San Tan Valley Divorce Decree Records
Divorce decree records for San Tan Valley are maintained by the Pinal County Clerk of the Superior Court in Florence. San Tan Valley is part of Pinal County, so all divorce filings go through the county courthouse. The clerk office at 971 North Jason Lopez Circle keeps these records and handles copy requests. You can search for cases online, request documents by mail, or visit the courthouse in person. The office serves the entire county including San Tan Valley, Casa Grande, Maricopa, Queen Creek residents who live in the Pinal County part, and other communities. Records go back to 1875. Copy fees are 50 cents per page with a $35 certification fee for official copies.
San Tan Valley Divorce Facts
Where San Tan Valley Divorces Are Filed
All San Tan Valley residents file divorce cases at the Pinal County Superior Court. The clerk office in Florence handles all filings and record keeping. Even though San Tan Valley is one of the larger communities in Pinal County, it does not have its own courthouse. Everything goes through Florence, which is the county seat.
The courthouse is at 971 North Jason Lopez Circle, Building A, Florence, AZ 85132. This is about 30 miles northwest of San Tan Valley. The drive takes 35 to 45 minutes depending on traffic. For mailed requests, use PO Box 2730, Florence, AZ 85132. Office hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday. Closed on state holidays.
Call the clerk office toll-free at 888-431-1311 or locally at 520-509-3555. Phone lines are open during business hours. Staff can answer questions about fees, what information you need, and how long requests take. They cannot give legal advice but can explain the process. Long wait times happen during peak hours. Mid-morning or mid-afternoon calls often go faster.
Online Divorce Case Lookup
Pinal County has an online records request form at coscpinalcountyaz.gov. Fill it out with case details. The clerk office gets back to you within five business days to confirm fees. Once you pay, they send the documents by mail or email depending on what you requested. This system works for all types of court records including divorce decrees.
The Arizona Public Access portal at apps.azcourts.gov is free to use. Select Pinal County. Search by name, case number, or attorney. The system shows basic case info like filing dates and current status. You cannot download documents through this portal but you can confirm which county has your case and find the case number. That number makes your records request faster and cheaper.
Arizona eAccess at azcourtdocs.gov offers document downloads for $10 each. Create an account. Search for your case. Pick which documents you want. Pay by credit card. The files download as PDFs. This is faster than waiting for mail but the copies are not certified. Use this if you need a quick copy for your own records but do not need official certification.
Government agencies can email record requests to PinalRecordsReq@courts.az.gov. This email is for official use by government offices only. Regular people should use the online form or mail system. The clerk office replies to agency emails within a few days.
What Divorce Records Include
The final divorce decree is what most people need. This is the court order that ends the marriage. The judge signs it. Both spouses are named. The date the divorce became final is listed. If there are kids, custody terms appear in the decree. Child support amounts and schedules are spelled out. Property gets divided. Debts get assigned. Alimony terms are included if applicable.
The complete case file has more documents. It starts with the petition for dissolution that one spouse filed. The other spouse's response comes next. Financial affidavits show each person's income and assets. If they reached a settlement, that agreement is in the file. If they went to trial, minute entries describe what happened in court. Temporary orders for support or custody may be included if those were requested before the final decree.
You can request the full file or just certain parts. Many people only need the final decree. Some need the whole file for legal reasons or to understand what happened in the case. The clerk charges per page, so larger files cost more. Ask what documents are in the file before you order if you want to control costs.
Certified copies come with a raised seal and the clerk's signature. These are official and accepted by most agencies that need proof of divorce. Uncertified copies are regular photocopies without the seal. They cost less but may not be accepted everywhere. Check what the requesting agency needs before you order.
Pinal County Divorce Fees
Copy fees are 50 cents per page. A 10-page divorce decree costs $5 for an uncertified copy. Add $35 for certification. The total would be $40 for a certified 10-page decree. Longer files cost more based on the page count.
Research fees apply when you do not have the case number. Pinal County charges $35 per year they search. If you are not sure what year the divorce happened, they may need to search multiple years. Each year costs $35. You can avoid this fee by using the free Public Access portal to find your case number first.
Shipping and handling is $8 when they mail documents. This covers postage and staff time. No mailing fee if you pick up in person. Payment methods include money order, cashier's check, or credit card. Personal checks are not accepted. You pay after the clerk tells you the amount, not when you first submit the request.
The online payment site is pointandpay.net. The clerk office sends you the total fee. You can go to this site and pay by credit or debit card. Processing happens quickly once payment clears. They will not start working on your request until they receive payment.
How to Request Your Divorce Decree
First, find out if you have the case number. If you do, the process is simpler and costs less. If not, use the Arizona Public Access search to look it up. You need either the case number or both spouses' full names and an approximate divorce date.
For online requests, fill out the Pinal County records request form at coscpinalcountyaz.gov. Include all the info you have. Say whether you need a certified copy or a plain copy. Give your email and phone number. The clerk office reviews it and contacts you within five business days with the fee. Pay online through the link they send. After payment, they process the order and send the documents. Allow another five business days for them to mail it.
To request by mail, send a letter to PO Box 2730, Florence, AZ 85132. Write the case number or both names and the divorce date. State if you want certification. Include your mailing address and contact info. Do not send payment with your letter. The clerk will call or email you with the exact fee. Then pay online or mail a money order. Once payment arrives, they send the documents.
In-person requests happen at 971 North Jason Lopez Circle in Florence. Bring a photo ID. Tell the clerk staff the case number or names. They pull the file and make copies while you wait if it is on-site. Pay at the counter. Most same-day requests get done within an hour or two. Files stored off-site take longer. Call ahead if your case is old to see if they need to retrieve it from storage.
Divorce Help for San Tan Valley
Arizona Court Help at azcourthelp.org has free forms and guides. The site walks you through filing for divorce or responding to a petition. Forms are available to download. Instructions explain each step. Videos show how court procedures work. The resource is free and available any time. It covers all Arizona counties including Pinal.
The Pinal County Self-Service Center is at the Florence courthouse. Staff answer procedural questions and help with forms. They cannot give legal advice or tell you what to do in your case. They can show you which forms to use and how to file them correctly. The center is free and open during courthouse hours. No appointment needed.
Community Legal Services provides free legal help to low-income residents. They handle family law cases including divorce. You must meet income guidelines. If you qualify, you get an attorney at no charge. Their nearest office to San Tan Valley is in Phoenix. Legal aid focuses on cases with children or domestic violence issues.
Private attorneys in San Tan Valley also handle divorce cases. The State Bar of Arizona runs a lawyer referral service at 602-252-4804. They can connect you with a family law attorney. The first consultation is often free or low-cost. After that, you pay the attorney's regular rate if you hire them.
Who Can Get Divorce Records
Divorce decrees are public records in Arizona. Anyone can request them. You do not need to be one of the spouses in the case. You do not have to explain why you want the record. The clerk office will provide copies to anyone who pays the fee. This is part of Arizona's public records law.
Some cases may have sealed portions. Domestic violence situations sometimes involve protective orders that restrict certain details. Financial account numbers might be redacted to prevent fraud. If the entire case is sealed by court order, you cannot access it without permission from a judge. The clerk office can tell you if a case is sealed when you request it.
Most divorce cases are not sealed. The final decree and nearly all documents in the file are open to the public. Third parties like employers, lenders, or researchers can get copies just like the people who were married. The only requirement is paying the fee and providing enough information to locate the case.
Other Pinal County Cities
Residents of these cities also file divorce cases with Pinal County Superior Court: