Piute County Public Records

Piute County public records are held by several county and state offices serving this small south-central Utah community. The county seat is Junction, where most records are filed and stored. Property deeds, court filings, marriage licenses, and criminal history reports can all be found through the right channels. This guide covers where to go, who to call, and how to search Piute County public records from the Recorder's Office to the Utah courts system.

Piute County Recorder

The Piute County Recorder's Office is located at 550 North Main Street in Junction. Staff can be reached at (435) 577-2830, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Piute is Utah's second-least populous county, which means the Recorder's Office is small but still fully functional for all property record needs. Residents receive personal, direct service rather than dealing with a large bureaucratic system.

The Recorder maintains real property records for the county. These include warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, trust deeds, mortgages, liens, releases, and recorded plats. If a piece of land in Piute County has changed hands or been encumbered, the record of it is here. The office also keeps military discharge records (DD-214 forms) for veterans who choose to file them locally. Recording fees follow the statewide schedule: $40 for the first page and $2 for each additional legal description. Certified copies cost $5 plus $1 per page.

Records requests are handled in person during business hours. Mail requests are accepted as well. Because of the county's size, there is no online public search portal for Piute County property records at this time. Call ahead to confirm what you need to bring or include with a mail request.

Piute County Clerk and Auditor

The Piute County Clerk's Office shares the same address at 550 North Main Street, Junction, UT 84740. The main line is (435) 577-2840. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. In a county this small, the Clerk handles multiple roles: issuing marriage licenses, managing elections, keeping county commission records, and processing GRAMA requests for county-held documents.

Marriage licenses are issued through this office. Both parties must appear in person, and the license is valid for 30 days after issuance. If you need a copy of an older marriage license or county commission minutes, submit a written GRAMA request to the Clerk. The office will respond within 10 business days as required under Utah Code Title 63G, Chapter 2. Written requests can be submitted by mail or delivered in person during business hours.

Note: GRAMA appeals for Piute County records go first to the county's chief administrative officer under § 63G-2-401, and then to the State Records Committee under § 63G-2-802 if needed.

Criminal Records in Piute County

The Piute County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement for the county. For incident reports, arrest records, and other law enforcement documents held locally, contact the Sheriff's Office directly. As a small rural office, response times and procedures may differ from larger county departments. Provide the name, date of incident, and case number if known when making a request.

For statewide criminal history, the Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI) is the proper agency. BCI is part of the Utah Department of Public Safety and manages the state's criminal records database. A name-based background check costs $15. A fingerprint-based check costs $33.25 and is more thorough. You can submit requests through bci.utah.gov or call BCI at (801) 965-4445 for guidance. Results cover crimes committed anywhere in Utah, not just Piute County.

Criminal court case records for Piute County are accessible through the Utah court system. See the District Court section below for more on how to search those records.

Piute County Court Records

Piute County falls under the Sixth Judicial District Court of Utah. Court records include civil filings, criminal cases, family law matters, small claims, and probate. The public can access case information through the Utah Courts XChange system at utcourts.gov. XChange charges $0.35 per search or $40 per month for unlimited access. Free public terminals are available at courthouse locations throughout the state.

To get copies of specific documents from a Piute County court case, contact the Sixth District Court Clerk. Court records are generally public under Utah law, though some records involving juveniles, mental health, or sealed cases may be restricted. Bring the case number or the full name of a party to speed up your search. Certified copies of court documents are available for a per-page fee set by the court.

Utah Courts also maintains an online portal with self-help resources, forms, and case lookups. Visit utcourts.gov to start a search or download forms relevant to Piute County court matters.

Piute County Property Records

The Piute County Assessor determines the value of real property and personal property within the county for tax purposes. Property records, ownership information, and assessed values are held through this office. In a county as small as Piute, the Assessor often works closely with the Recorder's and Auditor's offices, sometimes sharing staff or facilities. Contact the county offices at 550 North Main Street in Junction to ask about property assessment records.

Recorded property documents like deeds and liens are held by the Recorder, while the Assessor focuses on valuation and tax rolls. If you need both the ownership chain and the assessed value for a parcel, you may need to contact both offices. Property tax payment records and delinquency notices are handled by the Treasurer's Office, also located in Junction. These records are public and available upon request under GRAMA.

GRAMA Requests in Piute County

Utah's Government Records Access and Management Act, found at Utah Code Title 63G, Chapter 2, gives the public the right to access government records. This law applies to Piute County offices the same as it does to large urban counties. Most county records are public by default. The law lists specific categories that can be restricted, such as records involving active investigations or personal medical information.

To make a GRAMA request in Piute County, submit your request in writing to the relevant office. For county commission records, contact the Clerk's Office at (435) 577-2840. For property records, contact the Recorder at (435) 577-2830. Your written request should describe the records you want with enough detail for staff to find them. The county has 10 business days to respond. They can either provide the records, deny the request with a written reason, or ask for more time if the request is complex.

Copies cost $0.25 per page for standard documents. Certified copies are more. If the county denies your request, you can appeal to the county's chief administrative officer under § 63G-2-401. If that appeal also fails, you can take the matter to the State Records Committee under § 63G-2-802.

The Utah State Archives at archives.utah.gov also holds historical Piute County records. Call (801) 531-3847 for help locating older documents that may have been transferred to state custody.

The GRAMA statute is the foundation for public records access across all Utah counties. The page below shows the full text of the law that governs how Piute County responds to records requests.

The Utah GRAMA statute at Title 63G, Chapter 2 sets the rules for all county-level public records requests, including Piute County. Reading the law helps you understand what records are public and what process to follow.

Historical Piute County Records

Older Piute County records, including early deed books, county commission minutes, and historical court files, may be held at the Utah State Archives in Salt Lake City. The Archives preserves government records of long-term historical value. Researchers can request records by mail or visit in person. Online finding aids are available at archives.utah.gov.

The Utah State Archives website at archives.utah.gov provides search tools for locating historical Piute County documents that have been transferred to state custody. Call (801) 531-3847 to reach staff who can help with research requests.

Cities in Piute County

Piute County has no cities that meet the qualifying population threshold for individual city pages. Junction is the county seat and largest community. Public records for all areas of the county are handled through the county offices in Junction.

Nearby Counties

Piute County borders several other rural Utah counties. If you are unsure which county holds the records you need, check the location where the event occurred or the property is situated.

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