Mesa Divorce Decrees

Divorce decree records for Mesa are kept at the Maricopa County Superior Court, Southeast Court Complex at 222 E. Javelina Avenue in Mesa. Mesa is the third largest city in Arizona with over 500,000 residents. All Mesa divorce cases are filed through Maricopa County since the city sits entirely within the county boundaries. The Clerk of the Superior Court maintains these divorce decree files and provides copies to anyone who requests them. You can get Mesa divorce decree records in person at the Southeast Court Complex, through online portals, or by submitting a mail request to the clerk office. Fees apply for copies, certification, and mailing services. Some online searches are free while document downloads cost $10 each through the state eAccess system.

Where Mesa Residents File for Divorce

Mesa residents file divorce cases at the Maricopa County Superior Court. The most convenient location for Mesa is the Southeast Court Complex at 222 East Javelina Avenue in Mesa. This regional court center handles family court cases including divorce for the eastern part of Maricopa County. The complex opened to serve Mesa and surrounding cities. It has a clerk office where you can file new cases and request copies of divorce decree records.

The Southeast Court Complex is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. You can also visit the main courthouse in downtown Phoenix at 601 West Jackson Street if that location is more convenient. Both offices access the same case files since all Maricopa County divorce records are in one system. Mesa residents should call (602) 372-5375 or (602) 37-CLERK to confirm which office has the services they need before visiting.

Parking is available at the Southeast Court Complex. Valley Metro bus routes serve the area. Bring a photo ID when you visit. Security screens all visitors at the entrance. Large bags and certain items are not allowed inside. Leave those at home or in your car when you come to request Mesa divorce decree records.

Online Divorce Decree Search in Mesa

Mesa residents can search divorce decree records online without visiting the courthouse. The Arizona Public Access Case Lookup at apps.azcourts.gov/publicaccess/caselookup.aspx is a free tool. Select Maricopa County from the list. Then search by party name, case number, or other details. The system shows basic case info like filing dates and case status. This helps you confirm which cases exist before you request copies of Mesa divorce decrees.

For actual document images, use the Arizona eAccess portal at azcourtdocs.gov. Create an account or log in. Search for the Mesa divorce case you need. The system lists all documents filed in that case. Pick the final decree or any other document. Downloads cost $10 per document. Payment is by credit card. Files come as PDFs that you can save or print. This is faster than waiting for mail delivery of Mesa divorce decree copies.

Maricopa County runs ECR Online at ecronline.clerkofcourt.maricopa.gov for registered users who are parties to a case. If you are one of the spouses in a Mesa divorce case, you can sign up and access your file online. Family court cases are available through this portal. You see all filings, orders, and court minutes. This service does not charge per document, but it is only for case parties, not the general public searching Mesa divorce decrees.

Court minute entries are available through a separate free portal at courtminutes.clerkofcourt.maricopa.gov. Minute entries summarize what happened at each court hearing in a Mesa divorce case. Anyone can search them. They are public records. Minute entries do not replace the final divorce decree, but they show the history of court events.

How to Get Divorce Decree Copies in Mesa

There are three main ways to get Mesa divorce decree copies: visit the court in person, mail a request, or submit an online request form. Each option has pros and cons based on how fast you need the records and whether you need certified copies with the court seal.

For in-person requests in Mesa, go to the Southeast Court Complex at 222 East Javelina Avenue during business hours. Tell the clerk what case you need. Give them the case number if you have it. If not, provide the full names of both spouses and the year the divorce was finalized. Staff will pull up the case and make copies. Plain copies are $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $35 plus the per-page fee. Most requests are ready the same day if the file is on-site. Older files may take extra time to retrieve from storage.

To request Mesa divorce decree records by mail, write to Clerk of the Court, 620 West Jackson Street, Phoenix, AZ 85003. Include the case number or the names of both parties and the divorce date. Say if you want plain or certified copies. Include a check or money order for the fees. Personal checks are not accepted. Add $8.00 for postage and handling. The clerk office processes mail requests within 5 to 10 business days after they get your payment.

Maricopa County has an online records request form at bit.ly/46a64wj. Fill out the form with details about the Mesa divorce decree you need. Provide payment info. The clerk office will process your request and mail the documents to you. This option works any time of day. You get email updates on the status of your request. Payment is by credit card only for online requests.

Mesa Divorce Decree Copy Fees

Fees for Mesa divorce decree copies are the same as all Maricopa County fees. Plain copies cost $0.50 per page. Most divorce decrees are 5 to 15 pages, so expect to pay $2.50 to $7.50 for an uncertified copy. Certified copies include a raised court seal and the clerk's signature. The certification fee is $35.00 per document, plus the per-page charge. If you need legal proof of your Mesa divorce, most agencies require a certified copy.

