SIMPLIFYING YOUR DIVORCE

Which Utah Divorce Forms Will You Need?

The forms you encounter depend on the shape of your case, whether it is uncontested or contested, and whether minor children are involved. Below, the Utah divorce papers are grouped by the job each one does. Form names and numbers are taken directly from Utah's official court forms. For advice on which forms apply to your specific situation, consult an attorney.

Starting the Case

These forms open the divorce and put the other spouse on notice.

• Verified Petition for Annulment or in the Alternative for Divorce (3001FA)
  The primary filing form used to initiate a divorce (or annulment) case; it establishes jurisdiction and the grounds being asserted.

• Summons (In State) (1015FA)
  This form is used to serve the respondent spouse with notice of the divorce action through in-state service.

• Domestic Relations Injunction (1900FA)
  An automatic injunction that issues at filing; it prohibits hiding assets, harassment, and unauthorized relocation of a child during the case.

• Declaration of Jurisdiction and Grounds for Divorce (1051FA)
  This form establishes the court's jurisdictional basis and states the grounds being asserted.

• Notice of Required Classes (1912FA)
  Notifies the parties of mandatory divorce orientation and parenting class requirements when minor children are involved.

Responding to the Petition

If you are the spouse who received the papers, these forms are used to reply.

• Answer - Family (1008FA)
  The respondent's formal response to the divorce petition.

• Counterclaim - Family (1009FA)
  The respondent's counterclaim, filed together with or after the Answer.

Financial and Disclosure Forms

Both spouses are required to disclose their financial picture. These forms handle that.

• Financial Declaration (1903FA)
  A court-approved comprehensive financial disclosure required of both parties; it details income, expenses, assets, and debts.

• Notice of Disclosure Requirements in Domestic Cases (1351FA)
  Notifies the parties of mandatory financial disclosure obligations under Utah Rule of Civil Procedure 26.1.

• Income Verification and Statement of Compliance with Child Support Guidelines (1052FAJ)
  Verifies income and confirms that the child support calculation complies with state guidelines.

Forms for Divorces With Children

When minor children are involved, Utah requires worksheets and a parenting plan. Note that in Utah, child support is calculated using a required, numbered worksheet form that applies the Utah Child Support Guidelines, not a free-form agreement.

• Child Support Worksheet - Sole Physical Custody (1928FA)
  Calculates the child support obligation when one parent has sole physical custody.

• Child Support Worksheet - Joint Physical Custody (1929FA)
  Calculates the child support obligation under a joint physical custody arrangement.

• Child Support Worksheet - Split Custody (1927FA)
  Calculates child support when children are split between parents.

• Parenting Plan (1902FA)
  Establishes legal and physical custody, the parent-time schedule, and decision-making arrangements for minor children. A Military Parenting Plan (1901FA) is available as an alternative for cases involving a military parent.

Settlement or Separation Agreement

Utah handles agreements a little differently from many states. There is no separate numbered "marital settlement agreement" form. Instead, when both spouses agree on the terms, that agreement is called a stipulation. The stipulation's terms are incorporated into the Findings of Fact and the Decree, which are generated through the state's online tool or drafted with the help of counsel.

Finalizing Your Case

These are the documents that bring the divorce to a close.

• Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law on Verified Petition for Annulment or in the Alternative for Divorce (3002FA)
  The court's written factual and legal findings that support the divorce decree.

• Decree of Annulment or Divorce (3003FA)
  The final judgment dissolving the marriage; it is signed by the judge to complete the divorce.

One more administrative item: a Certificate of Divorce (a Utah Department of Health form) must accompany the filing. This is a vital-records form rather than a court proceeding form.

Where to Get Utah Divorce Forms

You have several options for obtaining Utah divorce papers, depending on how much hands-on help you want.

Official State Courts Site

Utah publishes its statewide divorce forms and self-help resources directly on the state court website. You can find the forms and guidance at the official Utah Courts self-help page: utcourts.gov.

MyPaperwork / OCAP (Utah's Online Court Tool)

Utah offers a free online court assistance tool, known as MyPaperwork (formerly OCAP), available through utcourts.gov. It walks you through an interview and generates the required divorce forms based on your answers. This is the state's recommended self-help filing method, and it is the path used for stipulated, uncontested cases.

County Clerk or District Court

Because Utah's forms are statewide, you generally do not need county-specific versions. That said, your local district court clerk's office can be a resource for filing logistics and questions about submitting your paperwork.

Legal Aid and Self-Help Resources

Utah's court system provides self-help materials alongside the forms. These resources explain general procedures and are a good starting point if you are representing yourself.

Online Divorce Services (Divorce.com)

If you would rather not assemble forms one by one, an online service can streamline the process. Divorce.com helps you organize your information and prepare your divorce paperwork through a guided, plain-language experience.

Hire an Attorney

For contested cases, complex assets, or situations where you simply want professional guidance, working with a Utah attorney is an option. An attorney can draft documents, advise on strategy, and represent you in court.

