Maricopa County Court Records

Maricopa County court records are official documents and information created and preserved by the Maricopa County Superior Court for legal cases adjudicated in the county. These records document case details, from the initial filing to the final judgment, and serve as the permanent, authoritative account of adjudicated legal matters. Under the Arizona Public Records Law and the Arizona Supreme Court Rule 123, most court records are presumed public and open to inspection and copying, unless specifically exempt or restricted by law for confidential or privacy reasons.

The purpose of court records is to promote transparency and serve as a vital resource of case information for the general public, attorneys, and researchers. The content of court records includes, but is not limited to, filings, orders, transcripts, and judgments. In Maricopa, these records encompass different case types, including civil, criminal, family, probate, juvenile, small claims, and tax matters.

Although court records and other public records, like vital records and arrest records, are distinct, they are often related. For example, court records of criminal trials typically contain arrest details.

Are Maricopa County Court Records Public?

Yes. Most Maricopa County court records are public records under the Arizona Public Records Law (A.R.S. § 39-121 et seq.). The law grants the public the right to inspect and obtain copies of official records, including court records. To this effect, the Maricopa County Superior Court provides public access to court records in the county as part of its statutory duty under the state's public record law.

However, not all court records are open for public inspection. Those closed by law or as outlined in Rule 123 of the Arizona Rules of the Supreme Court are restricted from public disclosure to protect personal privacy, minors, and confidential information. These include adoption records, court files sealed by court order, juvenile case files, mental health evaluation records, and medical and identifying information (e.g., Social Security numbers).

What Information is Available in Maricopa County Court Records?

The type of information available in Maricopa County court records will depend on the case type and the court division where the case was filed. These include:

• Civil Records: Civil court records document proceedings of civil cases like personal injury claims, contract disputes, landlord-tenant issues, and property disputes. These records often contain party names, attorney information, complaints, motions, court rulings, and final judgments.
• Family Law Records: Family law records contain information on various cases heard in the family court, such as divorce, child custody, adoption, child support, domestic abuse, and paternity.
• Criminal Records: Criminal court records document information related to misdemeanor and felony trials handled in the county. These records often include charges, pleas, exhibits/evidence, trial transcripts, and sentences. The public can inspect or obtain criminal trial court records in Maricopa County. However, these records are not criminal history information records. The Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) is the custodian of statewide criminal history information.
• Probate Records: Probate records include files on wills, creditor claims, petitions for probate and administration, estate inventories, distribution orders, and final decrees on estate settlement disputes. Probate records also include guardianships and conservatorships.
• Other Records: The Maricopa County Superior Court also creates and maintains records for specialized cases like protective orders, mental health matters, tax matters, and juvenile delinquency. Despite their creation, juvenile court records, mental health records, and protective orders are not public.

Maricopa County Court Records Search

The public can access court records from the Maricopa County Superior Court through the following methods:

Online Access

• Electronic Court Records (ECR) Online: Individuals can use this portal to access family law, probate, civil, criminal, and tax court records directly related to them. A person not connected to the case cannot use the ECR. Users can view, download, or print their case documents or files. It is free.
• The Superior Court Case Information & Docket: This service allows the lookup of history information for civil, criminal, family, and probate court cases. It also lets users view court calendars and minute entries for cases. Users can search by name, date of birth, and case number. However, users are only able to view docket entries and case information, not documents.
• eAccess Portal: This portal provides unrestricted public access to statewide superior court records and documents. Available to the public, attorneys, media, and government officials. Users must purchase a subscription package or pay to download a document.
• Online Records Request Form: Individuals unable to find records through other means or who require certified copies of court documents can use this form to submit requests directly to the Clerk of the Superior Court.

Mail, Phone & Email Requests

The public may use the mail, phone, and email channels to submit questions about case records, copies, and fees. The court does not typically honor search and copy requests via these channels.

In-person Access

Interested individuals may visit any of these locations to obtain copies of court records from the Clerk of Maricopa County Superior Court (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday):

Additionally, court records may be viewed electronically at the above locations via public access computers.

Fees for Court Records in Maricopa County

The fees for court records in Maricopa County vary. In-person request copy fees include $0.50 per page and $35.00 to certify. Online access via the eAccess portal costs from $80/month to $10,000.00/month for subscriptions or $10/document download. Others, including ECR online and in-person inspection through public access computers, are free. Vital records such as birth and death certificates cost $20 and are available through the Maricopa County Public Health's Office of Vital Registration.

Maricopa County Courthouse Locations

Listed below are the different Maricopa County Superior Court locations and their divisions or cases they handle:

Below is the contact information for each division of the Maricopa Superior Court:

Criminal Records Access in Maricopa County

In Arizona, county courts do not handle criminal records directly. Instead, the Arizona Department of Public Safety (AzDPS) is the designated agency for official state-level criminal history checks (Arizona Revised Statutes 41-1750).

To request a check, individuals should visit the "Criminal History Records Request" portal of the AzDPS. Typically, the process involves requesters submitting a fingerprint card along with a completed "Record Review Packet" to DPS. Copies of criminal records are restricted to authorized individuals/agencies; the general public cannot, by law, review or check another person's criminal record.

However, for local criminal case records, the Maricopa County Superior Court provides public access in person at the clerk's office locations (listed above) or online through the eAccess portal, the superior court case information & docket, and the ECR online.

Maricopa County Probate Records

Probate records include files on trusts, decedents' estate administrations, guardianships, and conservatorships. Under Arizona law, probate records are generally public records; however, courts can seal them, or certain information, as outlined in the Arizona Rules of Probate Procedure, Rule 8, may be restricted for privacy or confidentiality reasons.

In Maricopa County, probate cases are handled by the Probate Division of the Maricopa County Superior Court. Individuals can use the Superior Court's case information & docket web page to look up recent entries on a probate case. However, they may not be able to view documents. Additionally, parties to cases can access the most recent filings in their probate case via the Electronic Court Records Online portal.

Maricopa County Family Court Records

Maricopa family court records are available for in-person access at the superior court clerk's office locations (listed above). At any of these locations, individuals can look up or inspect these records free of charge via public access computers, or obtain copies for $0.50 per page, or certify copies at $35.00 per document.

Alternatively, individuals may access these records online via the eAccess portal (costs $10 per document download or a monthly subscription), the courts' dockets (limited to case information and docket entries only), or the ECR online (limited to case parties only). Note that, whether in-person or online, restricted records, such as adoption records, are withheld from access.

Family law cases, including divorce, custody, adoption, and support, are heard in Maricopa Superior Court in four courthouse locations: the central court building, northeast regional centre, northwest regional center, and southeast justice centre.

Federal Court Records in Maricopa County

Any federal case that originates in Maricopa County falls under the jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, particularly the one located in the Sandra Day O'Connor U.S. Courthouse in Phoenix. Court records of matters handled in this court are available through the clerk of court or through the P ACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) system.