Divorce Records in Glendale Arizona
Glendale divorce decree records are maintained by Maricopa County Superior Court. All dissolution of marriage cases for Glendale residents get filed and stored through the county clerk office. You can search for case information online through state and county portals. Copies of divorce decrees are available by request in person, through the mail, or via online systems. The clerk office charges fees for copies and certification. Most records are public unless sealed by court order. Maricopa County provides multiple locations and online tools to help you access the divorce records you need.
Glendale Divorce Decree Quick Facts
Maricopa County Court System
Glendale sits in Maricopa County. This means all divorce cases are handled by the Maricopa County Superior Court. The Clerk of the Court office keeps all divorce decree records for Glendale residents. When you file for divorce in Glendale, the case goes into the Maricopa County system. The same is true for Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, and all other cities in this county.
Maricopa County is the largest county in Arizona. It has a big court system with many staff and resources. The clerk office operates four main court locations across the county. They also run online portals for case searches and document requests. This gives you options for how to access your records. You can visit a courthouse, call the clerk, send a mail request, or use online tools.
The main clerk office is at 601 W. Jackson Street in downtown Phoenix. Phone number is 602-372-5375. Hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on weekdays. This location handles all types of cases. If you need help with a divorce decree request, the staff there can assist you. Many Glendale residents find it easier to go to the Northwest Regional Court Center instead since it is closer to Glendale.
Closest Court Location for Glendale
The Northwest Regional Court Center is in Surprise at 14264 W. Tierra Buena Lane. This is the closest Maricopa County court location to Glendale. From Glendale, you take the Loop 101 north. The drive is short. The court center handles family law cases. You can file divorce papers there, attend hearings, and request copies of your decree. Parking is available. The clerk office is open the same hours as all other locations: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday.
The downtown Phoenix location at 601 W. Jackson is another option. It is farther from Glendale but has more services and staff. This is the main hub for the Maricopa County court system. If you have a complicated request or need help with an old case, this location may be your best bet. From Glendale, you take Grand Avenue southeast into downtown Phoenix. Public transit and parking are both available near the courthouse.
Maricopa County also has court centers in Mesa and northeast Phoenix. The Southeast Court Complex is at 222 E. Javelina Avenue in Mesa. The Northeast Regional Court Center is at 18380 N. 40th Street in Phoenix. You can use any of these locations for divorce record requests even if your case was filed somewhere else in the county. Pick the one that is most convenient for you.
Note: Call ahead if you need help with a very old case, as some records may need to be pulled from off-site storage.
Search for Divorce Cases Online
Arizona Public Access is the main free search tool. Go to apps.azcourts.gov/publicaccess/caselookup.aspx. Pick Maricopa County from the list. Then search by name, case number, or attorney. The system shows basic case info. You see the filing date, case type, parties, and status. This is a good way to find your case number if you lost it. You can also check whether a divorce has been finalized. No account is needed. The search is free.
Maricopa County runs ECR Online for registered users. ECR stands for Electronic Case Record. The site is at ecronline.clerkofcourt.maricopa.gov. Create an account and log in. You can view case dockets, see scheduled court dates, and read some documents. Family court cases including divorce are available. The system updates daily with new filings and court actions. This tool is useful if you have an active case or need to track what is happening in your divorce.
Court minutes are published online for Maricopa County. Visit courtminutes.clerkofcourt.maricopa.gov. You can search for minutes from court hearings. These are short summaries of what happened at each hearing. They show rulings the judge made and what the next steps are. Minutes can help you understand the progress of a case. They do not include the full transcript, but they give a quick overview.
How to Request Divorce Decree Copies
Visit the clerk office in person for the fastest service. Bring a photo ID. Tell the clerk you need a copy of a divorce decree. Give them the case number if you have it. If not, provide both spouses' full names and the year the divorce was finalized. The clerk searches the records and prints copies for you. You pay at the counter. Copy fees are 50 cents per page. A certified copy costs $35 plus the per-page fee. Most people get their copies the same day.
Mail requests take longer but work well if you cannot visit in person. Write a letter to the Clerk of the Court at 620 West Jackson Street, Phoenix, AZ 85003. Include the case number or the names and divorce year. State whether you want plain or certified copies. Put your return address and phone number in the letter. Enclose payment by check or money order. Maricopa County does not accept personal checks, so use a cashier's check or money order. Add $8 for postage and handling. Processing time is usually 5 to 10 business days after they get your letter.
