Utah Courts – Page 3 – Utah Court Rules

Posted: April 21, 2026

Rules of Juvenile Procedure – Comment Period Closed June 5, 2026

URJP018. Summons; service of process; notice. Amend. The proposed amendments primarily aim to amend paragraph (d) to allow email notice of further proceedings without requiring a party’s prior consent, similar to Rule 5 of the Utah Rules of Civil Procedure. Several other amendments are proposed to improve clarity, including more specific cross-references to other bodies of rules. The proposal also includes merging paragraphs (f) and (g) to clarify that papers not requiring summons must be served according to Rule 5 of the Utah Rules of Civil Procedure, and that eFiling through the C.A.R.E. system does not constitute service.

Posted: April 20, 2026

Rules of Professional Conduct – Comment Period Closed June 4, 2026

RPC01.0. Terminology. AMEND. The proposed amendments to a group of rules (1.0, 1.5, and 1.4) coincide with the new proposed rule 5.8 to address fee sharing between lawyers. These four rules went out for public comment toward the end of 2025. After public comments were received, a few additional proposed amendments were made to the rules including the definition of “referral fees” in 1.0, along with 1.5(a), 5.8(a) and (c), and 5.4(c).

RPC01.5. Fees. AMEND. The proposed amendments to a group of rules (1.0, 1.5, and 1.4) coincide with the new proposed rule 5.8 to address fee sharing between lawyers. These four rules went out for public comment toward the end of 2025. After public comments were received, a few additional proposed amendments were made to the rules including the definition of “referral fees” in 1.0, along with 1.5(a), 5.8(a) and (c), and 5.4(c).

RPC05.4. Professional independence of a lawyer. AMEND. The proposed amendments to a group of rules (1.0, 1.5, and 1.4) coincide with the new proposed rule 5.8 to address fee sharing between lawyers. These four rules went out for public comment toward the end of 2025. After public comments were received, a few additional proposed amendments were made to the rules including the definition of “referral fees” in 1.0, along with 1.5(a), 5.8(a) and (c), and 5.4(c).

RPC05.8. Fee sharing between lawyers. AMEND. The proposed amendments to a group of rules (1.0, 1.5, and 1.4) coincide with the new proposed rule 5.8 to address fee sharing between lawyers. These four rules went out for public comment toward the end of 2025. After public comments were received, a few additional proposed amendments were made to the rules including the definition of “referral fees” in 1.0, along with 1.5(a), 5.8(a) and (c), and 5.4(c).

RPC01.4. Communication. AMEND. The proposed amendment to this rule in subparagraph (a)(1) reflects the correct subparagraph in rule 1.0, along amendments to conform to the rules style guide.

RPC08.4. Misconduct. AMEND. The proposed amendment to this rule adds a new comment [3b] regarding the conditioning of a resolution to a legal dispute upon a promise to withdraw or not file a complaint for misconduct.

Posted: March 20, 2026

Rules of Evidence – Comment Period Closed May 4, 2026

URE0702. Testimony by experts. The proposed amendments recognize existing caselaw allowing the use of so-called “blind experts.”

Posted: March 19, 2026

Rules of Appellate Procedure – Comment Period Closed May 4, 2026

URAP026. Filing and serving briefs. Amend. The amendment to Rule 26 is to increase the number of paper briefs filed with the Supreme Court from eight to ten copies to account for the increase in the number of Supreme Court Justices.

Posted: March 19, 2026

Rules of Appellate Procedure – Comment Period Closed May 4, 2026

URAP048. Time for petitioning. Amend. The Committee proposes amending Rule 48 to put into rule an internal process that states a rejected petition for writ of certiorari or other filing, will be construed as an extension of time.

URAP049. Petition for writ of certiorari. Amend. The Committee proposes amending Rule 49 to add paragraph (f) and put into rule an internal process that allows the clerk to reject a petition if it does not substantially comply with the content requirements of paragraph (a). Note: This public comment period is only regarding the addition of paragraph (f). The other proposed amendments are also currently out for public comment, posted February 24, 2026, closes April 10, 2026.

