Motions
Motions
What is a motion?
A motion is a paper you can file in your case. It asks the court to decide something in your case. For example, if you need more time to answer a complaint against you, you can file a motion to extend the time to answer.
If you do not have a case, you cannot file a motion. See our page on Court Rules & Procedures for more information about how to take a case to court.
What are you trying to do?
Are there special forms for your situation?
There might be special forms that give you more help for your motion. Answer the questions below to see if there are special forms.
If your motion is listed below, follow the link to find forms and guidance specific to your situation.
Motions to Waive or Excuse Requirements
- Motion to Excuse Mediation
- Motion to Waive Divorce Waiting Period
- Motion to Waive Divorce Education Requirements
Motions specifically about children
Other Motions
If your motion is listed below, follow the link to find forms and guidance specific to your situation.
- Motion to Declare a Judgment Satisfied
- Motion or Default Judgment
- Motion to Delay (stay) Enforcement of a Judgment
- Motion to Enforce Order
- Motion to Renew Judgment
If your motion is listed below, follow the link to find forms and guidance specific to your situation.
Motions at the Start of a Case
- Motion for Alternative Service
- Motion to Change Venue
- Motion to Consolidate
- Motion to Waive Filing Fees
Motions During a Case
- Motion to Appear Remotely
- Motion to Continue Hearing or Trial
- Motion to Stay Under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act
Motions after a Resolution, Judgment, or Dismissal
If your motion is in a criminal case, check to see if it is listed below. If it is, follow the link to find forms and guidance specific to your situation.
- Motion to Reduce Conviction (402 motion)
- Motion to Shorten Period of Driver’s License Suspension or Denial
If your case is in juvenile court, we do not have detailed guidance for you. We only have forms. Scroll down to the bottom of this page to find the forms.
Not sure if your case is in juvenile court or not? Contact the court.
Judges decide some motions.
Commissioners decide other motions.
Forms and instructions for this step are different based on who will decide your motion.
Pick the option that matches your situation.
Your motion might be decided by a commissioner if it involves family law. Your case involves family law if it is about:
- Divorce
- Child custody
- Paternity
- Temporary separation
- Protective orders
- Changes to orders in any of these cases
Does your case involve family law?
Yes → Go to the next question - Where is Your Case Filed?
No → Your motion will be decided by a
judge. Skip the rest of the questions and go to the next step.Family law cases in some court locations are decided by commissioners.
Is your case filed in one of these judicial districts?
- District 1 (Box Elder, Cache, Rich counties)
- District 2 (Davis, Morgan, Weber counties)
- District 3 (Salt Lake, Summit, Tooele counties)
- District 4 (Juab, Millard, Utah, Wasatch counties)
Yes → Go to the next question - Is Your Motion a Special Type?
No → Your motion will be decided by a
judge. Skip the rest of the questions and go to the next step.I do not know → Contact your court to find out.
Some types of motions are always decided by a judge, even in family cases.
Is your motion one of these types?
- Motion for alternative service
- Motion to waive divorce waiting period
- Motion to waive divorce education class
Yes → Your motion will be decided by a
judge.No → Your motion will be decided by a
commissioner.Next, you need to fill out forms for your motion. The forms are different based on who will decide your motion.
Pick the option that matches your situation.
Commissioner Motion Forms
The forms below are almost always needed:
- 1101.8GE - Motion - Commissioner
- 1111FA - Notice of Hearing
- 1112FA - Findings of Fact Conclusions of Law and Order on Motion
The forms below are optional:
- 1102.8GE - Stipulated Motion - Commissioner
- Use instead of the Motion form if everyone agrees
- 1107FA - Statement Supporting Motion
- Use if someone else wants to write something in support of your motion
Forms for Motions Before Judges
Choose between forms for family law or all other kinds of cases.
