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Salt Lake County
Sheriff's Office
Menu
Civil Process Unit
One of the Sheriff’s statutory responsibilities is to provide the citizens of Salt Lake County a way to serve civil papers relating to judicial actions filed with the court. Some of the civil paper services offered are protective orders, judgements, garnishments, summons, writ of assistance and subpoenas. Our Deputies are professional and well trained in providing the best service to those involved in court cases.
General Questions
1. Procedure For Service of Papers For Citizens
Ex Parte’, Protective Orders and Stalking Injunctions can be served by any law enforcement officer at any time.
All other civil papers requiring a service can be processed through the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office Civil Division. The constable’s office may also serve most civil paperwork also.
How To Serve Papers
If you have papers that need to be served you can bring your papers and related fees to the Civil Division office located in the Sheriff’s Office Administration Building, located at 3365 South 900 West in South Salt Lake City, Utah.
The fees are determined by the type of process requested and the mileage that is traveled to serve the papers.
The Civil Division office can help you calculate what fees will be associated with your papers, please call 385-468-9758. You may also mail the paperwork to our office with the associated fees.
2. What's Civil and What's Criminal?
A criminal case is a court proceeding where a person is charged with having committed a crime against the community or state where they are brought to trial and either found not guilty or guilty and are sentenced.
A civil case is where a person (or entity) claims that another person (or entity) has failed to carry out a legal duty or obligation owed to them. Civil cased focus on damages done, or compensation for physical, emotional, and financial loses. A civil action can obtain compensation to pay for medical expenses, counseling, lost earnings, and earning capacity, and pain and suffering. Sometimes civil actions can be an option when a case is not viable for criminal prosecution because a civil case requires a less rigorous standard of proof. Only civil cases can be undertaken for family members of crime victims.
3. Have My Papers Been Served?
To check on the status of your papers being served call the Civil Division of the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office at 385-468-9758. It will speed up locating your paperwork if you have the docket number assigned to you by the Sheriff’s Office Civil Division. We can look up your paperwork by searching the name of the person needing to be served, but it may take several minutes to conduct the search.
If you have any new information on the where to locate the person requiring service, please call the Civil Division office.
4. Fee Amounts
Utah state code 17-22-2.5 governs the amount of fees allowed for the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office to collect for process service. The amount charged is determine by the type of process, plus mileage. Deposits are required for certain types of services. Refunds are issued if service is not completed or the deposit is more than the service rendered.
Fee Amounts
For exact amounts contact the Civil Division at 385.468.9758.
Checks are accepted if made out to Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office.
General Service Fees
General Service Fees $20.00
Includes the service of:
Garnishment
Garnishee Execution Notice*
Order
Other process by which an action is commenced
Subpoena
Summons
Summons and Complaint
Sheriff's Deed
Service of Writs, Orders, Attachments & Executions
Service of Writs, Orders, Attachments & Executions $50.00
Includes the service of:
Attachment on Personal Property
Executing an order of arrest
Executing an order for the delivery of personal property
Writ of Assistance
Writ of Possession
Writ of Replevin
Writ of Restitution
Mileage Fees
Mileage Fees $2.50 per mile (for three service attempts)
Includes the service of:
Miles traveled one way for service (calculated from courthouse)
Miles traveled one way for service for two additional attempts (calculated from courthouse)
Miles traveled to transport a Civil Prisoner from place of arrest to the jail
Miles traveled to transport a Civil Prisoner from place of arrest to the magistrate (if not taken to jail)
Miles traveled to transport a Civil Prisoner from the jail to court
Miles traveled to deliver an insane person to the Utah State Hospital from the courthouse
Miscellaneous Process and Maintenance Fees
Includes the service of:
Notary Fees $10.00
Copies demanded or required by law $0.50/page
Commissions
Commissions or receiving and paying over money on execution or other process 2%. When the amount is less than $1,000 (minimum of $1.00) 1.5%... On the remaining balance
Deposits Required by the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office
Includes:
Real Estate: Executions and Order of Sale $600.00
Real Estate: Attachment $200.00
Personal Property: Executions and Order of Sale $400.00
* Includes all serving of Writ, posting notices of sale, publication, recordings, certificates of sale. Fees will be billed or reimbursed for any difference.
Prisoner Handling Fees
Cases involving person booked in jail on Civil Bench Warrants require special fees be paid to house the prisoner in addition to the routine process and mileage fees, (17-22-10, UCA). The housing fees are calculated on the current cost to house a prisoner for three days.
