Find Public Records in Duchesne County
Duchesne County public records are maintained by offices in the county courthouse in Duchesne, along with state agencies in Salt Lake City. This page covers the main offices that hold records in Duchesne County, how to contact each one, and how to submit a request under Utah's public records law. Whether you need property documents, court filings, or criminal history, you will find the right starting point here for searching Duchesne County records.
Duchesne County Quick Facts
Duchesne County Recorder
The Duchesne County Recorder's office is located in the Duchesne County Courthouse at 734 North Center Street, Duchesne, UT 84021. The phone number is (435) 738-1124, and the office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The official website is at duchesne.utah.gov/recorder. This office records and maintains all real property instruments for Duchesne County, including deeds, mortgages, easements, plats, and related documents.
Duchesne County occupies a large area of eastern Utah, and portions of the county overlap with the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation. Because of this, the Recorder's office sometimes handles land record matters in coordination with Bureau of Indian Affairs requirements. If your research involves trust land or allotted land within the reservation boundaries, you may need to contact both the county office and the BIA Eastern Agency. The Recorder can point you in the right direction for these more specialized inquiries.
Recording fees follow the state schedule: $40 for the first page and $2 for each additional description. Certified copies cost $5 plus $1 per page. Staff can assist with both in-person document requests and questions about how to search the county index.
The Duchesne County Recorder website provides online access to county property records. The screenshot below is from the official recorder portal.
The Duchesne County Recorder site lets you search recorded instruments and check current recording fee schedules.
Duchesne County Clerk and Auditor
The Duchesne County Clerk-Auditor office is also in the county courthouse at 734 North Center Street, Duchesne, UT 84021. The phone number is (435) 738-1102. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The website is at duchesne.utah.gov/clerk-auditor. The Clerk-Auditor serves as the official keeper of county records, runs county elections, issues marriage licenses, and serves as clerk to the Duchesne County Commission.
GRAMA requests for Duchesne County records should be submitted to the Clerk-Auditor office. Under Utah Code § 63G-2-201, anyone may inspect or copy public records held by a government agency. You do not need to give a reason for your request. The county must respond within 10 business days. Copies are $0.25 per page for black and white and $0.50 per page for color. The first 15 minutes of staff research time is free.
Marriage licenses are available through this office. The Clerk-Auditor also maintains minute books and commission records for Duchesne County, which can be valuable for researching government decisions, land use orders, and other county actions going back many years.
The Duchesne County Clerk-Auditor website handles GRAMA requests and county administrative records. The screenshot below comes from the official county clerk portal.
The Duchesne County Clerk-Auditor site includes contact information, hours, and online tools for records requests.
Duchesne County Sheriff and Criminal Records
The Duchesne County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement in unincorporated areas of the county and operates the county jail. For current inmate information or to request an incident report, contact the Sheriff's Office directly. Incident and accident reports are available through a formal records request. Fees vary depending on the length and type of report.
For criminal history checks that go beyond local jail records, the Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification is the right resource. The BCI conducts both name-based and fingerprint-based background checks for individuals and organizations. A name-based check costs $15, and a fingerprint-based check costs $33.25. The BCI is at 3888 West 5400 South, Taylorsville, and can be reached at (801) 965-4445. Their website is at bci.utah.gov. This service is available to anyone and covers criminal history statewide, not just for one county.
Duchesne County Court Records
The Eighth District Court serves Duchesne County. The court handles civil, criminal, family law, probate, and juvenile matters for the county. Court records are generally public under GRAMA, with limited exceptions for sealed matters and juvenile cases. Public access terminals at the courthouse allow free index searches. For copies of documents, contact the District Court Clerk directly.
The Utah Courts' online case search tool, XChange, provides remote access to court records across all Utah district courts including the Eighth District. Searches cost $0.35 each, or you can pay $40 per month for unlimited access. Go to utcourts.gov to create an account and begin searching. For in-person research, the courthouse in Duchesne has staff who can assist with locating case files and providing certified copies.
Property Records and the Duchesne County Assessor
The Duchesne County Assessor determines the taxable value of all real and personal property in the county. Assessed value records are public and can help you confirm ownership, check tax status, and research the history of a parcel. Because Duchesne County has a significant amount of mineral and energy-related land, the Assessor's records also cover mineral rights and oil and gas leases where applicable.
For the most complete picture of a Duchesne County property, check both the Assessor records and the Recorder's document index. The Recorder holds the actual instruments such as deeds and mortgages, while the Assessor holds the valuation data and tax history. Together these two sources give you a full view of any parcel in the county.
How to Request Duchesne County Public Records
Utah's GRAMA law, codified at Utah Code § 63G-2-201, gives you the right to inspect and copy public records. Any person may make a request. You do not need to be a resident of Duchesne County or state a reason. Describe the record as clearly as you can so the agency can locate it. Requests for Duchesne County government records should go to the specific office that holds the record, with the Clerk-Auditor as the general starting point.
Agencies must respond within 10 business days. They may grant, deny, or ask for a time extension if more review is needed. Copy fees are $0.25 per page for black and white and $0.50 for color. Staff time beyond the first 15 minutes may be charged. If your request is denied, you may appeal first to the agency's chief administrative officer and then to district court under Utah Code § 63G-2-802.
For older or historical Duchesne County records, the Utah State Archives holds documents that predate county electronic systems. The Archives is at 346 South Rio Grande Street, Salt Lake City, (801) 531-3847, and the website is at archives.utah.gov. Staff there can help you identify what historical records exist for Duchesne County and how to access them.
Note: Some Duchesne County records involving tribal lands may require coordination with federal agencies. The BIA Eastern Agency can assist with trust land records that are not held at the county level.
Cities in Duchesne County
Duchesne County does not have any cities that meet the population threshold for a dedicated records page. The county seat is the city of Duchesne. All public records for Duchesne County residents and properties are handled through the county offices listed above.
Nearby Counties
Duchesne County is in eastern Utah and shares borders with several other counties. Use the links below to find records pages for neighboring counties.