Access Glendale Divorce Records
Glendale divorce records are kept by Maricopa County Superior Court, not the city. Glendale has about 250,000 people and sits in the west valley. Like all Arizona cities, Glendale does not handle divorce cases. Family law matters go through the county court system. The Glendale City Court only handles traffic tickets, city code violations, and misdemeanors. To find a divorce decree or case file from Glendale, you work with the Maricopa County Clerk of the Superior Court.
Glendale Divorce Records Quick Facts
Glendale Divorce Cases Are County Business
Superior Court has exclusive power over divorces in Arizona. This comes from state law. Cities cannot grant divorces or handle family law cases. Every divorce filed by a Glendale resident becomes a Maricopa County case. The county court decides custody, divides property, and issues the final decree.
The Glendale City Court is at 5711 W. Glendale Avenue. Call 623-930-2400 with questions. They are open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The court handles traffic matters, misdemeanors, and local ordinance cases. They cannot help with divorce. If you ask about divorce records, they will tell you to contact the county.
The structure is the same for every city in Arizona. Municipal courts exist to handle minor matters quickly and locally. Major civil cases like divorce need the resources of Superior Court. Glendale follows this pattern just like Phoenix, Mesa, and every other city in the state.
Maricopa County Clerk Serves Glendale
Glendale residents can use the Northwest Regional Court Center. It is at 14264 W. Tierra Buena Lane in Surprise. This west valley location is closer to Glendale than the downtown Phoenix courthouse. You can get divorce records, request certified copies, and search for cases there.
The main clerk office sits at 601 W. Jackson Street in Phoenix. This location has full services for all record types. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays at both locations. Pick the one that works best for you. Both have the same access to Maricopa County divorce records.
Call (602) 372-5375 to reach the clerk office. You can also use (602) 37-CLERK. Staff members answer questions about records and fees. The email for public records is PublicRecords@jbazmc.maricopa.gov. Write them if you prefer to handle your request electronically.
Note: Bring valid photo ID when you visit the clerk office in person to request records.
Searching Glendale Divorce Records Online
Online tools make searching easy. The Arizona Public Access portal is free. Type in names to find cases. You get filing dates, case numbers, and current status. This basic search costs nothing. It tells you if a case exists and whether it is closed.
The eAccess system shows actual documents. This is where you find divorce decrees and other filings. Each document costs ten dollars to view and download. The portal operates day and night. You can search at any hour from home. Make an account to keep track of your searches and documents.
Maricopa County runs a separate Court Minutes portal. This shows what happened at hearings. Minute entries list the date, the parties, and the rulings. You can follow a divorce case through each hearing. The minute search is free for anyone to use.
Older cases may not appear online. The electronic systems cover more recent years. Paper records from decades ago may require a trip to the clerk office. Staff can search older files for a research fee of 35 dollars per year searched.
Glendale Divorce Record Fees
Maricopa County charges for divorce record copies. The rate is 50 cents per page. This applies to every page you request. A divorce decree that runs twelve pages would cost six dollars in copy fees. The price is the same for in person requests and mail orders.
Certification costs 35 dollars per document. This adds an official seal to your copy. Many agencies require certified copies. The military, immigration offices, and some employers ask for them. You pay the certification fee on top of copy costs. A certified copy of a ten page decree would run 40 dollars total.
Research fees apply when you lack a case number. The clerk charges 35 dollars for each year they must search. Give them names and approximate dates to limit the search scope. Postage adds eight dollars if you want mailing. Online access through eAccess costs ten dollars per document with instant delivery.
Legal Help for Glendale Divorces
The Arizona Courts Self-Service Center offers free forms. You can download everything needed to file a divorce. Step by step guides explain what to do. The site helps people who want to handle their own case without an attorney. It covers filing, service, and getting the final decree.
Community Legal Services helps people with limited income. Their site at clsaz.org has details. They take family law cases for those who qualify. The State Bar of Arizona at azbar.org offers lawyer referrals. Call to get names of family law attorneys in the west valley who handle Glendale divorces.
Many family law attorneys practice in the Glendale area. Initial consultations let you explain your situation. The attorney can tell you what to expect and how they would handle your case. You decide afterward whether to hire them.
Nearby Arizona Cities
These west valley cities also use Maricopa County for divorce cases. Choose a city for local details on divorce records.