Greenlee County Divorce Decree Access

Divorce decree records for cases filed in Greenlee County are maintained at the Clerk of the Superior Court office in Clifton. This is the smallest county in Arizona by population, but the clerk office handles all the same functions as larger counties. You can request divorce decree copies in person at the courthouse or submit requests by mail. The clerk staff searches case files, makes copies, and certifies documents when needed. Online payment options let you pay fees remotely. Most records are public unless sealed by a court order, so anyone can request copies by paying the standard fees.

Greenlee Superior Court Clerk

The Clerk of the Superior Court for Greenlee County operates from the courthouse at 223 5th Street in Clifton. Madeline Montoya serves as the clerk. The office keeps all divorce decree records for cases filed in Greenlee County. This includes current cases and older files going back many years. Staff can search the court database. They pull files. They make copies. They certify documents when you need the official seal.

Office hours run from 8 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday. The office observes Mountain Standard Time year-round since Arizona does not use daylight saving time. Plan to arrive before 4:30 PM if you need service that day, as some tasks take time to complete before the office closes at 5 PM.

You can reach the clerk office by phone at 928-865-4242. Call to ask about fees, check if your case file is available, or get instructions for mailing a request. The staff answers general questions about records and procedures. They cannot give legal advice about your divorce case, but they can tell you what documents are in your file and how to get copies.

The mailing address is PO Box 1027, Clifton, AZ 85533. Use this address when you send written requests or payments by mail. The physical address at 223 5th Street is for in-person visits. Make sure you use the right address for your purpose.

The clerk office uses email for some communications. You can send inquiries to greenleeSC@courts.az.gov. Response times vary, but most emails get answered within a few business days. For urgent requests, calling is usually faster than email.

The official county website for courts is at greenlee.az.gov. It provides contact information and links to online payment systems. The site also has information about other court services beyond divorce decrees.

How to Get Divorce Decree Copies

Three main ways work for getting copies. Visit in person. Send a mail request. Use online payment after contacting the clerk. Each option has its own steps and timeline.

Walk-in requests happen at the courthouse 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. The clerk searches the system. They locate the file. They make copies while you wait in most situations. You pay at the counter. You leave with your documents. The whole process usually takes less than an hour unless the case file is very large or stored off-site.

For mail requests, write a letter explaining what you need. Include the case number or enough details to identify the case. State whether you want plain copies or certified copies. Add your return address and a phone number. Send the letter to PO Box 1027, Clifton, AZ 85533. Some people include payment with the initial letter. Others wait for the clerk to call back with the exact amount due. Processing takes about one to two weeks from the time they receive your request and payment.

The county uses an online payment portal called NCOURT. You can pay fees by credit card at ncourt.com or call their payment line. Contact the clerk office first to confirm what you owe. Then use NCOURT to submit payment. The clerk will process your request and mail the documents once payment clears.

Note: The clerk office closes on all state and county holidays, so check the calendar before planning a visit.

Record Copy Fees

Greenlee County charges 50 cents per page for copies. This is the same rate used in most Arizona counties. A divorce decree that runs eight pages costs $4 for a plain copy. Certified copies cost extra. The certification fee varies, but it typically adds $30 to $35 to the total. Call the clerk office to confirm the current certification rate before you send payment.

If you need the clerk to mail your documents, expect a mailing fee. Most Arizona counties charge $7 to $8 for postage and handling. This covers the envelope, stamps, and staff time to prepare the mailing. If you pick up your copies in person, you do not pay this fee.

Payment methods accepted include money orders, cashier's checks, and credit cards through the NCOURT system. Personal checks may or may not be accepted. Ask the clerk office about their current policy on personal checks before you mail one. Credit card payments through NCOURT may have a small convenience fee added by the payment processor.

Search Greenlee Cases Online

The Arizona Public Access system includes Greenlee County cases. Go to apps.azcourts.gov/publicaccess and select Greenlee County from the dropdown menu. Then enter a party name, case number, or attorney name. The system searches the court database. Results show basic case information like filing date, case type, and status. This is a free service available to the public.