Maricopa County has an online records request form at clerkofcourt.maricopa.gov/records/obtaining-records. Fill out the form with your case details and contact info. Select what type of copy you need. Pay by credit card. The clerk office processes your request and mails the documents to you. This is quicker than mailing a letter because payment is instant. Most online requests are filled within a week.
For immediate digital copies, use the Arizona eAccess portal at azcourtdocs.gov. Search for the case. Find the divorce decree in the list of documents. Download it for a $10 fee. The download is not certified. If you need certification, you must get that from the clerk office. But if you just need a copy fast for your own records, eAccess is the easiest option. You get the PDF right away and can print it or save it on your computer.
Cost of Divorce Decree Copies
Copy fees are 50 cents per page. Most divorce decrees are 5 to 15 pages. A plain copy of the decree costs $2.50 to $7.50. If you need the entire case file, the cost goes up. Case files can have dozens or even hundreds of pages. Ask the clerk how many pages before you order so you know the total.
Certified copies add $35 to the cost. The certification includes a raised seal and the clerk's signature. This proves the copy is authentic. Some organizations like the DMV, Social Security, or lenders may require a certified copy. If you are changing your name or proving your marital status, get a certified copy. For personal use, an uncertified copy is fine and cheaper.
Research fees apply if you do not know the case number. Maricopa County charges $35 per year or per source they have to search. If you can find the case number yourself using the free online search, you avoid this fee. Look up your case on Arizona Public Access first. Write down the case number. Then when you request copies, provide that number and skip the research charge.
Postage and handling is $8 for mail orders. Electronic replication to a USB drive or CD is $35 plus $3 for the media. This is an option if you want a digital copy of the whole case file. The clerk office can copy all documents to a USB drive for you. This is useful if you need to give copies to a lawyer or keep a backup for yourself.
Filing for Divorce in Glendale
You file for divorce at the Maricopa County Superior Court. At least one spouse must have lived in Arizona for 90 days before filing. You can file in the county where either spouse lives. Since Glendale is in Maricopa County, that is where you file if you or your spouse lives here. The process starts with a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage. Fill out this form and file it at the clerk office. Pay the filing fee. Fees vary but are usually a few hundred dollars.
After filing, you serve the petition on your spouse. They get a copy of the papers and have a chance to respond. Service is done by a process server or the sheriff. You cannot do it yourself. Your spouse has 20 days to file an answer if they live in Arizona. If they live out of state, they have 30 days. If they agree with everything, you can move forward with a consent decree. If they disagree, the case goes to hearings or trial.
A consent decree is faster. Both spouses sign an agreement that covers all issues. Property division, debts, child custody, and support are all settled. You submit the agreement to the judge. The judge reviews it and signs the decree if it meets legal requirements. This can take 60 days or more. If you cannot agree, the judge holds hearings. You present evidence and arguments. The judge makes decisions on each issue. A trial can take many months. Once everything is resolved, the judge signs the final decree.
The decree is the legal document that ends the marriage. It lists all the terms. You get a copy when it is signed. If you need extra copies later, you request them from the clerk office. Keep your copy in a safe place. You may need it for legal or financial purposes in the future.
Legal Help for Glendale Residents
The Maricopa County Superior Court has a self-service center. Staff can answer questions about forms and procedures. They cannot give legal advice. They can show you how to fill out forms and where to file them. The center has computers and printers. All services are free. You can find the self-service center at any of the four court locations. Call ahead to confirm hours.
Arizona Court Help at azcourthelp.org is an online resource. It has forms, guides, and FAQs about divorce. You can download forms for filing a divorce or responding to one. The site explains each step of the process. It also has info about modifying decrees if you need to change custody or support later. The site is free and available any time.
Community Legal Services provides free legal help to low-income residents. They have an office in Phoenix that serves Maricopa County. Family law is one of their areas. Call to see if you qualify based on income. If you do, they can help with your divorce case at no cost. Their website is clsaz.org.
The State Bar of Arizona runs a lawyer referral service. Call them and they connect you with a family law attorney in the Glendale area. The first consultation is often at a reduced fee. This is helpful if you need advice about your rights or how to proceed with a divorce. The referral service can match you with an attorney who handles cases like yours.
Divorce Records in Nearby Cities
Cities near Glendale also file divorce cases with Maricopa County Superior Court. The process and fees are the same for all residents of the county.