Utah Rules of Civil Procedure 81 - Appplicability of Rules

Rule 81 of the Utah Rules of Civil Procedure provides several exceptions to the applicability of the rules in Utah civil cases.  These exceptions include Utah small claims actions and uncontested Utah probate and guardianship actions.

While Rule 1 establishes that the Utah Rules of Civil Procedure apply to most ordinary lawsuits, Rule 81 establishes that these rules are also applicable to appeals or reviews from an administrative agencies or boards and to special statutory proceedings.

A lesser known effect of Rule 81 is to make the Utah Rules of Civil Procedure applicable to criminal cases in Utah under certain circumstances.  The rule dictates that the Utah Rules of Civil Procedure will also govern criminal cases, if there is no other applicable rule or statute.  However, Rule 81 also makes it clear that the civil rules cannot be applied to a criminal case in a way that would conflict with any statutory or constitutional requirement.

Civil actions and lawsuits in Utah can be complicated, time-consuming, and costly.  Our Utah attorneys work hard to help you achieve the results you need in a timely and cost-effective manner.

Contact Stephen Howard now to schedule an initial consultation.