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Motion to Appear Remotely

Asking to appear remotely

Usually, a person participating in a court proceeding must be in the courtroom. Sometimes a judge will let a person appear remotely.

"Appearing remotely" means that the person would participate by phone, video, or some other means instead of physically coming to the courthouse.

  • Participants could include the parties, their attorneys, and witnesses.
  • Types of court proceedings could include a scheduling conference, a hearing, an evidentiary hearing, a pre-trial conference, or trial.

Requirements

A judge must make the following findings before they can let a person appear remotely. During the court proceedings:

  • a person and their attorney (if the person has an attorney) must be able to communicate confidentially;
  • documents, photos, and other items presented in the courtroom can be shared with the court and the parties;
  • interpretation has been arranged for a person who has a limited English proficiency or is deaf or hard of hearing; and
  • the remote appearance does not interfere with creating a verbatim record of the hearing. 

If all these requirements are met the judge may allow a person to appear remotely. However, the judge is not required to allow a person to appear remotely, even if all the requirements are met.  

Utah Rule of Civil Procedure 7(h) and 43, Utah Rule of Juvenile Procedure 29B.

Procedure

To ask that a person be allowed to appear remotely, a party can file a Motion to Appear Remotely with the court.

The way the motion is handled differs by judicial district and by judge or commissioner. Contact the court handling the case and ask:

  • how the judge or commissioner handles requests to appear remotely,
  • whether the court can accommodate the proposed method of remote appearance (such as phone or video conferencing),
  • if a written Motion to Appear Remotely must be filed, and what other forms must be filed with it (such as a Request to Submit for Decision), and
  • if an interpreter is needed, how to make arrangements for an interpreter.

Will your motion be decided by a judge or commissioner?

Who will decide your motion matters. You will follow different processes and timelines depending who decides your motion. 

If you already know, scroll down to read about How to File a Motion Decided by a Judge or How to File a Motion Decided by a Commissioner. If you aren't sure, look at the caption of the complaint or petition. You can also answer the questions below. 

Yes
If you have a divorce, custody, paternity, temporary separation, or protective order case, or a case about modifying an order in one of these cases, it might be heard by a commissioner. Answer the next question. 

No
Your motion will be heard by a judge. Scroll down to How to File a Motion Decided by a Judge.

Yes
If your family law case (divorce, custody, paternity, temporary separation, or a protective order) was filed in Judicial Districts 1, 2, 3, and 4, then it will be decided by a Commissioner. Scroll down to How to File a Motion Decided by a Commissioner.

No
If your case was filed in another judicial district, it will be heard by a judge. Scroll down to How to File a Motion Decided by a Judge.

I don't know
If you aren’t sure where your case is filed or whether it will be heard by a judge or commissioner, find out by contacting your court.

Filing your motion

Step 1: Fill out your paperwork and file
Start with the motion. Choose the right one for your situation from the forms section below. Here are some tips to help you with your motion:

  • Type or clearly print the motion. Use short sentences. Make your motion easy to read to help the commissioner understand it. 
  • Title the motion to say what you want the court to order. For example, if you need to ask the court to change discovery deadlines in your case, you can call your motion "Motion to Change Discovery Deadlines."
  • Say what you want and why you want it. Include relevant details that support what you are asking for. Be clear about what you want the commissioner to order.
  • Cite any statutes, ordinances, rules, or appellate opinions that support your arguments.
  • You can request a hearing as part of the motion. The commissioner might grant the request for hearing or might decide the motion based on the papers without a hearing.
  • Most motions can be up to 10 double-spaced pages. If you aren't sure abut the page limits, read Utah Rule of Civil Procedure 101(i). 
  • Because you are the party filing the motion, you are the "moving party." The other party is sometimes called the "opposing party." 

Aftere you fill out the motion, be sure to also fill out a Notice of Hearing. You can try contacting the court to get help scheduling your hearing and filling out the Notice of Hearing.

File both the motion and the Notice of Hearing with the court. 