FAMILY Law Cases
Required forms
- 1101FA - Motion
- 1112FA - Findings of Fact Conclusions of Law and Order on Motion
Optional forms
- 1102FA - Stipulated Motion
- Use instead of the Motion form if everyone agrees
- 1107FA - Statement Supporting Motion
- Use if someone else wants to write something in support of your motion
OTHER Kinds of Cases
Required forms
- 1101GE - Motion
- 1112GE - Findings of Fact Conclusions of Law and Order on Motion
Optional forms
- 1102GE - Stipulated Motion
- Use instead of the Motion form if everyone agrees
- 1107GE - Statement Supporting Motion
- Use if someone else wants to write something in support of your motion
Use exhibits when you need to show the court important information that proves what you say in your papers is true. This can be things like:
- Bank statements, tax returns, calendars, receipts, photographs, or other records
- Emails, text messages, or other written messages
Important: Most exhibits follow the steps below. If you have very large exhibits (like medical records with many pages), see "For Exhibits with Many Pages" after step 2.
How to Prepare Exhibits
- Gather your exhibits
- Make a copy of each document you want to use.
- Label each exhibit with a lette (Exhibit A, Exhibit B, etc.).
- Commissioner and Family Law Cases: 1108FA - Affidavit with Exhibits
- Other Cases: 1108GE - Affidavit with Exhibits
Fill out an Affidavit form:
For Exhibits with Many Pages:
If you have exhibits with many pages (like long medical records):
- Commissioner and Family Law Cases: 1109FA - Exhibit Summary
- Other Cases: 1109GE - Exhibit Summary
Fill out a Notice of Voluminous Exhibits- Bring your exhibits to the hearing
Important Tips
Do NOT file these as exhibits:
- Court papers already in your case file (orders, decrees, previous motions).
- Documents the court already has.
You CAN file these as exhibits:
- Court papers from other cases (protective orders, prior divorce decrees).
- Criminal orders or dockets from other cases.
How to File
Next you need to submit your papers to the court. This is called filing.
- How to File: Choose ONE:
- courthouse clerk's office. In Person: Take your papers to the
- find it here), write "Filing in [your case number]" in the subject line, papers must be in English, filled out completely and only black and white.
- learn how to make a PDF). Papers must be in PDF format (
Email: Send copies to your court's email address ( - eFiling: My Court Case (online system). Not available in most cases: only eviction, debt collection, and small claims.
- Mail: Slowest method. Papers only filed when received by court.
- Get Copies: Request date-stamped copies if filing in person.
Need more help? See our page on Filing Procedures.
How to Serve
Next you need to send the papers you file to the other people in your case. This is called service.
Sending papers during your case:
- Who Gets Copies: Send to all parties (or their lawyer or licensed paralegal practitioner)
- How to Send: Choose ONLY one way:
- Email.
- Hand Delivery.
- Mail.
- My Court Case (online system) if you can file online (only some case types) AND the other side has an account or is represented.
- one of the other ways allowed under court rules.
- Prove It: Fill out the "Certificate of Service" (usually on the last page of your court form) and file it with your court papers. This is required.
Have more questions? See our page on Serving Papers.
Forms and instructions for this step are different based on who will decide your motion.
Pick the option that matches your situation.
If a COMMISSIONER will decide your motion:
- The other side must respond at least 14 days before your hearing.
- You can write a reply at least 7 days before the hearing if they bring up something new (optional).
1106FA - Reply Memorandum Supporting Motion
Use this form:If a JUDGE will decide your motion:
- Check your mail or email to see if the other side has responded.
- Contact the court if you are unsure.
- The other side has 14 days to respond to your motion.
- You can write a reply within 7 days if they bring up something new (optional).
1106FA - Reply Memorandum Supporting Motion
For FAMILY Law Cases:1106GE - Reply Memorandum Supporting Motion
For OTHER Cases:- File your papers.
- Serve your papers.
- Watch for mail or email from the court to see if the cout schedules a hearing.
What happens next
- The court might set a hearing OR decide on your motion based on the papers.
- You will need to fill out one more set of papers in step 8.
