Mohave County Divorce Records

Divorce decree records in Mohave County come from the Superior Court Clerk offices located in Kingman, Lake Havasu City, and Bullhead City. The clerk maintains all divorce case files for the county, with records dating back to when the county was established in 1864. Anyone can request copies of divorce decrees by visiting an office in person, calling during business hours, or submitting a written request by mail or email. Standard copy fees are 50 cents per page with a $35 certification charge if you need an official sealed copy. The clerk office handles domestic relations cases including dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment proceedings filed in Mohave County courts.

Mohave Superior Court Clerk Offices

Mohave County runs three clerk office locations to serve different parts of the county. The main office sits in Kingman at the county seat. Two regional offices operate in Lake Havasu City and Bullhead City. All three locations handle divorce decree requests. You can go to whichever office is most convenient for you. Each office has the same access to all Mohave County divorce records through the court computer system.

The Kingman office is at 415 E. Spring Street, P.O. Box 7000, Kingman, AZ 86402. Phone is 928-753-0713. This is the largest office and the main location for most court operations. Staff here can search for any divorce case filed in Mohave County. They pull records from current files and archived storage if needed. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. The office closes for state holidays.

Lake Havasu City has an office at 2001 College Drive, Lake Havasu City, AZ 86404. Call them at 928-453-0701. This office serves the western part of Mohave County. Many residents find this location easier to reach than driving to Kingman. The staff can handle all the same record requests as the main office. Hours match the Kingman schedule.

The Bullhead City office is located at 2225 Trane Road, Bullhead City, AZ 86442. Phone number is 928-758-0730. This location serves the northern part of the county near the Nevada border. It is the closest office for people in communities like Fort Mohave and Mohave Valley. Staff can retrieve divorce records for the whole county from this location too.

To find detailed information about clerk services and online options, check the official Mohave County Clerk of Superior Court website which lists procedures for all three offices.

Note: All three offices can access the same case files, so pick the one closest to where you live or work.

How to Get Divorce Decrees

Mohave County offers several ways to request divorce decree copies. The fastest method is visiting one of the three clerk offices in person. Bring a photo ID and the case number if you have it. If you do not know the case number, give the clerk the full names of both spouses and an approximate divorce date. Staff will search the case index and locate the file. They make copies while you wait in most situations. You pay the fees at the counter and leave with your documents the same day.

Phone requests work well when you already know the case number and just need a simple copy. Call the clerk office from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday at 928-753-0713 extension 4089. Tell the staff what you need. They will calculate the total fee including copies, certification if you want it, and postage if you want them mailed. You can pay by credit card over the phone. They mail the documents to you within 5 to 7 business days after processing your payment.

For email requests, send your information to clerkofcourt@mohavecourts.com. Include the case number or names of both parties, the approximate date of the divorce, and whether you need a certified or regular copy. Put your mailing address in the email. The clerk staff will respond with the total fee and payment instructions. Once you pay, they process the request and mail the documents. This method takes about the same time as phone requests.

Fax requests are accepted at 928-718-4930. Write "Attn: Research Clerk" on the cover page. Include all the same details you would send by email. The clerk office will fax or mail a response depending on what you request. Faxing works best for short documents. Longer case files usually get mailed because faxing many pages is not practical.

You can learn about current fee amounts and request procedures on the Mohave County court records request page which the clerk office keeps updated with the latest policies.

Divorce Decree Copy Fees

Copy fees in Mohave County follow state guidelines. Plain copies cost 50 cents per page. A typical divorce decree runs 5 to 15 pages, so expect to pay $2.50 to $7.50 for an uncertified copy of just the final decree. If you want the entire case file with all the pleadings and motions, the page count goes much higher and so does the cost.

Certification adds $35 to your total. A certified copy includes a raised seal and the clerk's signature. Some agencies like the Social Security Administration or passport offices require certified copies as proof of divorce. If you are just checking information for yourself, a regular copy usually works fine and costs less.

When the clerk office does not have a case number and must search for your case by name, a research fee of $35 applies. This covers the time it takes staff to go through court indices and locate the right file. You avoid this charge if you provide the case number when you make your request. Many people find their case number first by searching the Arizona Public Access system online, then they call the clerk with that number ready.

Postage and handling cost $8 when you want documents mailed to you. This flat fee covers the envelope, postage, and processing time. It applies whether you get 3 pages or 30 pages mailed. Some requests require extra postage if the file is very large, but the clerk will tell you that before they send it.

