an hour or more away, OCAP fills a genuine gap. You can complete the forms from home and arrive at the clerk's office with paperwork that is ready to file.
OCAP does not replace legal advice. If your case involves contested property, significant debt, or a dispute about minor children, speaking with an attorney before filing is worth the time and cost. Utah Legal Services may be able to help qualifying residents at low or no cost. The Utah State Bar can provide referrals at (801) 531-9077.
Daggett County Justice Court Records
Daggett County also operates a Justice Court for local civil and criminal matters that fall outside the district court's jurisdiction. Dissolution of marriage cases are always filed in the district court, not the justice court. However, certain matters that arise after a dissolution such as small enforcement disputes or local civil claims may be handled at the justice court level.
The Daggett County Justice Court page provides contact details and explains the types of cases the court handles. Understanding which court handles which type of matter can save you a trip or a phone call in the wrong direction.
The image below shows information from the Daggett County Justice Court page.
Post-dissolution enforcement matters such as contempt for failure to pay support or comply with a custody order are typically handled back in the district court that issued the original decree. The justice court's role in those scenarios is limited.
Utah Vital Records and Dissolution Certificates
The Utah Office of Vital Records holds statewide dissolution records from 1978 forward. Their office is at 288 North 1460 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, reachable at (801) 538-6105. A dissolution certificate from this office costs $18 for the first copy and $10 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. Mail requests typically take two to four weeks.
The image below comes from the Utah Office of Vital Records website and shows how the state processes dissolution certificate requests.
Vital records certificates confirm that a dissolution occurred and the date it was granted. They are accepted for most administrative uses, including name changes, remarriage applications, and benefit enrollments. For the actual terms of a decree, you need the court record from the Eighth District Court. The Utah Office of Vital Records website has full instructions for ordering by mail or in person in Salt Lake City.
For Daggett County dissolutions granted before 1978, the district court record in Manila is likely the only official source. The Utah State Archives at 300 South Rio Grande, Salt Lake City, UT 84101, phone (801) 531-3800, may also hold relevant historical documents depending on the year and filing location.
Note: If you need a dissolution record for immigration purposes, confirm with the relevant agency whether a vital records certificate or a certified court copy is required, since requirements vary.
Public Access and GRAMA in Daggett County
Utah's Government Records Access and Management Act, GRAMA, applies to all county government records including those held by the Daggett County Clerk and the Eighth District Court. Under GRAMA, final dissolution decrees and court orders are generally public records. Case files became private starting April 1, 2012, which means the full contents of a dissolution file from that date forward are restricted, while the decree itself remains accessible.
The public court computer at the Daggett County Clerk's office allows residents to search for case information without a subscription. For broader or more frequent searches, the Utah Courts XChange system offers a $30 monthly subscription that allows online access to docket information statewide, including Daggett County cases filed in the Eighth District.
If a record you need falls under a GRAMA restriction, you can submit a formal written request. The agency must respond within ten business days. You have the right to appeal a denial through the established GRAMA appeals process.
Cities in Daggett County
Daggett County is one of Utah's least populated counties. Manila is the county seat and the location of the courthouse. Dutch John is another notable community, particularly near Flaming Gorge. All dissolution of marriage filings for Daggett County residents, regardless of which community they live in, are submitted at the Daggett County Courthouse in Manila through the Eighth District Court process.
Nearby Counties
Daggett County shares borders with several other Utah counties, each served by its own district court for dissolution of marriage proceedings.