If you live in Brigham City and are starting a divorce, your case runs through the First District Court at 43 North Main Street, the courthouse two blocks north of the historic Brigham City tabernacle on Main Street. Box Elder County is the county of record, and the court serves residents from Brigham City, Tremonton, Perry, Willard, and the surrounding communities. This guide covers exactly where to file, what it costs, how long it takes, and what a local divorce lawyer charges in 2026.
Brigham City Divorce: Key Facts (2026)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| County | Box Elder County |
| Filing court | First District Court, Brigham City |
| Court address | 43 North Main Street, Brigham City, UT 84302 |
| Court phone | (435) 734-4600 |
| Filing fee | $325 (plus $130 for a counterclaim) |
| Residency requirement | 90 days in Utah and in Box Elder County |
| Waiting period | 30 days (90 days if minor children) |
| Property model | Equitable distribution |
| Governing statute | Utah Code Title 81 (Domestic Relations) |
How do I file for divorce in Brigham City, Utah?
To file for divorce in Brigham City, you submit a Petition for Divorce to the First District Court at 43 North Main Street and pay the $325 filing fee (2026). At least one spouse must have lived in Box Elder County for 90 days first. Utah is a no-fault state, so you can cite irreconcilable differences under Utah Code Title 81.
The steps for a Brigham City filing are straightforward:
- Confirm you meet the 90-day Box Elder County residency rule under Utah Code § 81-4-402.
- Prepare the Petition for Divorce and supporting documents using the Utah Courts Online Court Assistance Program (OCAP) at utcourts.gov.
- File at the First District Court, 43 North Main Street, and pay $325 (or submit a fee-waiver application if you are below 150% of the federal poverty guideline).
- Serve your spouse, who then has 21 days to respond if served in Utah (30 days if served outside the state).
- Complete any required parent education courses if you have minor children.
If both spouses agree on all terms, an uncontested divorce can move quickly after the waiting period. If you disagree on custody, support, or property, the case becomes contested and proceeds toward mediation and, if needed, trial before a First District Court judge.
Where do I file for divorce in Brigham City? (which courthouse)
Brigham City residents file for divorce at the First District Court located at 43 North Main Street, Brigham City, UT 84302, phone (435) 734-4600. This is the district court of general jurisdiction for Box Elder County and handles all divorce, custody, and family law matters. The Clerk of Court office is nearby at 81 North Main Street, Suite 102.
The First Judicial District covers Box Elder, Cache, and Rich counties, but a Box Elder County resident files in Brigham City, not in Logan. The main courthouse at 43 North Main Street sits on Brigham City's central corridor, near the Box Elder County administration buildings. Mail correspondence goes to P.O. Box 873, Brigham City, UT 84302-0873. Because the Justice Court and the District Court Clerk both have addresses on North Main Street, call (435) 734-4600 before you go in person to confirm the correct window for family law filings.
How much does a divorce lawyer cost in Brigham City?
A divorce lawyer in Brigham City generally charges $200 to $350 per hour, with retainers commonly between $2,500 and $5,000. An uncontested divorce handled by an attorney often runs $1,500 to $3,500 total, while a contested case with custody and property disputes can reach $7,500 to $15,000 or more, depending on how many hearings the case requires.
Several factors drive the cost for a Box Elder County case:
- Whether the divorce is contested or uncontested.
- Whether minor children are involved (custody and support add complexity).
- The size and type of the marital estate, including real property and retirement accounts.
- How much can be resolved in mediation versus litigation.
The $325 court filing fee is separate from attorney fees. Under Utah Code Title 81, a First District Court judge can order one spouse to contribute toward the other's attorney fees when there is a significant income disparity. To estimate your total before hiring counsel, use our divorce cost estimator.
How long does a divorce take in Brigham City?
A divorce in Brigham City takes a minimum of 30 days from filing because of Utah's mandatory waiting period under Utah Code Title 81. If you have minor children, the waiting period extends to 90 days. An uncontested case with no children is often finalized in 30 to 60 days, while contested cases involving custody or property disputes typically take 6 to 12 months.
The 30-day clock starts the day the petition is filed at the First District Court, and the judge cannot sign the final decree before it expires absent extraordinary circumstances. Cases with minor children also require both parents to complete a mandatory divorce education course and divorce orientation course before the decree is granted. The biggest delays in Box Elder County cases come from contested custody evaluations, discovery disputes, and waiting for a mediation date, not from the court's baseline timeline.
What are the residency requirements to file in Box Elder County?
To file for divorce in Box Elder County, at least one spouse must have been a bona fide resident of Utah and of Box Elder County for at least 90 days immediately before filing, under Utah Code § 81-4-402. This is a dual requirement: both the state and county residency must cover the same 90-day period before you submit your petition in Brigham City.
There is a military exception. Service members stationed in Utah under military orders for at least three months may file even if they are not legal Utah residents. If neither spouse has lived in Box Elder County for the full 90 days but one has lived in another Utah county, the case should be filed in that county of residence instead. For custody jurisdiction, Utah generally requires that the child have lived in the state for the prior six months under the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act.
How is property divided in a Brigham City divorce?
Utah is an equitable distribution state, so a First District Court judge divides marital property fairly, which is not always a 50/50 split. Marital property includes most assets and debts acquired during the marriage, while separate property such as pre-marriage assets, gifts, and inheritances generally stays with the original owner under Utah Code Title 81.
The court weighs factors such as the length of the marriage, each spouse's contributions, and the financial circumstances of both parties. Retirement accounts earned during the marriage are typically divided, often requiring a Qualified Domestic Relations Order. For an estimate of how alimony might factor into your settlement, our alimony estimator provides a starting figure based on Utah's common factors. To learn how child support is calculated under the state's income-share model, see our child support calculator.
Next steps for your Brigham City divorce
Start by confirming you meet the 90-day Box Elder County residency rule, then gather financial records and decide whether your case is contested or uncontested. For an overview of statewide rules, see our Utah divorce guide, and for county-level filing details, review our Box Elder County page. If you want to understand the full sequence of court steps, our Utah divorce timeline guide walks through each stage.