Forms and instructions for this step are different based on who will decide your motion.
Pick the option that matches your situation.
Commissioner motions almost always require a hearing.
To Do 1: Attend the hearing
Make sure you attend the hearing. If you do not, the court could decide against you.
At the hearing, there could be a decision. This is usually the final decision on your motion.
To Do 2: Find out who must prepare the order
You might need to prepare the order yourself!
- At the end of the hearing, the commissioner usually tells one party to prepare the order.
- If you are told to prepare the order, you must do so within 14 days.
To Do 3: Prepare the order (if you were told to do this)
If you are preparing the order:
- Write exactly what the judge or commissioner decided
- Use this form:
- 1112FA - Findings of Fact Conclusions of Law and Order on Motion
- Serve the proposed order on the other party for review.
- Wait 7 days after sending it to the other party.
- File the proposed order with the court even if the other party did not approve it.
To Do 4: Review the order (if the other party is preparing it)
If the other party is preparing the order:
- They will send you the proposed order. Read it carefully when you receive it.
- Make sure it says what the commissioner decided.
- Look for a response from the court about the objection.
Your objection can only be about whether the order accurately reflects what was decided, not about whether you agree with the decision.
To Do 5: Follow the order once it is signed by the commissioner
You must do what the order says. Pay attention to any deadlines in the order.
Judge motions MIGHT require a hearing.
To Do 1: Follow next steps based on court scheduling
If a hearing is scheduled:
- Attend the hearing. If you do not attend, the court could decide against you.
- The judge will decide your motion after the hearing.
- Pay attention to what the judge says and take notes.
- If you are ordered to, prepare the order using the forms below. Do not file a Request to Submit for Decision.
If no hearing is scheduled:
- The judge could decide your motion based only on the papers.
- If more than 21 days have passed since you filed your motion and no hearing has been set, file both a Request to Submit for Decision and proposed order.
For FAMILY Law Cases:
- Always file: 1112FA - Findings of Fact Conclusions of Law and Order on Motion
- If no hearing was scheduled, also file: 1110FA - Request to Submit for Decision
For OTHER Cases:
- Always file: 1112GE - Findings of Fact Conclusions of Law and Order on Motion
- If no hearing was scheduled, also file: 1110GE - Request to Submit for Decision (General)
To Do 2: Review the order (if the other party is preparing it)
The other party will send you the proposed order.
Make sure it says what the judge decided.
If it is correct:
- You can sign in the "Approved as to Form" section and send it to the other party.
If it is NOT correct:
- You have 7 days to file an objection.
- For Family law cases: 1113FA - Objection to Form of Order or Judgment
- For Other cases: 1113GE - Objection to Form of Order or Judgment
Pick the right form for your case: - File it and serve the other party.
- Look for a response from the court about the objection.
You can only object if the proposed order is wrong. You cannot object just because you disagree with the decision.
To Do 3: Follow the order once it is signed by the judge
You must do what the order says. Pay attention to any deadlines in the order.
Someone Filed a Motion Against You
You received court papers that include a motion. A motion asks the court to make a decision in your case.
You have choices about how to respond.
You must respond by the deadline or the court might grant the motion without hearing from you.
The steps below will help you understand your options and respond correctly.
Part 1: What Did You Receive?
Look at the papers you received. You should have:
- Motion - This asks the court to do something.
- Other papers might be included.
If your case is before a commissioner, you will also have a Notice of Hearing - This tells you when to go to court. Pay attention to the hearing date.
The title of your document will be on the first page, about a quarter of the way down on the right-hand side.
Look for the one that says something like "Motion to..." or "Motion for..."

Read the motion carefully. It will tell you:
- What the other party wants the court to order.
- Why they think the court should grant their request.
- What evidence they are using to support their request.
Part 2: Do You Agree or Disagree?
If you agree with everything in the motion, you do not need to file anything. The court will likely grant the motion.
If you disagree with some or all of the motion, you can file papers to tell the court your side.
