Utah Code 38-9-102. Definitions

38-9-102. Definitions.
As used in this chapter:

(1)

“Affected person” means:

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Terms Used In Utah Code 38-9-102

City: includes , depending on population, a metro township as defined in Section 10-3c-102. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5
Common law: The legal system that originated in England and is now in use in the United States. It is based on judicial decisions rather than legislative action.
Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
Grantor: The person who establishes a trust and places property into it.
Interest holder: means a person who holds or possesses a present, lawful property interest in certain real property, including an owner, title holder, mortgagee, trustee, or beneficial owner. See Utah Code 38-9-102
Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
Mortgagee: The person to whom property is mortgaged and who has loaned the money.
Nonconsensual common law document: means a document that is submitted to a county recorder's office for recording against public official property that:

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

(b)

at the time the document is recorded, is not:

(i)	expressly authorized by this chapter or a state or federal statute;

(ii)	authorized by or contained in an order or judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction; or

(iii)

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

(c)

is submitted in relation to the public official's status or capacity as a public official. See Utah Code 38-9-102

Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.

Owner: means a person who has a vested ownership interest in real property. See Utah Code 38-9-102

Person: means :Utah Code 68-3-12.5

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. See Utah Code 38-9-102

Property: includes both real and personal property. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5

Public official: means :

(a)

a current or former:

(i)	member of the Legislature;

(ii)	member of Congress;

(iii)

judge;

(iv)	member of law enforcement;

(v)	corrections officer;

(vi)	active member of the Utah State Bar; or

(vii)

member of the Board of Pardons and Parole;

(b)

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

(i)	the executive branch of state or federal government; or

(ii)	a political subdivision;

(c)

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

(i)	is a policymaking position; or

(ii)

involves:

(A)	purchasing or contracting decisions;

(B)	drafting legislation or making rules;

(C)	determining rates or fees; or

(D)	making adjudicative decisions; or

(d)

an immediate family member of a person described in Subsections (8)(a) through (c). See Utah Code 38-9-102

real property: includes :Utah Code 68-3-12.5

Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.

Record interest holder: includes any grantor in the chain of the title in real property. See Utah Code 38-9-102

State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes a state, district, or territory of the United States. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5

Statute: A law passed by a legislature.

Town: includes , depending on population, a metro township as defined in Section 10-3c-102. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5

Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.

(a)

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

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

(2)	“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.

(3)	“Interest holder” means a person who holds or possesses a present, lawful property interest in certain real property, including an owner, title holder, mortgagee, trustee, or beneficial owner.

(4)	“Lien claimant” means a person claiming an interest in real property who offers a document for recording or filing with any county recorder in the state asserting a lien, or notice of interest, or other claim of interest in certain real property.

(5)

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

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

(b)

at the time the document is recorded, is not:

(i)	expressly authorized by this chapter or a state or federal statute;

(ii)	authorized by or contained in an order or judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction; or

(iii)

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

(c)	is submitted in relation to the public official’s status or capacity as a public official.

(6)	“Owner” means a person who has a vested ownership interest in real property.

(7)	“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.

(8)

“Public official” means:

(a)

a current or former:

(i)	member of the Legislature;

(ii)	member of Congress;

(iii)

judge;

(iv)	member of law enforcement;

(v)	corrections officer;

(vi)	active member of the Utah State Bar; or

(vii)

member of the Board of Pardons and Parole;

(b)

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

(i)	the executive branch of state or federal government; or

(ii)	a political subdivision;

(c)

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

(i)	is a policymaking position; or

(ii)

involves:

(A)	purchasing or contracting decisions;

(B)	drafting legislation or making rules;

(C)	determining rates or fees; or

(D)	making adjudicative decisions; or

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

(9)	“Public official property” means real property that has at least one record interest holder who is a public official.

(10)

(a)

“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.

(b)	“Record interest holder” includes any grantor in the chain of the title in real property.

(11)	“Record owner” means an owner whose name and ownership interest in certain real property is recorded or filed in the county recorder’s records for the county in which the property is located.

(12)

“Wrongful lien” means any document that purports to create a lien, notice of interest, or encumbrance on an owner’s interest in certain real property and at the time it is recorded is not:

(a)	expressly authorized by this chapter or another state or federal statute;

(b)	authorized by or contained in an order or judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction in the state; or

(c)	signed by or authorized pursuant to a document signed by the owner of the real property.

Amended by Chapter 16, 2023 General Session

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