Payment methods include credit cards, money orders, and cashier's checks. Personal checks are generally not accepted. When you pay by phone or online through the county payment system, you use a credit or debit card. In-person payments can be cash, card, or money order. Always ask the clerk to confirm the exact total before you send payment by mail so you include the right amount.

The Mohave County filing fees page shows all current charges for court services including copy fees and certification costs.

Note: Fees can change when the state updates its statutory fee schedules, so check the county website for the most current rates.

Search Divorce Cases Online

Mohave County participates in the Arizona Public Access Case Lookup system. This free tool lets you search for divorce cases by name or case number. Go to the state court website and pick Mohave County from the list. Type in a party name. The system shows results with case numbers, filing dates, and case status. This does not give you the actual divorce decree, but it helps you find the case number you need before you contact the clerk office.

The Arizona eAccess portal offers another online option. Register for an account at azcourtdocs.gov. Search for Mohave County cases. When you find your divorce case, you can see a list of all filed documents. Click on the final decree or any other document you want. The portal charges $10 to download each document. This is a separate fee from what the clerk office charges. You pay by credit card and get a PDF file immediately.

Keep in mind that eAccess downloads are not certified copies. If you need certification, you still have to go through the clerk office. The online download works well when you just need a quick copy for personal reference or to review what the decree says before ordering a certified version.

Some older Mohave County cases may not be in the online systems yet. Records from the 1980s and earlier are sometimes only available by contacting the clerk office directly. They can search paper archives and microfilm if needed. This takes more time than pulling up a recent electronic record, so allow extra days for processing if your divorce is from many years ago.

Information in Divorce Files

A divorce decree is the final order signed by a judge that ends the marriage. It states that the marriage is dissolved. The decree includes the divorce date, which is when the judge signed it. Both spouses are named. The decree spells out terms for property division. It says who gets which assets and who pays which debts. If there are minor children, the decree covers custody arrangements, parenting time, and child support amounts.

The complete case file has more than just the decree. It starts with the petition for dissolution that one spouse filed to begin the case. The other spouse filed a response. There may be temporary orders for support or custody that were in place during the case. Financial affidavits show income, assets, and debts for each spouse. If the couple settled without a trial, the settlement agreement is in the file. If they went to trial, minute entries or a judgment after trial will be there.

You can request any part of the case file. Some people only want the final decree because that is the legal proof the divorce happened. Others need the whole file to see details about property division or custody. The clerk charges per page, so a full file costs more than just the decree. Think about what you actually need before you request everything.

Certain information might be sealed or redacted. Cases with domestic violence protective orders sometimes have restricted access to addresses or other details. Financial account numbers may be blocked out to prevent identity theft. Most divorce decrees are public records, but ask the clerk if you run into access issues with a particular case.

Mohave County Divorce Process

To file for divorce in Mohave County, at least one spouse must live in Arizona for 90 days before filing. You file the petition at the Superior Court in Kingman, Lake Havasu City, or Bullhead City. The petition starts the case. The other spouse gets served with papers and has 20 days to respond if they live in Arizona, or 30 days if they live out of state.

Arizona uses no-fault divorce. You do not have to prove your spouse did something wrong. The legal ground is that the marriage is irretrievably broken. This means you and your spouse cannot fix the problems. One spouse claiming this is enough even if the other disagrees. The court will grant the divorce based on this ground alone.

If both spouses agree on all terms, you can file a consent decree. This speeds up the process. The judge reviews the agreement and signs the decree if everything meets legal requirements. The whole case might finish in 60 to 90 days. If you disagree on custody, property, or support, the case takes longer. You may go through mediation or a trial. Contested divorces can take six months to over a year depending on how complex the issues are.

Arizona is a community property state. Assets and debts from the marriage get split fairly between spouses. Fair usually means 50-50, but the court can adjust the split based on specific circumstances. Separate property like what you owned before marriage stays with you. The decree will list exactly what property each spouse gets and what debts each spouse owes.

Child custody decisions use the term "legal decision-making" in Arizona. The decree says who makes major decisions about school, health care, and religion for the children. It also sets a parenting time schedule. Child support follows state guidelines based on income and number of children. The decree includes the support amount and how long payments continue.

Cities in Mohave County

Mohave County includes several communities across its large geographic area. Lake Havasu City is the largest city with over 50,000 residents and has its own clerk office location. Other communities like Kingman and Bullhead City also have substantial populations. Residents of any city in Mohave County file divorce cases through the county Superior Court system regardless of which city they live in.

Nearby Arizona Counties

Mohave County borders several other Arizona counties. If your divorce was filed in a different county, you need to contact that county's clerk office instead.