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Arizona · How-To Guide

How do I access court records?

Clerk of the Superior Court (county level) / Arizona Courts online portal (statewide)
Step by Step

How to do it

  1. Identify what type of record you need: Superior Court (civil, criminal, family, probate), Justice Court, Municipal Court, or Court of Appeals/Supreme Court
  2. Search online through the Arizona Judicial Branch public access portal at publicaccess.courts.arizona.gov - search by case number or party name for Superior Court records statewide
  3. For Justice Court records: search through the specific Justice Court's website or contact them directly - not all Justice Court records are in the statewide portal
  4. For full case documents or certified copies: contact the Clerk of the Superior Court in the county where the case was filed
  5. In-person access: visit the Clerk of the Superior Court's office in the relevant county; bring photo ID and case details
Details

What you need to know

Required Docs
  • Valid photo ID (for in-person requests)
  • Case number or full legal name of parties (for searches and requests)
Fee
Online portal access free for basic searches; certified copy fees vary by county and document type - contact specific county clerk for current fee schedule; copies typically $0.50-$1.00 per page plus certification fee
Processing Time
Immediate online searches; same day or by mail for certified copies
Online Option
Yes - Arizona Courts Public Access portal at publicaccess.courts.arizona.gov (Superior Court records statewide)
Where to Go
Clerk of the Superior Court in the county where the case was filed (for certified copies and documents not fully available online)
County-specific variations apply

Superior Court records are centralized in the statewide portal, but Justice Court and Municipal Court records are managed locally - access and online availability vary by court. Maricopa County (Phoenix) has the most comprehensive online access. Some rural county Justice Courts may require in-person or written requests for records. Contact the specific court for availability.

Arizona Notes

Important state-specific details

  • Arizona Courts Public Access portal (publicaccess.courts.arizona.gov) covers Superior Court records for all 15 Arizona counties.
  • Justice Courts handle civil cases up to $10,000, evictions, and Class 1/2 misdemeanors - records are at the individual Justice Court level.
  • Municipal Courts handle city ordinance violations and misdemeanors - records at individual municipal court level.
  • Criminal background checks: Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) conducts background checks - contact DPS at azdps.gov.
  • Juvenile records are sealed and not accessible to the public.
  • Arizona adopted a formal eFiling system for Superior Court - many case documents are available electronically.
  • Court of Appeals and Arizona Supreme Court opinions: azcourts.gov/opinionsorders.
Official Source

State office contact

State Office
Arizona Judicial Branch - azcourts.gov | Public Access portal: publicaccess.courts.arizona.gov | (602) 452-3300