Rule 10I Appendix I. Summary of Classification of Court Records

This chart shows how open or private different types of court cases are in Utah. Most case types, like criminal cases, contracts, and personal injury claims, are fully public. That means anyone can see the case name, the history of what happened in court, the documents filed, and the final judgment.

Some cases get more privacy because they involve family or personal matters. Cases like divorce, custody, guardianship, and paternity are "semi-private." This means the public can still see that the case exists and follow its history and final rulings, but the actual documents filed in the case stay private. Other case types get even stronger protection. Juvenile court cases and involuntary commitment cases are private across the board, so almost nothing about them is open to the public.

A few case types start out private but change over time. Adoptions and gestational agreements are private at first, then get sealed completely about six months after the final decision. Wills that are deposited with the court and administrative search warrants also start private, though warrants become public after 20 days. If you're involved in one of these cases, this chart helps you understand who can see what, and whether your personal information and documents are protected from public view.