URAP055A. Motion to remand for findings necessary to determination of ineffective assistance of counsel claim. Amend. The Committee proposes amending Rule 55A to include a procedure for the juvenile court to transmit the supplemental record to the appellate court.

Posted: March 18, 2026

Rules of Civil Procedure – Comment Period Closed May 4, 2026

URCP073. Attorney fees. AMEND. The proposed amendments for this rule were previously posted for public comment. An additional amendment has been made to the rule in subparagraph (d) changing the language from “will” to “may.” The Supreme Court has approved this rule as final with an effective date of May 1, 2026, and is posting this additional amendment for public comment as provided for in Rule 1-105.

URCP086. Licensed paralegal practitioners. AMEND. The proposed amendments to subparagraph (a) of this rule align the rule with the language found in Code of Judicial Administration Rule 14-802.

Posted: February 26, 2026

Rules of Professional Conduct – Comment Period Closed April 13, 2026

RPC01.12. Former Judge, Arbitrator, Mediator or Other Third-Party Neutral. Amend. This amendment restricts a former appellate judge or justice from appearing as counsel before the court in which the judge or justice last held office.

Posted: February 24, 2026

Rules of Appellate Procedure – Comment Period Closed April 10, 2026

URAP027. Rule 27. Form of briefs, motions, and other documents. Amend. The Committee proposes amending Rule 27 to add a requirement that cases involving pretrial detention, parental rights, or child custody must state that it is such a case on the cover of the brief. This expands on the already effective requirement that the cover must note if an individual is incarcerated.

URAP049. Petition for writ of certiorari. Amend. The Committee proposes an additional amendment to Rule 49 which would require the party to include a certificate of compliance be included with their petition. This rule was previously published for public comment with the following proposed amendments: 1) add a word limit and change the page limit from 20 pages to 15 pages; 2) add a requirement that a certificate of compliance be included with the petition; 3) clarify what the statement of the case should include; and 4) clean-up for clarity and consistency.

URAP050. Response; reply. Amend. The Committee proposes an additional amendment to Rule 50 which would require the party to include a certificate of compliance with their response. This rule was previously published for public comment with the following proposed amendments: 1) add what the contents of the response to a petition for writ of certiorari should include; 2) add a word limit and change the page limit from 20 pages to 15 pages for a response; 3) add a word limit of 1,500 for the reply; 4) add a requirement that a certificate of compliance be included with the response and reply; 5) clarify what the statement of the case should include; and 6) clean-up for clarity and consistency.

Posted: February 20, 2026

Rules Governing the Utah State Bar – Admissions – Comment Period Closed April 6, 2026

USB14-701. Definitions. Amend.
The proposed change adds definitions for Legacy UBE and NextGen UBE as subparts of paragraph (qq).

USB14-702. Board – general powers. Amend.
The proposed changes add “no authority to waive rules” to the title and clarifies in paragraph (f) that the process to request a rule waiver is found in new rule 14-722.

USB14-712. Qualifications for admission based on UBE. Amend.
The proposed change will allow an applicant to transfer a score from either the Legacy UBE or the NextGen UBE exam taken in another jurisdiction starting with the July 2026 exam administration.

USB14-722. Rule Waiver. New.
The proposed rule establishes a process for an applicant to seek a rule waiver. It clearly sets forth the “extraordinary circumstances” standard and adds an advisory note referencing relevant opinions from this Court. The change also states that the Court will not grant a rule waiver without requesting a response from the Bar.

USB14-809. Practice Pending Admission. Amend.
The proposed change adds a paragraph stating that someone who has received a passing score on the most recent bar examination in Utah and who is awaiting the next motion for admission may receive a Practice Pending Admission certificate if all other requirements are met. The proposed change imposes a six-month time limit on the Practice Pending Admission certificate for these applicants, which is consistent with rule 14-716(d) and its six-month time limit for an applicant to take the oath after being eligible for admission.

Posted: February 19, 2026

Rules of Evidence – Comment Period Closed April 6, 2026

URE804. Exceptions to the Rule Against Hearsay – When the Declarant is Unavailable as a Witness. The proposed amendments follow recent changes to Federal Rule of Evidence 804 clarifying that courts consider the totality of the circumstances to determine a statement’s trustworthiness, not just corroborating circumstances.