Divorce in Utah

How to file for divorce in Utah

1. Check residency. 90 days in the filing county before filing (no separate statewide residency duration).
2. Prepare and file the Petition for Divorce with the District Court in your county. The filing fee is typically $325, and you can ask for a fee waiver if you cannot afford it.
3. Serve your spouse, or have them sign an acceptance of service, and file proof of service.
4. Exchange financial disclosures. An Income and Expense Declaration is generally required within 14 days of the answer in contested cases; it may be waived in fully stipulated cases.
5. Settle the issues in a written agreement, and a parenting plan if you have children.
6. Wait out the waiting period. 30 days from filing (waivable only for extraordinary circumstances). Then ask the court for your final judgment.

Residency and grounds

Residency: 90 days in the filing county before filing (no separate statewide residency duration).

Grounds: No-fault and fault. Most people still file on no-fault grounds, which is simpler and usually cheaper.

Separation: None required for irreconcilable differences; one spouse may file unilaterally.

How property is divided

Utah uses equitable distribution. Marital property and debts are divided fairly, which often lands near equal but not always. Courts weigh things like the length of the marriage, each spouse's income and earning capacity, and contributions as a homemaker. Read how property is divided.

Custody and child support

Parenting terms: Utah uses the terms legal custody and parent-time (Utah's term for physical custody/visitation). Every decision is made in the child's best interests.

Parenting class: Required statewide: both parents must complete Divorce Orientation and Divorce Education for Parents classes whenever minor children are involved.

Child support: Utah uses the income shares model, which combines both parents' incomes, estimates what parents at that income usually spend on children, and divides that amount by each parent's share of income. Try the child support calculator.

Spousal support

Utah alimony generally cannot last longer than the length of the marriage and ends on the recipient's remarriage or cohabitation with a new partner.

Estimate a range with the spousal support calculator, then have a lawyer check it if the numbers are large.

Faster and simpler options

Utah does not have a separate simplified procedure, but an uncontested divorce with a signed agreement is fast and inexpensive.

Legal separation: available in Utah, for couples who want support and parenting orders without ending the marriage.

How long it takes

The minimum is set by the waiting period: 30 days from filing (waivable only for extraordinary circumstances). A typical timeline is 30 to 90 days uncontested; 8 to 20+ months contested. Agreement is what moves the date most; contested cases add months of disclosures, discovery and hearings.

Worth knowing in Utah

• Both parents must complete separate court-approved parenting classes whenever children are involved.
• Alimony generally cannot last longer than the marriage itself.
• The 30-day waiting period can only be waived for extraordinary circumstances.

Official resources

Official forms and instructions come from Utah's courts. Sources we reviewed:

• utcourts.gov
• policyors.utah.gov

Last reviewed September 2026. Laws and fees change; confirm with your court before you file.