78A-2-501.  Definitions — Online Court Assistance Program — Purpose of program — Online Court Assistance Account — User’s fee.

(1)  As used in this part:

Terms Used In Utah Code 78A-2-501

  • Account: means the Online Court Assistance Account created in this section. See Utah Code 78A-2-501
  • Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
  • Person: means :Utah Code 68-3-12.5
  • Pleadings: Written statements of the parties in a civil case of their positions. In the federal courts, the principal pleadings are the complaint and the answer.
  • Pro se: A Latin term meaning "on one's own behalf"; in courts, it refers to persons who present their own cases without lawyers.
  • Program: means the Online Court Assistance Program created in this section. See Utah Code 78A-2-501
(a)  “Account” means the Online Court Assistance Account created in this section.

(b)  “Program” means the Online Court Assistance Program created in this section.

(2)  There is created the “Online Court Assistance Program” administered by the Administrative Office of the Courts to provide the public with information about civil procedures and to assist the public in preparing and filing civil pleadings and other papers in:

(a)  uncontested divorces;

(b)  enforcement of orders in the divorce decree;

(c)  landlord and tenant actions;

(d)  guardianship actions; and

(e)  other types of proceedings approved by the board.

(3)  The purpose of the program shall be to:

(a)  minimize the costs of civil litigation;

(b)  improve access to the courts; and

(c)  provide for informed use of the courts and the law by pro se litigants.

(4) 

(a)  An additional $20 shall be added to the filing fee established by Sections 78A-2-301 and 78A-2-301.5 if a person files a complaint, petition, answer, or response prepared through the program. There shall be no fee for using the program or for papers filed subsequent to the initial pleading.

(b)  There is created within the General Fund a restricted account known as the Online Court Assistance Account. The fees collected under this Subsection (4) shall be deposited in the restricted account and appropriated by the Legislature to the Administrative Office of the Courts to develop, operate, and maintain the program and to support the use of the program through education of the public.

(5)  The Administrative Office of the Courts shall provide on the front page of the program website a listing of all forms and proceedings available to all pro se litigants within the program.

Amended by Chapter 246, 2019 General Session

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