UtahUtah law sets court fees and requires notices about fine alternatives
Utah law sets fees for certain civil cases and online-prepared filings, while exempting state and local governments from covered civil court fees.
What it does
In courts of record, certain civil claims cost $105 or $215 to file. Divorce petitions cost $350, except temporary separation petitions, and specified debt collection or property recovery orders cost $75.
People filing covered papers prepared through the Online Court Assistance Program pay a $60 surcharge. Using the program, later filings, and protective-order requests carry no program fee.
State and local governments pay no covered civil court fees. People owing judgments to them must pay filing and collection costs, except for judgments won by the Office of Recovery Services.
The Administrative Office of the Courts must contract for security at all courts of record when lawmakers provide funding. This law itself provides no money.
Courts must explain unpaid service as an alternative to criminal fine payments, including before permitted voluntary payments. Service cannot replace money owed to compensate victims.
Argument forNotice before voluntary payment could help people learn how to work off a fine instead of spending money they need.
Argument againstThe $60 filing surcharge could make court papers harder to afford for people using the online program without a lawyer.
More detail
Courts of record charge the listed fees for certain civil cases and orders to collect debts or recover property. In courts of record, civil claims of $2,000 or less have a $105 filing fee. Claims above $2,000 but below $10,000 have a $215 fee. The claim amounts used for the $105 and $215 fees exclude court costs, interest, and lawyer fees. Temporary separation petitions have a separate $35 fee. The $75 fee for these collection and property orders is added to any complaint or petition fee. These fee provisions took effect on May 6, 2026.
Courts add $60 to filing fees for covered papers prepared through the Online Court Assistance Program. The surcharge covers complaints, petitions, counterclaims, and counterpetitions prepared through the program for filing in justice courts or courts of record. Using the program is free. The program fee does not apply to papers filed after the initial filing or to preparing a request for a protective order. These program fee provisions took effect on May 6, 2026.
Courts do not charge covered civil fees to state and local governments filing or defending a case. The exemption covers the state, state agencies, and local governments in justice courts and courts of record. When a government wins a judgment, the court must order the person who owes it to pay filing fees and collection costs. That payment requirement does not apply to judgments won by the Office of Recovery Services. These government fee provisions took effect on May 6, 2026.
The Administrative Office of the Courts must use Court Security Account money to contract for court security when lawmakers provide funding. The requirement covers all Utah courts of record. The requirement depends on lawmakers setting aside money from the account. This law itself sets aside no money. The requirement took effect on May 6, 2026, but spending depends on funding.
Courts must tell people paying covered criminal fines about the option to perform unpaid service instead. The notices cover people sentenced to criminal fines, including traffic fines, and people permitted to pay recommended fines without appearing in court. Service cannot replace money owed to compensate victims. Before a permitted voluntary payment without a court appearance, the court must explain the service option and how to pursue it. These notice duties took effect on May 6, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 23Governor Spencer Cox SignedBecame Law
- Mar 13Senate/ to GovernorTo Governor
- Mar 13Senate/ received enrolled bill from PrintingMinor
- Mar 11Senate/ enrolled bill to Printing
- Mar 11Enrolled Bill Returned to House or SenateMinor
- Mar 10Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
- Mar 10Bill Received from Senate for EnrollingMinor
- Mar 10Senate/ signed by President/ sent for enrollingMajor
- Mar 10Senate/ received from HouseMinor
- Mar 7House/ to Senate
- Vote recorded Senate/ concurs with House amendment. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 7House/ signed by Speaker/ returned to SenateMajor
- Mar 7House/ received from SenateMinor
- Mar 7Senate/ to House
- Mar 7Senate/ concurs with House amendmentMajor
- Mar 7Senate/ placed on Concurrence Calendar
- Mar 7Senate/ received from HouseMinor
- Mar 6House/ to Senate
- Vote recorded House/ passed 3rd reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 6House/ passed 3rd readingPassed House
- Mar 6House/ 3rd readingMinor
- Mar 6House/ 2nd readingMinor
- Mar 6House/ Rules to 3rd Reading Calendar
- Mar 4LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0283S01
- Mar 4House/ return to Rules due to fiscal impact [House Rules Committee]
- Mar 4House/ comm rpt/ substituted [House Judiciary Committee]
- Mar 3House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Judiciary Committee]Minor
- Mar 3House Comm - Substitute Recommendation [House Judiciary Committee]Major
- Mar 3LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0283S01
- Mar 2LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0283S01
- Mar 2LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0283S01
- Feb 27House/ to standing committee [House Judiciary Committee]Minor
- Feb 26House/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Feb 25House/ received from SenateMinor
- Vote recorded Senate/ passed 3rd reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 25Senate/ to House
- Feb 25Senate/ passed 3rd readingPassed Senate
- Feb 25Senate/ 3rd readingMinor
- Feb 24Senate/ passed 2nd readingMinor
- Vote recorded Senate/ passed 2nd reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 24Senate/ 2nd readingMinor
- Feb 17Senate/ received fiscal note from Fiscal AnalystMinor
- Feb 17Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
- Feb 17Senate/ committee report favorable [Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee]Minor
- Feb 17LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0283
- Feb 13LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0283
- Feb 12Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee]Minor
- Feb 12Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee]Minor
- Feb 11Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Feb 10Senate/ received bill from Legislative ResearchMinor
- Feb 10LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0283
- Feb 10LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0283
- Feb 10Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed
- Feb 10Bill Numbered but not DistributedIntroduced
Criminal JusticeGovernment & Ethics