How To Find Court Records In Arizona

CourtCaseFinder can help users search Arizona court records from state courts across counties and cities such as Phoenix, Tucson, Mesa, and Scottsdale. When accessible, searches may return information from publicly available records, such as criminal cases, police reports, lawsuits, bankruptcies, liens, judgments, inmate data, and certain driving-related offenses.

Court records are official documents created by courts during legal proceedings. They are generally available to the public and can provide details such as case numbers, parties involved, filing dates, charges, dispositions, and sentencing, when applicable.

If you are unfamiliar with the court system, CourtCaseFinder can also provide information to help you understand the types of courts, the records they may keep, and how to find them through official channels.

How To Access Arizona Public Court Records

If you want to avoid visiting multiple websites, CourtCaseFinder can help you search for Arizona court case information from different courts in one place, when available. Still, for the most complete and official results, you can go directly through government services, either online, in person, or by mail, each with its own process, fees, and limits.

Online

You have two main official options when accessing Arizona court records online:

• Arizona Judicial Branch - Public Access to Court Information

• • Allows you to search case information from many Municipal and Justice Courts (177 courts statewide).
  • You can search by name or case number.
  • Results may include case type, charges, dispositions, and hearing dates.
  • Some cases and courts, such as sealed or juvenile cases, are excluded.

• Arizona eAccess Portal - Superior Court Records

• • Lets you access Superior Court case documents online.
  • Requires registration and payment.
    • Pay-As-You-Go: $10 per document
    • Subscriptions: $80/month (20 documents) to $10,000/month (5,000 documents)
  • Not all Superior Courts participate. Maricopa and Pima Counties have separate systems.

In Person

If you visit the courthouse where the case was filed, you can:

• Fill out a Copy Request Form (one per case).
• Submit your request to the Clerk's Office during business hours.
• Pay any required fees (generally $0.50/page and an additional $17 for certified copies).

Example - Arizona Court of Appeals (Division One):

1501 W. Washington Street, Suite #203, Phoenix, AZ 85007

Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (closed on state holidays)

(602) 452-6700 | inform@appeals.az.gov

Some records can only be viewed in the Clerk's Office viewing room, and large requests may not be ready immediately.

By Mail

You can also request Arizona court records by mail if you cannot visit in person. To do this:

• Contact the Clerk's Office of the court handling the case to confirm the mailing address, fees, and required forms.
• Complete the court's Copy Request Form (one per case).
• Include payment by check or money order in the correct amount.
• Provide your contact details in case court staff need to confirm information.

Processing times can vary depending on the court's workload. Calling ahead helps ensure you send the correct fees and avoid delays.

Arizona Court Records: What is Public and What is Not?

Under the Arizona Public Records Law, you have the right to access court records that are generally open to the public. This law is intended to promote transparency and accountability in government by allowing the public to review records of judicial proceedings, unless they are specifically restricted by law.

When available, Arizona public court records may include:

• Case numbers and filing dates
• Names of parties involved
• Case type (civil, criminal, traffic, etc.)
• Charges or claims filed
• Court orders and rulings
• Hearing dates and outcomes
• Sentencing details (for criminal cases)

However, certain court records are restricted under Arizona Rule 123. These may include:

• Juvenile dependency and adoption cases
• Criminal history and psychiatric evaluations
• Mental health proceeding records
• Employee personnel files
• Security plans and sealed bids
• Judges' notes and drafts
• Juror's personal information
• Protective order filings

If you are unsure whether a record is public, you can contact the Clerk of the Court where the case was filed to confirm its availability.

Who Oversees the Courts in Arizona?

In Arizona, the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) oversees all state and county courts. It operates under the Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court, currently Chief Justice Ann A. Scott Timmer. Through the AOC, you benefit from a court system that runs efficiently, consistently, and in compliance with the law.

The AOC's key duties include:

• Developing statewide court policies and procedures
• Providing technical assistance to courts
• Managing case management systems
• Overseeing probation programs
• Offering training for judges and court staff
• Coordinating programs like Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and the Foster Care Review Board (FCRB)

It also manages budgets, legislative relations, and divisions such as certification and licensing, juvenile justice, education, and IT.

What Types of Courts Exist in Arizona?

Arizona's court system is structured into three main levels: limited jurisdiction courts, general jurisdiction courts, and appellate courts. Each court type has specific authority, or jurisdiction, over certain case types. The table below outlines these courts, their jurisdiction, and the kinds of cases they handle.