The Utah Divorce Process

Every case is unique, but Utah divorces generally move through these stages.

1. Meet the Residency Requirement

Before filing, either spouse must have lived in a single Utah county for at least 90 days (three months) immediately before filing. If custody is at issue, the child must have lived in Utah with a parent for at least six months preceding the petition.

2. File the Petition

The case begins when the Verified Petition (3001FA) and related starting forms are filed with the court, establishing jurisdiction and the grounds for divorce.

3. Serve the Other Spouse

The respondent is served with the Summons (1015FA) and petition. At filing, the Domestic Relations Injunction (1900FA) automatically takes effect for both parties.

4. Complete Financial Disclosures

Both spouses exchange financial information using the Financial Declaration (1903FA), consistent with the disclosure obligations described in the Notice of Disclosure Requirements (1351FA).

5. Complete Education Courses and Mediation (When Required)

When any minor child under 18 is involved, both parties must complete two courses: a Divorce Orientation Course and a Divorce Education/Parenting Course. The petitioner generally completes both within 60 days of filing, and the respondent within 30 days of being served, through the state-approved provider, Utah State University Extension (divorce.usu.edu). Courts cannot hear motions until the required classes are completed. In contested cases, mediation is generally required once the respondent files an Answer, though either party may motion to be excused.

6. Observe the Waiting Period

Utah imposes a mandatory 30-day waiting period between filing and finalization. It can be waived on a motion showing extraordinary circumstances (form 1211FA).

7. Decree and Certified Copies

Once the requirements are met, the court enters the Findings of Fact (3002FA) and the judge signs the Decree of Divorce (3003FA), which finalizes the dissolution.

Utah-Specific Requirements You Should Know

A few features make Utah distinctive. Here is what to be aware of.

Residency

Either spouse must have lived in a single Utah county for at least 90 days immediately before filing. For custody jurisdiction, the child generally must have lived in Utah with a parent for at least six months before the petition.

Property Regime

Utah is an equitable distribution state. This means marital property is divided fairly, which is not always the same as a 50/50 split, rather than under a community property formula.

Grounds for Divorce

Utah allows a no-fault ground: irreconcilable differences (Utah Code § 81-4-405(1)(h)). The state also recognizes fault grounds under § 81-4-405, including impotency at the time of marriage, adultery committed after marriage, willful desertion for more than one year, willful neglect to provide common necessaries of life, habitual drunkenness, conviction of a felony, cruel treatment causing bodily injury or great mental distress, incurable insanity, and living separately under a decree of separate maintenance for three consecutive years without cohabitation.

Covenant Marriage

Utah recognizes covenant marriage (Utah Code Title 81, Chapter 2, Part 3), which requires premarital counseling and a signed declaration of intent. For a covenant marriage, no-fault irreconcilable differences is not available; divorce requires proving a restricted fault ground under § 81-4-406, such as adultery, a felony conviction carrying a death or imprisonment sentence, or abandonment of the matrimonial domicile for at least one year with refusal to return.

Waiting Period

A 30-day waiting period applies between filing and finalization, which can be waived on a motion showing extraordinary circumstances.

A Note on the Code Renumbering

Utah's domestic relations statutes were comprehensively renumbered from Title 30 to Title 81, effective September 1, 2024. Older forms and resources may still reference the legacy Title 30 / Chapter 3 citations, so do not be surprised if you see both.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Skipping or Delaying the Required Classes

When minor children are involved, the divorce orientation and parenting courses are mandatory, and the court generally cannot hear motions until they are completed. Missing the deadlines can stall your case.

Treating the Child Support Worksheet as Optional

In Utah, the child support worksheet (1928FA, 1929FA, or 1927FA) is a required court form, not just a reference document. The correct worksheet depends on the custody arrangement.

Assuming Irreconcilable Differences Always Applies

For a covenant marriage, the no-fault ground is not available. Knowing which type of marriage you have matters for which grounds can be asserted.

Overlooking the Financial Declaration

Both spouses are required to complete the Financial Declaration (1903FA). Incomplete or missing disclosures can delay finalization.

Forgetting the Certificate of Divorce

The Certificate of Divorce (a Department of Health vital-records form) must accompany the filing. It is easy to overlook because it is separate from the court forms.

Using Outdated Citations

Because of the 2024 renumbering, some older materials cite Title 30. Working from current forms helps you avoid confusion.

How Divorce.com Can Help

Gathering the right Utah forms, filling them out accurately, and keeping track of deadlines is a lot to manage on your own. Divorce.com is built to make that process simpler and less stressful by guiding you step by step in plain language.

• A guided, interview-style experience that helps you prepare your divorce paperwork

• Plain-language explanations so you understand what each document does

• Organized handling of your information to reduce errors and omissions

• A calmer, more affordable alternative to figuring out the forms entirely on your own

• Support designed around uncontested cases where both spouses are on the same page