The Arizona eAccess portal at azcourtdocs.gov provides document-level access for many counties including Greenlee. Create a user account. Search for your case. If the documents are available online, you can view and download them for $10 per document. Not all Greenlee County cases are in the eAccess system yet, especially older cases. For cases not available online, you need to request copies directly from the clerk office.

These online tools help you confirm details before you request official copies. They save time by letting you check case numbers, verify dates, and see if the case exists. But if you need a certified copy, you must get it from the clerk office because online downloads do not come with certification.

Types of Divorce Case Documents

The final divorce decree is what most people request. This document shows that the judge ended the marriage. It lists the terms agreed to or ordered by the court. Custody arrangements appear in the decree. Child support amounts get stated. Property division is spelled out. Debt responsibility is assigned. The decree is the legal proof that the divorce is complete.

The complete case file holds many other documents. The petition for dissolution of marriage starts the file. The other spouse files a response. Financial affidavits disclose income and assets. Motions and orders appear throughout the case. If the couple settled, the settlement agreement is in the file. If they went to trial, minute entries describe the court proceedings. You can request any document from the file, not just the final decree.

Certified copies have a raised seal and the clerk's signature. These are required when you need official proof of divorce for government agencies, employers, or financial institutions. Plain copies work fine for your own records or when certification is not required.

Legal Help and Resources

Greenlee County residents who need help with divorce procedures can use several resources. The Superior Court has information about self-service options. The Arizona Court Help website at azcourthelp.org provides free forms and guides for people handling their own divorce cases. The site explains how to file, how to respond, and how to modify existing orders.

If you need a lawyer, the State Bar of Arizona runs a referral service. Community legal aid organizations may help low-income residents. Most legal aid has income limits, so check if you qualify before applying. Some lawyers offer free consultations where you can ask initial questions about your situation.

The clerk office can answer questions about procedures and paperwork but cannot give legal advice. If you need help understanding what a document means or what you should do in your case, talk to a lawyer.

Older Divorce Decree Files

Greenlee County was created in 1909, making it one of the newer Arizona counties. The clerk office has divorce records from that time forward. Older files may be stored in archives or off-site storage facilities. If you need a divorce decree from many years ago, call the clerk office before you visit. They will check if the file is immediately available or if they need time to retrieve it from storage.

The Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records may also hold some Greenlee County court records from earlier decades. Their collection varies by county and time period. If the clerk office cannot locate a very old case, contact the state archives at azsos.libguides.com to see if they have it in their holdings.

Retrieval times for archived records are longer than for current cases, but most requests get fulfilled within a few weeks. There is usually no extra fee for pulling old records, just the standard copy and certification fees.

Who Can Access Divorce Decrees

Divorce decree records in Greenlee County are public documents. Anyone can request them. You do not need to be a party in the case. You do not need to explain why you want the record. The clerk office provides copies to any person who pays the fees.

Some cases are sealed by court order. Sealed cases are not available to the public without a judge's permission. Most divorce cases are not sealed. If you request a sealed case, the clerk will inform you that the records are restricted.

Certain information may be redacted from public copies. Financial account numbers get removed to prevent identity theft. Details about minor children may be limited in some documents. But the final decree itself is almost always available with few or no redactions.

Cities and Towns in Greenlee County

Greenlee County is the least populated county in Arizona. Clifton is the county seat and largest community. Other small towns in the county include Duncan and Morenci. None of these communities have their own divorce record offices. All divorce cases from anywhere in Greenlee County are handled through the Superior Court Clerk in Clifton.

Residents from Clifton, Duncan, Morenci, or any other part of the county file for divorce at the Superior Court in Clifton. That is the only location where Greenlee County divorce decree records are kept and where you can get certified copies.

Neighboring Counties

Greenlee County shares borders with several other Arizona counties. Each has its own clerk office for divorce decree records.