Court Type	Jurisdiction	Common Case Types
Justice of the Peace Courts / Justice Courts	Limited Jurisdiction: Civil disputes under $10,000; landlord/tenant disputes; misdemeanor crimes; certain felony hearings; traffic and small claims under $3,500	Evictions, misdemeanor offenses, initial felony appearances, preliminary felony hearings, collections, traffic tickets, small claims
Municipal (City) Courts	Limited Jurisdiction: Violations of city ordinances, misdemeanors, and traffic offenses	Traffic violations, misdemeanor crimes, and local ordinance violations
Superior Court	General Jurisdiction: All cases not assigned to another court; higher-value civil cases; major criminal cases; family law; probate; special proceedings	Divorce, legal separation, paternity, guardianship, real property disputes, civil cases over $1,000, felony trials, nuisance actions, and naturalization
Court of Appeals	Appellate Jurisdiction: Reviews cases from the Superior Court; three-judge panels decide appeals	All properly appealed Superior Court decisions except death penalty cases
Arizona Supreme Court	Appellate Jurisdiction - Court of Last Resort: Final authority on Arizona law; discretionary review of most appeals; mandatory review in death penalty cases	Death penalty appeals, attorney discipline, judicial discipline, procedural rule-making for all courts

What Federal Courts Are In Arizona?

Federal courts in Arizona handle cases involving federal laws, the U.S. Constitution, disputes between states, or cases where the United States is a party.

Unlike state courts, which handle most criminal, family, traffic, and civil matters under state law, federal courts focus on cases under federal jurisdiction, such as immigration, bankruptcy, federal crimes, and constitutional issues.

Federal Court	Jurisdiction	Location & Contact Information
U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona	The state's only federal trial-level court. Hears cases involving federal laws, the U.S. Constitution, treaties, bankruptcy, federal crimes, civil rights violations, disputes between citizens of different states (over $75,000), and cases where the U.S. government is a party.	Phoenix Division: 401 W. Washington St., Suite 130, SPC 1, Phoenix, AZ 85003-2118 Phone: 602-322-7200 Website: www.azd.uscourts.gov Tucson Division: 405 W. Congress Street, Suite 1500 Tucson, AZ 85701-5010 Phone: 520-205-4200 Yuma Division: 98 West 1st Street, Yuma, AZ 85364 Phone: 928-329-4766 Flagstaff Division: 123 N. San Francisco Street, Suite 200, Flagstaff, AZ 86001 Phone: 928-774-2566 Grand Canyon - CVB (Central Violations Bureau) Matters Only: Magistrate Court Building Phone: 928-774-2566 Kingman - CVB Matters Only: Bureau of Land Management, 2755 Mission Boulevard, Kingman, AZ 86401 Phone: Not Available Page - CVB Matters Only: Wahweap Ranger Station Phone: 928-774-2566
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Arizona	Handles bankruptcy cases filed under federal bankruptcy law.	Phoenix Division: U.S. Courthouse and Federal Building, 230 North 1st Avenue, Suite 101, Phoenix, AZ 85003 Phone: 602-682-4000 or 800-556-9230 Website: www.azb.uscourts.gov Tucson Division: James A. Walsh Federal Courthouse, 38 South Scott Avenue, Ste 100, Tucson, AZ 85701 Phone: 520-202-7500 or 800-556-9230 Yuma Division: John M. Roll U.S. Courthouse, 98 West 1st Street, 2nd Floor, Yuma, AZ 85364 Phone: 928-261-4500 or 800-556-9230 Flagstaff Division: U.S. Magistrate Courtroom, AWD Building, 123 North San Francisco Street, Flagstaff, AZ 86001 Phone: 602-682-4000 or 800-556-9230 Bullhead City Division: Mohave County Superior Court, 2225 Trane Road, Courtroom R, Bullhead City, AZ 86442 Phone: 602-682-4000 or 800-556-9230

Arizona's federal courts are also part of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. If you appeal a case from a federal district court in Arizona, it will be reviewed by the Ninth Circuit, which holds sessions in one of its four courthouses in San Francisco, Portland, Pasadena, or Seattle.

How Many Cases Are Handled Annually in Arizona Courts?

Arizona courts process over 1.7 million case filings annually, averaging approximately 7,000 cases filed per working day across all court levels statewide. The court system demonstrates consistent high-volume case processing, with traffic-related matters comprising the largest category. The table below shows the typical annual case distribution by court type.

