Utah Code

Utah Code § 38-9-102 (2026)

Definitions

✓ current as of May 2026

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As used in this chapter:

"Affected person" means:

a person who is a record interest holder of the real property that is the subject of a recorded nonconsensual common law document; or

the person against whom a recorded nonconsensual common law document purports to reflect or establish a claim or obligation.

"Document sponsor" means a person who, personally or through a designee, signs or submits for recording a document that is, or is alleged to be, a nonconsensual common law document.

"Interest holder" means a person who holds or possesses a present, lawful property interest in real property, including an owner, a title holder, a mortgagee, a trustee, or a beneficial owner.

"Lien claimant" means a person claiming an interest in real property who offers a document for recording or filing with a county recorder in the state asserting a lien, or notice of interest, or other claim of interest in real property.

"Nonconsensual common law document" means a document that is submitted to a county recorder's office for recording against public official property that:

purports to create a lien or encumbrance on or a notice of interest in the real property;

at the time the document is recorded, is not:

expressly authorized by this chapter or a state or federal statute;

authorized by or contained in an order or judgment of a court with jurisdiction; or

signed by or expressly authorized by a document signed by the owner of the real property; and

is submitted in relation to the public official's status or capacity as a public official.

"Owner" means a person who has a vested ownership interest in real property.

"Political subdivision" means a county, city, town, school district, special improvement or taxing district, special district, special service district, or other governmental subdivision or public corporation.

"Public official" means:

a current or former:

member of the Legislature;

member of Congress;

judge;

member of law enforcement;

corrections officer;

active member of the Utah State Bar; or

member of the Board of Pardons and Parole;

an individual currently or previously appointed or elected to an elected position in:

the executive branch of state or federal government; or

a political subdivision;

an individual currently or previously appointed to or employed in a position in a political subdivision, or state or federal government that:

is a policymaking position; or

involves:

purchasing or contracting decisions;

drafting legislation or making rules;

determining rates or fees; or

making adjudicative decisions; or

an immediate family member of a person described in Subsections (8)(a) through (c).

"Public official property" means real property that has at least one record interest holder who is a public official.

"Record interest holder" means a person who holds or possesses a present, lawful property interest in real property, including an owner, titleholder, mortgagee, trustee, or beneficial owner, and whose name and interest in that real property appears in the county recorder's records for the county in which the property is located.

"Record interest holder" includes a grantor in the chain of the title in real property.

"Record owner" means an owner whose name and ownership interest in real property is recorded or filed in the county recorder's records for the county in which the property is located.

"Wrongful lien" means a document that purports to create a lien, notice of interest, or encumbrance on an owner's interest in real property and at the time the document is recorded is not:

expressly authorized by this chapter or another state or federal statute;

authorized by or contained in an order or judgment of a court with jurisdiction in the state; or

signed by or authorized in accordance with a document signed by the owner of the real property.

"Wrongful lien" includes:

a document recorded in violation of Subsection 10-20-508(2)(d); or

a document that purports to be a notice of transfer fee covenant described in Subsection 57-1-46(7) or Section 57-1-47 or a document that purports to create, continue, or reestablish a transfer fee covenant as a lien or encumbrance on an owner's interest in real property, if at the time the document was recorded the transfer fee covenant was not enforceable due to the:

foreclosure of a trust deed or mortgage that has priority over the transfer fee covenant;

absence of a previously recorded notice of transfer fee covenant required by Subsection 57-1-46(7) or Section 57-1-47; or

existence of a recorded rescission, termination, release, waiver, or other document terminating the transfer fee covenant.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 6 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 2017–2023 · leading case: Zion Vill. Resort v. Pro Curb USA, 2020 UT App 167 (Utah Ct. App. 2020).

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Zion Vill. Resort v. Pro Curb USA, 2020 UT App 167 (Utah Ct. App. 2020). · cites it 2× “3d 1224 (“With respect to whether rulings based solely on documentary evidence generally receive deference on appeal, Utah law appears to lean toward correctness review.”). And in one similar context—reviewing district court decisions, made after a “summary proceeding,” see Utah…”

Lindstrom v. Custom Floor Covering Inc., 2017 UT App 141 (Utah Ct. App. 2017). · cites it 2× “Utah Code Ann. § 38-9-102 (12) (LexisNexis 2014) (emphasis added).”

Dahl v. Christensen, 2020 UT App 151 (Utah Ct. App. 2020). · cites it 11× “Christensen Utah Code Ann. § 38-9-102 (12) (LexisNexis 2018).”

Fernwood Place v. Layton Partners Holdings, 2023 UT App 43 (Utah Ct. App. 2023). “§ 38-9-102(4), and argued that the applicable limitation period was seven years, see 2.”

Medesimo Tempo v. Skull Valley Health Care (D. Utah 2022). · cites it 2× “§ 25-5-1 (statute of frauds), Utah Code Ann. § 38-9-102 (12) (defining “wrongful lien”), and Utah Code Ann.”

WDIS v. Hi-Country Estates, 2022 UT 17 (Utah 2022). · cites it 2× “Although a restrictive covenant could be considered an encumbrance, we are not convinced it is the sort of encumbrance contemplated by the WLA.”

— Utah Code § 38-9-102(12) — 2 cases

Dahl v. Christensen, 2020 UT App 151 (Utah Ct. App. 2020). “Christensen Utah Code Ann. § 38-9-102 (12) (LexisNexis 2018).”

WDIS v. Hi-Country Estates, 2022 UT 17 (Utah 2022). “Although a restrictive covenant could be considered an encumbrance, we are not convinced it is the sort of encumbrance contemplated by the WLA.”

— Utah Code § 38-9-102(12)(c) — 1 case

Dahl v. Christensen, 2020 UT App 151 (Utah Ct. App. 2020). “Christensen Utah Code Ann. § 38-9-102 (12) (LexisNexis 2018).”

— Utah Code § 38-9-102(4) — 1 case

Fernwood Place v. Layton Partners Holdings, 2023 UT App 43 (Utah Ct. App. 2023). “§ 38-9-102(4), and argued that the applicable limitation period was seven years, see 2.”

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