This must be paid with a bank draft or cashiers check made payable to the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office, no personal checks or money orders are accepted. It must be separate from the fees charged for processing, so it can be delivered with the prisoner to the jail.
Jail housing fees are subject to costs. Contact the Civil Unit 385.468.9758 to calculate current fee.
Fees for delivering an insane person to the Utah State Hospital, when the cost of delivery is payable by private individuals, the Sheriff may charge the actual and necessary cost of any required assistance. (17-22-2.5 (5)(b), UCA) in addition to the mileage.
5. When a Constable Wants Assistance
Constables are paid by a citizen or an attorney to serve the processes they have. The Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office has no legal authority to serve or be present at the time of service of their orders. Deputies may stabilize the situation if a breech of peace has occurred involving a constable. The case should be handled as any “keep the peace” call.
6. Property Disputes
Property disputes, like the repossession of a vehicle and a disagreement over a contract, is a civil matter. Law Enforcement will only maintain order and keep the peace with incidents of this type.
Repossession or retaking of property without a Court Order:
A person attempting to repossess or take property, without a court order, will be advised if the owner refuses to surrender the property peaceably, to leave and secure the appropriate court order.
Repossession or retaking of property with a Court Order:
A person attempting to repossess or take back property, with a court order, should contact the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office Civil Division office at 385-468-9758. The court order cannot be served until it is processed and the service fees are paid. This included, but is not limited to, orders such as: Writ of Replevin, Writ of Execution, Writ of Attachment, and/or Writ of Assistance.
Disputes over property may also be resolved in Small Claims Court.
More information about Small Claims can be found under Small Claims Court.
7. Small Claims Court
Disputes arising from a failed agreement or contract by two persons that do not meet the elements of criminal fraud, is usually a civil matter. Law Enforcement primary concern is to maintain order and keep the peace at any dispute resulting from a failed agreement. The disputing parties will be referred to their own attorney or to a Small Claims Court.
The District Court has established a small claims department who are designated to settle legal issues and problems arising from contractual, service disputes, or other claims which do not exceed the sum of $5,000.00. Small Claims courts allows an individual or business to be compensated by a party who has not performed according to an agreement or who had committed some wrongdoing. Small Claims are also handled in City and County Justice courts where the same rules apply.
The Utah State Courts website provides detailed information with frequently asked questions, small claims resources, and links to the appropriate forms needed to file a small claims case.
How to Obtain an Attorney
The District Court website has links to the Utah State Bar lawyer referral service.
8. Time Limits
Legal service of civil papers depends upon the type of process and is outlined in the Utah Rules of Civil Procedures. The most commonly served paper are described below:
Small Claims Order:
The order must be served 30 calendar days before the trial date. The state’s court website has additional information. See Small Claims Court for further information and links to the court website.
Ex Parte', Protective Orders, Stalking Injunctions
These orders can be served up to the time of the court hearing. Documentation of the service may not get back to the court prior to the hearing. Documentation should be listed on the Statewide warrants system.
See How to Serve for further information.
Eviction Notices
Including:
- Three Day Alternative Notice
- Three Day Nuisance Notice
- Fifteen Day Notice
- Notice to Comply or Quit
- 3 Day Summons
- Writ of Restitution
These processes are generally served upon preparation and/or receipt. The time constraints apply to the defendant responding to the order.
The State court website has additional information. See Landlord/Tenant issues link for further information
It is important to remember it takes approximately 10 working days to process a return of service and return it back to the court of record or the plaintiff, so they are aware of the service. If a plaintiff or court has not received proof of service at the time of the hearing, it can hinder the court hearing. Please allow four to five weeks for the service and the return of service to be made.
See: Procedures for Service of Papers for further information.
9. Vehicle Repossessions
The repossession of a vehicle is a civil matter. Law Enforcement primary concern is to maintain order and keep the peace during this type of incident.
Repossession without a Court Order:
A person attempting to repossess a vehicle, without a court order, will be advised if the owner refuses to surrender the vehicle peaceably, to leave and secure the appropriate court order.
Repossession with a Court Order:
A person attempting to repossess a vehicle with a court order will be advised to contact the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office Civil Division at 385-468-9758. The court order cannot be served until it is processed and the service fees are paid. This includes but is not limited to such orders as: Writ of Replevin, Writ of Execution, Writ of Attachment, and/or Writ of Assistance.