Part 3: What Are Your Options?
You have two main choices:
Option 1: Do nothing
- Choose this if you agree with the motion.
- Your work is done. The court will likely grant the motion
Option 2: Oppose the motion
- Choose this if you disagree with the motion OR want the court to order something different.
- You will file papers explaining why the court should deny the motion.
Judges decide some motions.
Commissioners decide other motions.
Forms and instructions for this step are different based on who will decide your motion.
Pick the option that matches your situation.
Your motion might be decided by a commissioner if it involves family law. Your case involves family law if it is about:
- Divorce
- Child custody
- Paternity
- Temporary separation
- Protective orders
- Changes to orders in any of these cases
Does your case involve family law?
Yes → Go to the next question - Where is Your Case Filed?
No → Your motion will be decided by a
judge. Skip the rest of the questions and go to the next step.Family law cases in some court locations are decided by commissioners.
Is your case filed in one of these judicial districts?
- District 1 (Box Elder, Cache, Rich counties)
- District 2 (Davis, Morgan, Weber counties)
- District 3 (Salt Lake, Summit, Tooele counties)
- District 4 (Juab, Millard, Utah, Wasatch counties)
Yes → Go to the next question - Is Your Motion a Special Type?
No → Your motion will be decided by a
judge. Skip the rest of the questions and go to the next step.I do not know → Contact your court to find out.
Some types of motions are always decided by a judge, even in family cases.
Is your motion one of these types?
- Motion for alternative service
- Motion to waive divorce waiting period
- Motion to waive divorce education class
Yes → Your motion will be decided by a
judge.No → Your motion will be decided by a
commissioner.Respond by your deadline or you could lose your motion
If your motion will be decided by a commissioner:
- You have 14 days before the hearing to file your opposition.
- Look at the Notice of Hearing to find the hearing date.
- Count calendar days - including weekends.
- Count backwards 14 days from the hearing date.
Example: Sam Sampleson has a hearing on March 15.
- Sam's deadline is March 1 (14 days before hearing).
If your motion will be decided by a judge:
- You have 14 days after the motion was filed to file your opposition.
- Count forward 14 days from when the motion was filed. The day it was filed is day zero.
- Count calendar days - including weekends.
- You could get the motion after it was filed, meaning you have less than 14 days to respond.
Example: Rob Respondent received a Motion for Temporary Order on March 2.
- Rob reads the papers carefully. He sees the motion is dated March 1.
- Rob contacts the court and learns that the motion was filed on March 1.
- Rob's deadline is March 15 (14 days after the motion was filed).
If You Miss Your Deadline
- The court may grant the motion automatically.
- You may lose important rights in your case.
Pick the right form for your case:
- 1104FA - Memorandum Opposing Motion
Commissioner and Family Law cases
- Other kinds of cases
- 1104GE - Memorandum Opposing Motion
These forms only tell the court you oppose the motion. If you want to ask for something different, you will need to file your own motion. Scroll to the top of this page and follow the instructions for how to file a motion.
Use exhibits when you need to show the court important information that proves what you say in your papers is true. This can be things like:
- Bank statements, tax returns, calendars, receipts, photographs, or other records
- Emails, text messages, or other written messages
Important: Most exhibits follow the steps below. If you have very large exhibits (like medical records with many pages), see "For Exhibits with Many Pages" after step 2.
How to Prepare Exhibits
- Gather your exhibits
- Make a copy of each document you want to use.
- Label each exhibit with a lette (Exhibit A, Exhibit B, etc.).
- Commissioner and Family Law Cases: 1108FA - Affidavit with Exhibits
- Other Cases: 1108GE - Affidavit with Exhibits
Fill out an Affidavit form:
For Exhibits with Many Pages:
If you have exhibits with many pages (like long medical records):
- Commissioner and Family Law Cases: 1109FA - Exhibit Summary
- Other Cases: 1109GE - Exhibit Summary
Fill out a Notice of Voluminous Exhibits- Bring your exhibits to the hearing
Important Tips
Do NOT file these as exhibits:
- Court papers already in your case file (orders, decrees, previous motions).
