Maricopa County Divorce Records

Divorce decree records in Maricopa County are kept by the Clerk of the Superior Court at 620 West Jackson Street in Phoenix. This office maintains all divorce case files for the Greater Phoenix area, including cases from Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Scottsdale, Tempe, Peoria, Surprise, Goodyear, Avondale, and Buckeye. You can get copies through several methods. The clerk operates four locations across the county to serve residents. Online portals let you search cases and request records without visiting in person. ECR Online provides case access for registered users. The court minutes database shows basic info for free.

Maricopa Clerk of Court

The Clerk of the Superior Court serves as the official custodian of divorce decree records in Maricopa County. The main office is located at the Central Court Building in downtown Phoenix at 620 West Jackson Street. This office processes all divorce case filings and maintains the permanent record for each case. Staff can help you search for cases, make copies, certify documents, and answer questions about court procedures.

Three regional court centers also provide clerk services. The Northwest Regional Court Center in Surprise handles cases for the northwest valley at 14264 West Tierra Buena Lane. The Southeast Court Complex in Mesa serves the east valley at 222 East Javelina Avenue. The Northeast Regional Court Center is at 18380 North 40th Street in Phoenix. All four locations have the same hours. They open at 8:00 AM and close at 5:00 PM Monday through Friday. State holidays close all locations.

You can reach the clerk office by phone at 602-372-5375. This number also shows up as 602-37-CLERK. Phone lines operate during business hours. Wait times can be long during peak periods. The best time to call is mid-morning or mid-afternoon. Automated menu options let you check case status or get general information without waiting for a clerk.

Note: Different court centers may have different case assignments, so call ahead if you plan to visit a regional location.

Online Divorce Case Search

Maricopa County offers several online tools to search for divorce decree cases. ECR Online at ecronline.clerkofcourt.maricopa.gov is the main portal for registered users. You need to create an account. Once logged in, you can view case details, see filed documents, and track case status. ECR works for family court cases, which include all divorce filings. The system shows real-time updates as new documents get filed.

The Court Minutes database provides free public access at courtminutes.clerkofcourt.maricopa.gov. This tool lets you search by party name or case number. Results show hearing dates, judge names, and minute entries from court proceedings. You do not need to register or pay to use this system. It works best when you know the names of both spouses or have a case number.

The statewide Arizona Public Access system also covers Maricopa County cases. This portal at apps.azcourts.gov shows basic case info across all Arizona counties. For Maricopa-specific features and documents, the county portals usually have more detail.

Superior Court records are explained at superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/about/records. This page tells you what types of records exist, how to get them, and which office handles each request type. Family court records, including divorce decrees, fall under the general Superior Court records category.

How to Get Copies

You can get copies of divorce decrees in person, by mail, or online. For in-person requests, visit any of the four clerk locations. Bring a photo ID. Tell the staff the case number or the full names of both spouses. The clerk will pull the file and make copies. You pay at the counter. Most requests get completed the same day if the file is on-site.

Online requests go through the records request form at bit.ly/46a64wj. Fill out the form with case details and what you need. Select whether you want plain copies or certified copies. The clerk office reviews your request and contacts you within a few days with the total fee. Once you pay, they process the order and mail or email the documents to you. Processing usually takes five business days after payment.

Mail requests should go to Clerk of the Superior Court, 620 West Jackson Street, Phoenix, AZ 85003. Include a letter stating the case number or both spouses' names and the approximate divorce date. Say whether you need certification. Include your return address and a phone number. Do not send payment yet. The clerk will call or email you with the exact fee once they locate the case. Then you can pay online or by money order. Personal checks are not accepted in Maricopa County.

Payment options include money order, debit card, or credit card. For online payments, the clerk office sends a payment link once they confirm your fee. In-person payments at any clerk location accept cash, debit, or credit cards. No personal checks at any time. If you need multiple documents or a large file, ask about electronic replication on USB or CD, which costs $35 plus $3 for the media.

Maricopa County Divorce Fees

Copy fees are 50 cents per page. A typical divorce decree runs 5 to 15 pages. Expect to pay $2.50 to $7.50 for an uncertified copy. Certification adds $35 per document. This gives you a raised seal and the clerk's signature. Some agencies require certified copies as legal proof of divorce.

If the clerk office needs to search for your case without a case number, there is a research fee of $35 per year or source checked. This applies when you only have names and approximate dates. If you provide the case number from an online search, you skip this fee. The court minutes database or ECR Online can help you find case numbers for free.

Postage and handling costs $8 when you want documents mailed. This covers the envelope, postage, and processing time. Electronic delivery by email may be available for some documents at no extra charge, but certified copies always come by mail since they need the physical seal. USB or CD copies of full case files cost $35 for the replication plus $3 for the media, totaling $38.

