Maricopa County, Arizona Divorce Records

Maricopa County divorce records are a collection of divorce-related information. Persons or entities may inspect or obtain divorce records for various legal and personal reasons, including remarriage, name change, or genealogy research.

County residents and non-residents contact the designated record custodians for instructions on how to find divorce records in Maricopa County. However, record custodians may limit access to divorce information whose disclosure does not serve the public interest. For instance, personal data about minors is redacted from public divorce records in the county.

Maricopa County, AZ Divorce Rate: In 2022, Arizona's divorce rate was 7.3 per 1,000 female residents above 15 years old. Meanwhile, 21.8% of Maricopa County's adult residents were divorced as of 2023.

Are Divorce Records Public in Maricopa County?

Maricopa County divorce records are primarily open to the public. Per Title 39 of the Arizona Revised Statutes, the public has the legal right to view or obtain copies of divorce records from specific government bodies. These bodies are required to maintain and provide access to documents in their custody.

Note that government agencies may redact portions of divorce records from the general public. Redacted divorce information often includes sensitive or confidential information. Case in point: custody agreements and financial statements are sometimes restricted from public view. There are also instances when case parties petition the court to hide specific information in divorce case proceedings.

How to Find Divorce Records in Maricopa County

You can look up Maricopa divorce records using the options and resources provided by the Clerk of the Superior Court. The court clerk offers online and offline access to documents in their custody.

To obtain divorce records online, inquirers may use any of the court clerk's search portals:

• Online docket search (for non-public divorce records).
• Electronic Court Record search (ECR) (for only case parties).

For online docket searches, inquirers must input the inmate's name or case number into the required search fields and click on "Search". Case parties may use the ECR to look up confidential and complete divorce records.

You can view or obtain copies of divorce records by visiting the clerk of the superior court at any of these locations:

The clerk of the superior court charges $0.5 per page and $35 to certify requested documents. At the same time, residents can request divorce records via the court clerk's online request portal. Inquirers must fill out and submit the required details on the platform. After receiving the form, the court clerk will send the required information to the record subject's mail address.

Overview of the Maricopa County Court System

Maricopa County Superior Court oversees divorce case proceedings in the county. Interested parties can find the courthouse at this address:

Maricopa County superior court records, including divorce case files, are under the jurisdiction of the court clerk's office. The court clerk collates all divorce-related information and discloses it to the public.

Online Access to Maricopa County Divorce Records

Interested persons or entities can find Maricopa County divorce records online via these official databases:

• Online docket search (for non-public divorce records).
• Electronic Court Record search (ECR) (for only case parties).

Inquirers must provide relevant search information to view records on these platforms.

Third-party websites also offer online search repositories for accessing Maricopa County divorce records. Interested parties may input the case party name, number, or court location to locate most records on these sites. Some websites offer additional perks like free viewing and downloads of court documents. Nevertheless, users must be cautious since most third-party sites operate outside government jurisdiction and may not contain accurate data.

What's Typically Included in a Maricopa County Divorce Record

Maricopa County divorce records may reveal this information:

• Case parties' names.
• Divorce date and location.
• Marriage date and duration.
• Divorce petitioner's names.
• Number of minor children affected by the divorce event.
• Case-related data, including case information, court docket, case status, and court location.

Note: Some divorce information is exempt or redacted from public access. The court may seal the records to protect the identities of vulnerable parties. For instance, abuse claims and personal details about minors are exempt from public access.

How to Get Certified Copies of Maricopa County Divorce Records

You can order certified divorce decrees in Maricopa County from the Clerk of the Superior Court's Office. To get the record, inquirers may visit and request the court clerk at any of these locations:

The Maricopa Clerk of the Superior Court charges $35 to certify divorce records. Note that certified divorce documents are not the same as informational copies. The former bears a court official's seal, and it's useful for most legal processes, including name changes and remarriage.

Why People Request Maricopa County Divorce Records

There are different reasons for requesting divorce records in Maricopa County. Persons or entities may request the document for these reasons:

• For remarriage.
• Loan application.
• Name change.
• Mortgage refinancing.
• Genealogy and historical research.
• Background checks and research.

Maricopa County Divorce Records Summary