Search Arizona Divorce Records
Arizona divorce records are court documents kept by the Clerk of the Superior Court in each county. The state has 15 counties, and each one stores its own divorce case files at the local courthouse. You can search these records online through the state court system or visit a clerk office in person. Arizona does not have a central state office that issues divorce certificates. All divorce records come from the county where the case was filed. This guide shows you how to find and get copies of Arizona divorce records.
Arizona Divorce Records Quick Facts
Where to Find Arizona Divorce Records
The Clerk of the Superior Court keeps all divorce records in Arizona. Each county has its own clerk office at the courthouse. This is where you go to get divorce decrees, case files, and certified copies. The clerk maintains records for every divorce filed in that county. You can search records in person during business hours. Most clerk offices are open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Arizona has a statewide online system called eAccess that lets you view court documents from home. This portal gives you access to case records and documents that are open to the public. You can search by name or case number. The system charges a fee of ten dollars for each document you want to view. A subscription option is also available if you need to access many documents over time. The eAccess portal is run by the Arizona Supreme Court and covers Superior Court records from all 15 counties in the state.
The Arizona Department of Health Services does not issue divorce certificates. This is different from some other states. In Arizona, you must contact the county clerk where the divorce was filed to get any divorce documents. The health department website points users to the Arizona Courts system for divorce record requests.
Note: The Arizona Department of Health Services handles birth and death records but does not issue divorce certificates.
How to Search Divorce Records Online in Arizona
Arizona offers free and paid options to search divorce records online. The Public Access portal lets you look up case information at no cost. You can search by party name or case number. This system shows basic case data like filing dates and case status. It does not show the actual documents in the file.
For full document access, use the eAccess portal from the Arizona Supreme Court. This system lets you view and download court documents including divorce decrees and other filings. Each document costs ten dollars to access. You can also get documents certified through the system and verify that a certified document is real. The portal is available around the clock so you can search any time.
The Arizona Courts Self-Service Center has forms and guides for people who need help with divorce cases. You can find forms for filing, responding to, and finalizing a divorce. The site also explains the steps in a divorce case and what you need to know about Arizona family law. This is a good place to start if you plan to file for divorce or need to understand the process.
Types of Arizona Divorce Records
Arizona divorce records include several types of documents. The divorce decree is the most important one. A judge signs this order to end the marriage. The decree covers everything decided in the case. This includes child custody, support, and how property gets split. You get a decree from the clerk in the county where the case was heard.
Case files hold all the papers filed during a divorce. This includes the original petition, the response from the other spouse, motions, and orders. Financial documents may also be part of the file. The case file shows the full history of what happened in the divorce from start to finish. Anyone can ask to see a case file at the clerk office unless the court sealed it. Most divorce cases are open to the public in Arizona.
Minute entries are short records of what happened at each court hearing. They show the date, who was there, and what the judge ruled. The Public Access system shows some minute entries for free. This can help you track the status of a case without paying for full documents.
Arizona Divorce Laws
Arizona law sets the rules for divorce. You must meet certain requirements to file. Under A.R.S. Title 25, at least one spouse must have lived in Arizona for 90 days before filing. This is called the residency requirement. You file your case in the Superior Court of the county where you or your spouse lives.
Arizona is a no-fault divorce state. This means you do not have to prove that one spouse did something wrong. The only ground for divorce is that the marriage is "irretrievably broken." This phrase means the relationship cannot be fixed. Both spouses can agree to this, or one spouse can state it. The court will not ask for details about why the marriage failed. This makes the process simpler for most couples in Arizona.
There is a 60-day waiting period after service before a divorce can be finalized. Service means the other spouse has been given a copy of the divorce papers. The court cannot sign the final decree until at least 60 days have passed since service. This wait period applies to all divorce cases in Arizona. The actual time to finish a case depends on whether the spouses agree on the terms or need to go to trial.
Arizona is a community property state. Under state law, most assets and debts from the marriage belong equally to both spouses. The court divides community property fairly when a divorce is finalized. Separate property that one spouse owned before the marriage or received as a gift stays with that spouse. The rules about property division affect what appears in divorce records.