- Documents the court already has.
You CAN file these as exhibits:
- Court papers from other cases (protective orders, prior divorce decrees).
- Criminal orders or dockets from other cases.
How to File
Next you need to submit your papers to the court. This is called filing.
Sending papers during your case:
- Who Gets Copies: Send to all parties (or their lawyer or licensed paralegal practitioner)
- How to Send: Choose ONLY one way:
- Email.
- Hand Delivery.
- Mail.
- My Court Case (online system) if you can file online (only some case types) AND the other side has an account or is represented.
- one of the other ways allowed under court rules.
- Prove It: Fill out the "Certificate of Service" (usually on the last page of your court form) and file it with your court papers. This is required.
Have more questions? See our page on Serving Papers.
How to Serve
Next you need to send the papers you file to the other people in your case. This is called service.
- How to File: Choose ONE:
- courthouse clerk's office. In Person: Take your papers to the
- find it here), write "Filing in [your case number]" in the subject line, papers must be in English, filled out completely and only black and white.
- learn how to make a PDF). Papers must be in PDF format (
Email: Send copies to your court's email address ( - eFiling: My Court Case (online system). Not available in most cases: only eviction, debt collection, and small claims.
- Mail: Slowest method. Papers only filed when received by court.
- Get Copies: Request date-stamped copies if filing in person.
Need more help? See our page on Filing Procedures.
Forms and instructions for this step are different based on who will decide your motion.
Pick the option that matches your situation.
Commissioner motions almost always require a hearing.
To Do 1: Attend the hearing
Make sure you attend the hearing. If you do not, the court could decide against you.
At the hearing, there could be a decision. This is usually the final decision on your motion.
To Do 2: Find out who must prepare the order
You might need to prepare the order yourself!
- At the end of the hearing, the commissioner usually tells one party to prepare the order.
- If you are told to prepare the order, you must do so within 14 days.
To Do 3: Prepare the order (if you were told to do this)
If you are preparing the order:
- Write exactly what the judge or commissioner decided
- Use this form:
- 1112FA - Findings of Fact Conclusions of Law and Order on Motion
- Serve the proposed order on the other party for review.
- Wait 7 days after sending it to the other party.
- File the proposed order with the court even if the other party did not approve it.
To Do 4: Review the order (if the other party is preparing it)
If the other party is preparing the order:
- They will send you the proposed order. Read it carefully when you receive it.
- Make sure it says what the commissioner decided.
- Look for a response from the court about the objection.
Your objection can only be about whether the order accurately reflects what was decided, not about whether you agree with the decision.
To Do 5: Follow the order once it is signed by the commissioner
You must do what the order says. Pay attention to any deadlines in the order.
Judge motions MIGHT require a hearing.
To Do 1: Follow next steps based on court scheduling
If a hearing is scheduled:
- Attend the hearing. If you do not attend, the court could decide against you.
- The judge will decide your motion after the hearing.
- Pay attention to what the judge says and take notes.
- If you are ordered to, prepare the order using the forms below. Do not file a Request to Submit for Decision.
If no hearing is scheduled:
- The judge could decide your motion based only on the papers.
To Do 2: Review the order (if the other party is preparing it)
The other party will send you the proposed order.
Make sure it says what the judge decided.
If it is correct:
- You can sign in the "Approved as to Form" section and send it to the other party.
If it is NOT correct:
- You have 7 days to file an objection.
- Family law cases: 1113FA - Objection to Form of Order or Judgment
- Other cases: 1113GE - Objection to Form of Order or Judgment
Pick the right form for your case:- File it and and serve the other party.
- Look for a response from the court.
You can only object if the order is wrong. You cannot object just because you disagree with the decision.
To Do 3: Follow the order once it is signed by the judge
You must do what the order says. Pay attention to any deadlines in the order.