If you do not file a Notice of Hearing, the court might not schedule your hearing. If there is no hearing scheduled, the commissioner will never read your motion. 

Are you filing exhibits with your motion? If yes, read more about exhibits below.

Step 2: Serve the other parties in your case
If you know the other parties in your case agree with your motion, ask them to sign your motion and write down that they agree with what you are asking for in your motion. 

If the other parties do not agree, you will need to have them served with the papers. 

Step 3: Wait, respond to any other paperwork, and attend the hearing
If the other party files a Memorandum Opposing the Motion, you may file a Reply Memorandum Supporting the Motion, but only to respond to something being raised for the first time in the opposing memorandum. Choose the right one for your situation from the forms section below.

The court will schedule a hearing. Be sure to attend. See our page on Going to Court for more information. 

If you need help with the order, read about orders below.

The chart below has more information about when papers should be filed. If the responding party files a counter motion, you can see more timelines below. 

DocumentsWho FilesTime to File and Serve
MotionMoving partyServe at least 28 days before the hearing
Memorandum Opposing the MotionResponding partyAt least 14 days before the hearing
Reply Memorandum Supporting the MotionMoving partyAt least 7 days before the hearing

 

Counter Motion DocumentsWho FilesTime to File and Serve
Counter Motion (must be served with Memorandum Opposing the MotionResponding partyAt least 14 days before the hearing
Memorandum Opposing the Counter MotionOriginal moving partyAt least 7 days before the hearing
Reply Memorandum Supporting the Counter MotionResponding partyAt least 3 business days before the hearing

Step 1: Fill out your paperwork and file
Start with the motion. Choose the right one for your situation from the forms section below. Here are some tips to help you with your motion:

  • Type or clearly print the motion. Use short sentences. Make your motion easy to read to help the judge understand it. 
  • Title the motion to say what you want the court to order. For example, if you need to ask the court to change discovery deadlines in your case, you can call your motion "Motion to Change Discovery Deadlines."
  • Say what you want and why you want it. Include relevant details that support what you are asking for. Be clear about what you want the judge to order.
  • Cite any statutes, ordinances, rules, or appellate opinions that support your arguments.
  • You can request a hearing as part of the motion. The judge might grant the request for hearing or might decide the motion based on the papers without a hearing.
  • Most motions can be up to 15 double-spaced pages. If you aren't sure about the page limits, read Utah Rule of Civil Procedure 7(q). 
  • Because you are the party filing the motion, you are the "moving party." The other party is sometimes called the "opposing party." 

File your motion with the court. 

Are you filing exhibits with your motion? If yes, read more about exhibits below.

Step 2: Serve the other parties in your case
If you know the other parties in your case agree with your motion, ask them to sign your motion and write down that they agree with what you are asking for in your motion. 

If the other parties do not agree, you will need to have them served with the papers. 

Step 3: Wait, respond to any other paperwork, and then file a Request to Submit for Decision and proposed order
If the other party files a Memorandum Opposing the Motion, you may file a Reply Memorandum Supporting the Motion, but only to respond to something being raised for the first time in the opposing memorandum. Choose the right one for your situation from the forms section below.

Whatever happens, make sure that you file a Request to Submit for Decision and a proposed order. The court might not decide on your motion until you file these papers. The earliest that you can file this is 14 days after you file and serve the motion. Choose the right forms for your situation from the forms section below. 

The court might schedule a hearing. If they do, be sure to attend. See our page on Going to Court for more information. 

The chart below has more information when papers should be filed. 

DocumentsWho FilesTime to File and Serve
MotionMoving party 
Memorandum Opposing the MotionResponding partyWithin 14 days after the the moving party files and serves the motion
Reply Memorandum Supporting MotionMoving partyWithin 7 days after the responding party files and serves the Memorandum Opposing the Motion
Request to Submit for DecisionMoving partyAfter the last document in this list is filed, or sooner if the responding party does not file a Memorandum Opposing the Motion. No earlier than 14 days after filing and serving the motion

 

Forms

Information about filing documents in existing cases by email

The forms you need depend on your case. What is your case about?