Arizona Divorce Record Fees
Fees vary by county in Arizona. Copies cost 50 cents per page at most clerk offices. This is the standard rate set by state law. Getting a document certified costs more. Most counties charge between 30 and 35 dollars for certification. You pay this on top of the copy fee. Certified copies have a raised seal that proves the document is genuine.
Filing for divorce costs more than getting copies of existing records. In Maricopa County, the largest county, filing a divorce petition costs 376 dollars. Other counties have similar fees. If you cannot afford the filing fee, you can ask the court to waive it. You fill out an In Forma Pauperis form and show proof of low income. The judge decides if you qualify for a fee waiver.
Online document access through eAccess costs ten dollars per document. This lets you view and save files to your computer. If you need many documents, a subscription may cost less over time. Certified documents from eAccess have an electronic seal that you can verify online. Research fees apply if the clerk must search for records and you do not have a case number. Most counties charge 35 dollars per year of records searched.
Note: Fees can change, so call the clerk office or check their website for current costs before you visit.
How to Get Copies of Arizona Divorce Records
You have several ways to get divorce record copies in Arizona. The fastest method is often in person at the clerk office. Bring the names of both spouses and the approximate date of the divorce. If you know the case number, that helps the clerk find it faster. You can look at the file for free and then pay for copies of the pages you need. Most clerk offices accept cash, money order, or credit card payment.
Mail requests work if you cannot visit in person. Write a letter with the names of both parties, the divorce date or year, and your return address. Include a check or money order for the estimated cost. Call the clerk first to find out how much to send. Mail your request to the Clerk of the Superior Court in the county where the divorce was filed. Response times vary but usually take one to two weeks.
Online access through eAccess gives you immediate results for cases in the system. You can view and download documents right away after paying. This works well if you need records quickly and know the case is in the database. Not all older records have been scanned into the system. For older divorces, you may need to contact the clerk directly or visit in person.
The Arizona State Archives holds historical divorce records. Their collection covers records from 1864 to 1972, though coverage varies by county. This is a good resource for genealogy research or finding very old divorce records. You can contact the Archives to ask about what they have for a specific county and time period.
Are Arizona Divorce Records Public
Yes. Divorce records are public in Arizona. Under A.R.S. Title 39, public records must be open for inspection during office hours. Court records follow Arizona Supreme Court Rule 123, which sets rules for access to case files. Most divorce records are open to anyone. You do not have to be a party in the case to request copies.
Some information in divorce files may be restricted. Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, and details about minor children are often redacted from public copies. A judge can seal a divorce case if a party shows good reason. This is rare. Most divorces stay fully open to the public. Even in sealed cases, some basic information like the case number and filing date may still be available.
Access rules for divorce records come from the Arizona Supreme Court, not the public records law that covers other government documents. Rule 123 gives the courts control over their own records. This means procedures at the clerk office may differ from requests to other agencies. The clerk office is your main contact for questions about what records are available and how to get them.
Legal Help for Divorce in Arizona
Several resources offer help with divorce cases in Arizona. The Self-Service Center has forms and instructions for people who want to handle their own divorce. You can find all the court forms you need to file. Guides explain each step of the process in plain language. This is free to use and available online any time.
Community Legal Services provides free legal help to low-income residents. They handle family law cases including divorce. You can find them at clsaz.org or call to ask about their services. Southern Arizona Legal Aid at sazlegalaid.org serves Pima County and surrounding areas. These groups help people who cannot afford a lawyer.
The State Bar of Arizona runs a lawyer referral service. Call them if you need to find a family law attorney. They can connect you with lawyers who handle divorce cases in your area. A short consultation lets you ask questions and decide if you want to hire that lawyer. You can learn more at azbar.org or call the referral line for help finding an attorney in Arizona.
Browse Arizona Divorce Records by County
Each county in Arizona has its own Clerk of the Superior Court who keeps divorce records. Pick a county below to find contact info and local resources for divorce records.
Divorce Records in Major Arizona Cities
Arizona cities do not maintain divorce records. All divorce cases go through the county Superior Court. Pick a city below to learn which county handles divorce records for that area.