Court Type	Case Type	Approx. Annual Volume
Supreme Court	All appellate matters	~800
Court of Appeals	Division One appeals	~2,600
Court of Appeals	Division Two appeals	~620
Superior Court	Civil cases	~49,000
Superior Court	Criminal cases	~45,000
Superior Court	Domestic relations	~41,000
Superior Court	Protection orders	~16,000
Superior Court	Juvenile dependency	~3,800
Superior Court	Juvenile delinquency	~5,700
Justice Courts	Criminal misdemeanors/felonies	~94,000
Justice Courts	Protection orders	~8,400
Justice Courts	Harassment injunctions	~6,100
Justice Courts	Other matters*	~624,000
Municipal Courts	Criminal misdemeanors	~151,000
Municipal Courts	Civil/Criminal traffic	~578,000
Municipal Courts	Domestic violence petitions	~11,700
Municipal Courts	Harassment injunctions	~6,000
Municipal Courts	Other matters*	~70,000

*Other matters include civil cases, traffic violations, and other case types not categorized explicitly in the source data.

How Do I File a Case in Arizona Courts?

Filing a case in Arizona requires following a set of steps to submit documents correctly. Whether civil, criminal, family, or small claims, knowing the process helps avoid mistakes. Here's a simple five-step guide with actions, links, and expected fees:

Pick the Right Court and Case Type

Identify whether your matter belongs in Justice/Municipal Court (limited sums, small claims, evictions, misdemeanors) or Superior Court (family, probate, most felonies, higher-value civil). If you're unsure, use the statewide Self-Service Center overview and AZCourtHelp's "Find My Court".

Get the Official Forms

Download statewide forms (civil, family, probate, small claims, etc.) from the Arizona Self-Service Center. Many packets include step-by-step instructions. Courts may have local versions, so check your county's site if noted on the form page.

Choose How You'll File (Online, in Person, or by Mail)

You may submit your documents through:

• Online (when available): Use eFileAZ (statewide e-filing portal). E-filing is mandatory for attorneys in the Superior Court and is available for many case types to others; see the current availability and training resources. Some counties also list additional e-filing options (e.g., Maricopa's portals for specific case categories).
• In person / By mail: File at the clerk's office for your court. AZCourtHelp lists locations and contact links if you need to confirm local procedures.

Pay Filing Fees (Or Request a Waiver/Deferral)

Filing fees in the Arizona Superior Court vary by case type. For most civil cases, the initial filing fee is $252, while responses typically cost $148. Domestic relations cases, such as divorce, legal separation, or annulment, generally cost $261 to file and $172 to respond. Probate and guardianship cases usually have a $191 filing fee.

Certain filings, such as orders of protection, injunctions against harassment, and adoptions, have no fee. You can review the full fee schedule and any upcoming changes on the Arizona Court Filing Fees page.

If you cannot afford to pay court filing fees, visit the Fee Waiver and Deferral page to explore possible options available to you.

Serve the Other Party and Track Your Case

After filing, complete service of process per Arizona rules and monitor deadlines and hearings. You can look up many cases through Public Access Case Lookup and (for Superior Court) view/purchase documents via eAccess (subscription or per-document). Availability varies by case type and court.

How Is the Arizona Court System Unique?

Arizona's court system is unique because it is integrated but decentralized, operating at the state, county, and city levels. Courts work together as one system while keeping local control to meet community needs.

You also have access to specialty courts such as Drug, DUI, Domestic Violence, Veterans Treatment, Homeless, Animal Welfare, Community, and Mental Health Courts. These courts focus on rehabilitation and support, offer alternatives to jail, and provide programs that address the root causes of problems while helping people make positive changes.

Arizona Courthouses, Sheriff's Offices, Police Departments, Jails, & Prisons

• Apache
• Cochise
• Coconino
• Gila
• Graham
• Greenlee
• La Paz
• Maricopa
• Mohave
• Navajo
• Pima
• Pinal
• Santa Cruz
• Yavapai
• Yuma

Where to Find Additional Information About Arizona Courts?

• Limited Jurisdiction Courts
• General Jurisdiction Courts
• Selection of Judges - AZ Courts
• How a Case Moves Through the Court System
• Judicial Pinal County Online
• Mohave County Superior Court Website
• Welcome to Yuma County Courts
• Clerk of the Superior Court Santa Cruz County
• Navajo County Arizona Superior Court
• Mesa Municipal Court
• Welcome to the Gila County Courts
• Greenlee County Arizona Court System

FAQs