Reviewed August 2026
Court Hearings in Utah
In a Utah divorce, either spouse can ask the court for interim rules while the case is pending. They do this by filing a Motion for Temporary Order. It can cover custody and parent-time, child support, alimony, and other issues that need a decision before the case reaches a final decree. Utah's process has a key feature: many divorce cases have a court commissioner assigned alongside a judge. The specific forms, deadlines, and procedure for a temporary order motion depend on whether a commissioner or a judge is handling that part of the case. Before filing a Motion for Temporary Order that addresses custody or support, a spouse generally must complete required parenting classes. If the motion requests money, supporting financial paperwork must go with it too.
Virdix's document-preparation product currently prepares divorce paperwork for California and Florida cases. This page explains how court hearings works under Utah law for people researching before they file. It is not legal advice, and Virdix does not prepare or file Utah paperwork. See how Virdix works for California divorces.
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Filing a Motion for Temporary Order
A spouse who wants a Motion for Temporary Order addressing joint legal or joint physical custody must file a Parenting Plan with the motion. If the motion asks for money, such as alimony or child support, the filer must also submit a Financial Declaration. A child support worksheet is required too when child support is requested. Once the motion and all required paperwork are ready, including any parenting class completion certificates, the moving spouse files and serves the motion on the other party.
Commissioner versus judge
The specific forms and procedural steps for a Motion for Temporary Order depend on whether a court commissioner or a judge is assigned to handle that part of the case. Utah's courts direct parties to confirm which applies to their case before finalizing the filing and service process. Timelines and required forms differ between the two tracks. This commissioner system is a distinctive feature of how Utah's district courts manage family law motions.
Responding to a Motion for Temporary Order
A spouse served with a Motion for Temporary Order has two main paths. If they agree with the motion, they can work with the other party to complete and file a stipulation reflecting that agreement. If they disagree, they file a statement opposing the motion along with supporting documents. They can also ask the court for different relief than what the original motion requested. Specific optional forms exist depending on whether the responding party agrees, disagrees and raises new matters, or requests a hearing.
Required forms for a hearing
Utah's self-help materials identify specific numbered forms tied to different scenarios in the temporary order process. One form is used when the other party agrees with the motion. Another applies when the other party disagrees and raises a new matter the original filer wants to respond to. A separate form requests a hearing. Which forms apply depends on how the case is proceeding, and whether a hearing is being requested rather than a decision on the papers.
What to expect at a temporary order hearing
When a hearing is requested and granted, both spouses present their positions on custody, support, or other requested relief. This goes to the commissioner or judge assigned to the case. The resulting order sets the rules that apply while the divorce case remains pending. Utah's process differs depending on whether a commissioner or a judge handles the matter. Checking the specific instructions tied to the assigned officer is the reliable way to know what a scheduled hearing will involve.
Sources: Utah Courts self-help center, Motion for Temporary Order, Utah Courts self-help center, divorce case category overview
Not independently confirmed
- The specific Utah Code citation governing temporary orders in divorce cases (commonly referenced as Utah Code 30-3-4.5) was not independently re-extracted from le.utah.gov this session, since the page's statutory text loads through a script-driven interface that automated fetch could not read past the site navigation; confirm current statutory text at le.utah.gov before publishing.
- Confirm the current text of Utah Rule of Civil Procedure 101 and the scope of domestic relations commissioner authority at utcourts.gov.
Court Hearings in Utah: frequently asked questions
How do I request a temporary order in a Utah divorce?+
You file a Motion for Temporary Order, including a Parenting Plan if you are requesting joint legal or joint physical custody, and a Financial Declaration plus a child support worksheet if you are requesting alimony or child support. Once complete, you file and serve the motion on the other party.
What is the difference between a commissioner and a judge in a Utah divorce case?+
Utah district courts assign many family law cases to a commissioner in addition to a judge. The specific forms, deadlines, and process for a Motion for Temporary Order depend on which one is handling that part of the case. Checking which applies before filing is an important step.
What do I do if I disagree with a Motion for Temporary Order filed against me in Utah?+
You file a statement opposing the motion along with supporting documents. If the other party raised a new matter in their response and the original filer wants to reply, an additional response form applies. You can also request a hearing using the specific form for that purpose.
What happens if I agree with my spouse's Motion for Temporary Order in Utah?+
You can work together to complete and file a stipulation, which is a written agreement, rather than contesting the motion. This generally moves the case forward without a contested hearing on that issue.
Do I need to complete a parenting class before filing a Utah temporary order motion?+
If the motion addresses custody or parent-time, required parenting classes generally need to be completed. Certificates of completion are part of the paperwork collected before filing and serving the motion.
Is a temporary order the same as the final divorce decree in Utah?+
No. A temporary order sets rules only while the case is pending. It is replaced once the court enters the final decree addressing custody, support, and property division on a permanent basis.
This page is general information about court hearings in Utah, not legal advice for your situation. Laws, fees, and procedures change over time; confirm current details with Utah's own courts before relying on anything here. Virdix is not a law firm and is not licensed to practice law in Utah. Virdix does not prepare or file Utah divorce paperwork. It is not a substitute for an attorney licensed in Utah.
More Utah divorce guides
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