What forms you need depend on whether your case is before a commissioner or a judge.

Forms for the Moving Party
Required forms for the moving party
  • Motion to Appear Remotely - Commissioner - PDF | Word
  • 1111FA
  • 1126FA
Optional forms for the moving party
  • 1108FA
    (to be used with exhibits, if any)
  • 1109FA
    (to be used to describe voluminous exhibits, if any)
  • 1105FA
    (if the other party agrees to the motion after it has been filed)
  • 1107FA
    (if someone other than the moving party has a statement to make)
  • 1106FA
    (if the other party has disagreed with the motion and the moving party wishes to respond)
  • 1113FA
    (Used to object to the proposed order)
Forms for the Opposing Party
Required forms for the opposing party
  • 1104FA
Optional forms for the opposing party
  • Counter Motion - PDF | Word
    (if the opposing party has new arguments to make in response to the moving party's motion)
  •  1108FA
    (to be used with exhibits, if any)
  •  1109FA
    (to be used to describe voluminous exhibits, if any)
  • 1105FA
    (if the other party agrees to the motion after it has been filed)
  • 1112FA
    (if the opposing party is directed to complete the order)
  • 1113FA
    (Used to object to the proposed order)

Forms for the Moving Party
Required forms for the moving party
  • 1125FA
  • 1110FA
    (filed after all documents have been filed, or the time has passed for the other party to respond)
  • 1126FA
Optional Forms for the Moving Party
  • 1102FA
    (if both parties agree to the motion before it is filed)
  • 1105FA
    (if the other party agrees to the motion after it has been filed)
  • 1107FA
    (if someone other than the moving party has a statement to make)
  • 1106FA
    (if the other party has disagreed with the motion and presented a new matter in their response, and the moving party wishes to respond)
  • 1111FA
    (if a hearing is requested)
  • 1113FA
    (used to object to the proposed order)
Forms for the Opposing Party
Required forms for the opposing party
  • 1104FA
Optional forms for the opposing party
  • 1105FA
    (if the opposing party agrees to the motion after it has been filed)
  • 1003FA
    (if the opposing party has new arguments to make not presented in the moving party's motion)
  • 1111FA
    (if a hearing is requested)
  • 1110FA
    (if the other party has not filed this document)
  • 1112FA
    (if the opposing party is directed to complete the order)
  • 1113FA
    (Used to object to the proposed order)

If you aren’t sure whether your case is assigned to a judge or commissioner, find out. Call the court or look at the caption of the complaint or petition. If a commissioner's name is listed in the caption, the motion likely will be decided by a commissioner.

 
  • 1127GE
  • 1102JU
    (filed after all documents have been filed, or the time has passed for the other party to respond)

Forms for the Moving Party
Required forms for the moving party
  • 1125GE
  • 1110GE
    (filed after all documents have been filed, or the time has passed for the other party to respond)
  • 1126GE
Optional Forms for the Moving Party
  • 1102GE
    (if both parties agree to the motion before it is filed)
  • 1105GE
    (if the other party agrees to the motion after it has been filed)
  • 1107GE
    (if someone other than the moving party has a statement to make)
  • 1106GE
    (if the other party has disagreed with the motion and presented a new matter in their response, and the moving party wishes to respond)
  • 1111GE>
    (if a hearing is requested)
  • 1113GE
    (used to object to the proposed order)
Forms for the Opposing Party
Required forms for the opposing party
  • 1104GE
Optional forms for the opposing party
  •  1105GE
    (if the opposing party agrees to the motion after it has been filed)
  •  1103GE
    (if the opposing party has new arguments to make not presented in the moving party's motion)
  •  1111GE
    (if a hearing is requested)
  •  1110GE
    (if the other party has not filed this document)
  •  1112GE
    (if the opposing party is directed to complete the order)
  • 1113GE
    (Used to object to the proposed order)
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