Where to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Utah: Venue, Judicial Districts, and Courthouses
General information, not legal advice. Read the full disclaimer.
Short answer: Under Utah Code § 78B-3a-201, a plaintiff generally brings a civil action in the county where the cause of action arises — for an injury, usually where it happened — or in the county where any defendant resides when the action starts. If none of the defendants reside in Utah, the plaintiff may choose any county in the complaint; if a defendant is about to leave the state, the action may be brought in any county where a party resides or service is made. Utah's counties are grouped into judicial districts, and each county has its own district court location.
Who this guide is for
Anyone preparing to file, or evaluating, a personal injury lawsuit in Utah who needs to know which county and court is proper — and what the district map looks like.
The venue statute
Section 78B-3a-201 (effective July 1, 2024; formerly numbered § 78B-3-307) provides, except as otherwise provided by that chapter or another Utah Code provision:
- Ordinary rule: file in the county where the cause of action arises, or where any defendant resides at the commencement of the action.
- No Utah defendants: the plaintiff may choose any county designated in the complaint.
- Defendant about to depart: any county where a party resides or service is had.
Other statutes can change venue for specific claim types, so check whether your claim has special rules — for example, claims against governmental entities and malpractice actions involve their own procedures. See Utah Governmental Immunity Act Claims and Utah Medical Malpractice Basics.
Utah's judicial districts (per Utah Courts)
| District | Counties | Regional guide |
|---|---|---|
| First | Box Elder, Cache, Rich | Cache, Box Elder, Rich |
| Second | Davis, Morgan, Weber | Davis, Weber, Morgan |
| Third | Salt Lake, Summit, Tooele | Salt Lake, Summit, Tooele |
| Fourth | Juab, Millard, Utah, Wasatch | Utah and Juab |
| Fifth | Beaver, Iron, Washington | Washington, Iron, Beaver |
| Sixth | Garfield, Kane, Piute, Sanpete, Sevier, Wayne | Central and southeastern Utah |
| Seventh | Carbon, Emery, Grand, San Juan | Central and southeastern Utah |
| Eighth | See the Utah Courts district map | — |
The Utah Courts district pages direct you to a directory for each county's courthouse location and contact information. The court pages we reviewed didn't list street addresses for most counties, so confirm the address and hours with the court before you go.
Venue is not the same as jurisdiction or deadlines
- Venue is which county is proper. Jurisdiction is which court has authority over the claim and the parties. Injury claims above small-claims limits are filed in the district court; very small claims may go to small claims court. See Utah Small Claims Jurisdiction and Venue.
- Deadlines are separate: see Utah Personal Injury Statute of Limitations. A lawsuit filed in the wrong county can be transferred or dismissed, but waiting doesn't pause the deadline.
Practical tips
- If the crash happened in one county and the defendant lives in another, venue may be proper in both; your lawyer may choose based on convenience and strategy.
- If the defendant is a business, check where it resides or operates — the statute's "resides" language can raise legal questions about companies.
- For out-of-state defendants, venue and personal jurisdiction are different questions; get legal advice.
- After filing, you must serve the defendant within 120 days. See How a Utah Personal Injury Lawsuit Works.
Frequently asked questions
Can I file in the county where I live?
Only if the injury happened there or a defendant lives there, or if no defendant lives in Utah.
How many judicial districts does Utah have?
Eight, according to the Utah Courts district pages.
Is the venue statute different for car accidents?
The general rule applies unless another statute provides otherwise; see the regional guides for examples.
What if I file in the wrong county?
Venue can be challenged and the case transferred or dismissed; don't rely on that as a fallback for missing a deadline.