Research fees apply when you do not have a case number and the clerk must search for your Mesa divorce decree. The fee is $35.00 per year or per source searched. You can avoid this charge by using the free Public Access search to find your case number before you request copies. Most people can locate their case online in a few minutes.

Postage and handling costs $8.00 for mailed requests. This fee covers the envelope, postage, and staff time to process your order. The state eAccess portal charges $10.00 per document for online downloads. This is a separate fee from county charges. Online downloads are not certified, so if you need a certified Mesa divorce decree, you must go through the clerk office directly.

If you need an entire case file rather than just the final decree, the clerk can provide electronic replication on a USB drive or CD for $35.00 plus $3.00 for the media. This makes sense when you need all the motions, financial affidavits, and other documents from your Mesa divorce case. Payment methods at the clerk office include cash, debit card, credit card, and money order. Personal checks are not accepted.

Note: Fees are subject to change, so call (602) 372-5375 to confirm current rates before sending payment for Mesa divorce decree records.

Filing for Divorce in Mesa

Mesa residents file for divorce under Arizona state law. The legal term is dissolution of marriage. Arizona is a no-fault state. You do not need to prove that either spouse did something wrong. The only ground required is that the marriage is irretrievably broken. This means there is no chance of fixing it. One or both spouses can claim this.

To file for divorce in Mesa, at least one spouse must have lived in Arizona for 90 days before filing. This is the residency rule. It is one of the shortest waiting periods in the country. You file a petition for dissolution at the Maricopa County Superior Court. The filing fee varies based on your case type. The other spouse must be served with the petition. You can use a process server, certified mail, or the sheriff. Proof of service gets filed with the court.

Arizona follows community property rules. Assets and debts from the marriage are divided equally unless the couple agrees to a different split. Separate property stays with the person who owned it before marriage or received it as a gift or inheritance. The Mesa divorce decree lists who gets which property and who pays which debts. If the couple has children, the decree includes legal decision-making authority and a parenting time schedule. Child support is calculated using state guidelines based on income and the number of kids.

After both sides agree on all terms, or after a trial if they disagree, the judge signs the final decree. This document legally ends the marriage. It becomes a public record. You can get copies from the clerk office as described above. The decree is proof that your Mesa divorce is final.

Help with Divorce Cases in Mesa

Several resources help Mesa residents with divorce cases. Community Legal Services offers free legal aid to low-income people in Maricopa County. They handle family law matters including divorce. Call to see if you qualify. The State Bar of Arizona runs a lawyer referral service that can connect you with a family law attorney in Mesa.

The Maricopa County Superior Court has a self-service center where staff answer questions about court forms and procedures. They cannot give legal advice, but they help you understand what the court requires. The center is free to use. Court forms are available online at azcourthelp.org. The site has guides for people filing without a lawyer in Mesa.

DNA People's Legal Services helps some Mesa residents, especially those with tribal connections. Legal aid groups often have income limits. Check their websites or call to see if you qualify. If you cannot afford filing fees, you can ask the court for a fee waiver. The judge will review your finances and decide if you can proceed without paying fees for your Mesa divorce case.

Filing Without a Lawyer in Mesa

Many Mesa residents handle their own divorce without hiring an attorney. This works best when both spouses agree on all terms and there are no complicated issues. The court does not give legal advice, but free resources exist to help you file pro se in Mesa.

Start at azcourthelp.org for all the forms you need for a Mesa divorce case. The site has interactive tools that help you fill out forms based on your situation. Print the forms and file them at the courthouse. The site also explains each step of the process. These guides use plain language and are easier to read than legal statutes.

The self-service center at the Southeast Court Complex in Mesa can review your forms. Staff make sure they are filled out right. They explain court procedures and deadlines. They cannot tell you what to do or predict what the judge will decide. But they help you avoid mistakes that would slow down your Mesa divorce case. If your case involves kids, you must fill out the child support worksheet. This form calculates support based on income, number of children, and parenting time. The court will not approve your Mesa divorce decree without this worksheet.

Nearby Cities in Maricopa County

Mesa is part of the Phoenix metro area. Other large cities in Maricopa County are close by. All use the same Superior Court system for divorce cases. Residents of these cities file at the same clerk offices and access divorce decree records through the same portals and procedures.

Maricopa County Divorce Decree Records

Mesa is in Maricopa County. All divorce filings for Mesa residents go through the Maricopa County Superior Court. The county court handles cases for over 30 cities and towns. Mesa is the third largest. For more on county procedures, full fee lists, all court locations, and extra resources for divorce decree records, see the Maricopa County page.

View Maricopa County Divorce Decree Records