Marriage license copies also come from the clerk office. The fee is $35 plus 50 cents per page. Authentication, which uses three seals, costs $105. Exemplification with two seals costs $70. These special certifications are rarely needed unless you are using the document in a foreign country or federal proceeding.

What Maricopa Divorce Records Show

The final divorce decree is the main document most people need. It states that the court dissolved the marriage. The decree includes the date the divorce became final. Both spouses' names appear at the top. The judge who signed the order is listed. Terms for child custody, support, property division, and debt allocation all appear in the decree. This is the official proof that the marriage ended.

The full case file contains much more. It starts with the petition for dissolution of marriage. The responding spouse's answer follows. Financial disclosures show each person's income, assets, and debts. If children are involved, there may be parenting plans and child support worksheets. Settlement agreements appear if the couple negotiated terms. Court minute entries document what happened at each hearing. Orders on temporary custody or support may be in the file if those issues came up before the final decree.

Some divorce cases also include motions for protective orders, especially in situations involving domestic violence. Subpoenas for financial records, depositions, or expert evaluations might be part of the file if the case was contested. Transcripts from trials or hearings are usually not included unless someone specifically ordered them. The clerk office can tell you what documents exist in a particular case before you order copies.

How Long It Takes

In-person requests often get completed the same day. You wait while the clerk pulls the file and makes copies. This works best if you visit during non-peak hours and the file is readily available. Files stored off-site may take a day or two to retrieve.

Online and mail requests take five business days after payment. The clerk reviews your request, locates the file, makes copies, and sends them. Add time for initial contact and payment processing. From start to finish, expect one to two weeks for mail or online requests. Certified copies take no longer than regular copies once the file is pulled.

Rush service is not available. All requests follow the standard timeline. If you need documents urgently, visiting in person is your best option. Call ahead to confirm the file is on-site and ask about current wait times at the clerk counter.

Who Can Get Divorce Decrees

Divorce decrees are public records in Maricopa County. Anyone can request them. You do not need to be a party to the case. You do not have to explain why you want the record. The clerk will provide copies to any person who pays the fee. This follows Arizona's public records laws and court rules that favor transparency.

Some divorce cases have sealed portions. Cases involving allegations of abuse may have protective orders that restrict certain details. Financial account numbers might be redacted to prevent fraud. If the entire case is sealed, you need a court order to access it. The clerk office can tell you if a case is sealed when you request it. Most divorces are not sealed and remain fully public.

Third-party requesters get the same access as the people who were married. Employers, landlords, researchers, and anyone else can obtain divorce decree copies. The only requirement is paying the fee and providing enough information to locate the case. This openness is standard for civil court records in Arizona.

Help with Divorce in Maricopa

The Maricopa County Self-Service Center helps people who are handling divorce cases without an attorney. The center is located at the downtown court building. Staff answer procedural questions, help fill out forms, and explain court rules. 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.

Community Legal Services offers free legal aid to low-income Maricopa County residents. They handle family law cases including divorce. Their Phoenix office can be reached through clsaz.org. You must meet income guidelines to qualify. If accepted, you get an attorney at no charge. Legal aid focuses on cases involving children, domestic violence, or urgent custody issues.

The State Bar of Arizona runs a lawyer referral service. Call them at 602-252-4804 to get connected with a family law attorney. The first consultation is usually low-cost or free. After that, you pay the attorney's regular rate if you hire them. Some attorneys offer payment plans for people who cannot afford a large retainer upfront.

Arizona Court Help at azcourthelp.org provides free online resources. Forms for divorce are available. Instructions walk you through each step. Videos explain common procedures. The site works for people in all Arizona counties, including Maricopa. It is available 24 hours a day and does not require registration.

Old Maricopa Divorce Records

Divorce records in Maricopa County go back to the 1870s when the county was formed. The clerk office keeps most records from the past 50 years on-site or in near-site storage. Older records may be at the Arizona State Archives. The Archives holds some Maricopa County divorce case files from 1864 to 1972. Not every case from that period is at the Archives. Some remain with the clerk office.

If you need a very old divorce decree, start by calling the clerk office. They can check if the file is still with them. If not, they will tell you to contact the Arizona State Archives. The Archives website at azsos.libguides.com explains their holdings. You can submit a research request to see if they have the case you need.

Older records are often handwritten. The format and information included may differ from modern decrees. Court procedures were different decades ago. Terms like "plaintiff" and "defendant" were used instead of "petitioner" and "respondent." Property division rules changed over time. If you are researching a historical divorce, be ready for records that look very different from current documents.

Maricopa County Cities

Residents of these Maricopa County cities file divorce cases with the Superior Court Clerk:

Nearby Counties

Divorce cases filed in other counties require contacting those county clerk offices: