Pima County Courts

With over 1.08 million residents, Pima County accounts for approximately 14.24% of Arizona's total population of 7.6 million. Its court system, structured as a multi-level judiciary, serves the legal needs of both individuals and organizations within the county. The system comprises three principal courts operating across various municipalities and exercising jurisdiction over different types of cases:

• Pima County Superior Court - Oversees serious legal matters, including felony criminal offenses, equitable actions, divorce and annulment, probate matters, and high-value civil disputes.
• Juvenile Division - Handles cases involving individuals under the age of 18, such as juvenile dependency and certain status offenses.
• Tucson, Ajo, and Green Valley Justice Courts - Process lower-level criminal offenses, including misdemeanors and traffic violations, as well as small claims, civil disputes with monetary limits of up to $10,000, and eviction matters.
• Pima County Municipal Courts - Hear civil traffic infractions, misdemeanor traffic offenses, and violations of municipal ordinances and city codes.

Collectively, these courts receive approximately 236,500 case filings and handle around 252,000 case dispositions each year. Of these filings, at least 77,000 involve criminal matters. Additionally, the courts process roughly 2,900 probate cases and around 16,000 domestic relations filings annually, which may include divorce, custody, and child support cases.

How To Access Pima County Court Records

The Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.) § 39-121 establishes the general right of the public to access government records, including those maintained by Pima County courts. While this statute affirms the principle of open records during regular office hours, the specific and authoritative rule governing access to court records is Rule 123. Access to the Judicial Records of the State of Arizona. Under this rule, court records are generally open to the public and may be obtained from the appropriate custodian unless restricted by law or court order. However, to safeguard privacy and sensitive information, records involving juvenile dependency, adoption, juvenile treatment, mental health proceedings, and psychological evaluations are considered confidential and are not available for public inspection.

Individuals seeking to access court records are typically required to provide a case number, party name, or other identifying case information. When requesting certified copies of court records, a valid form of identification may also be required. Anyone may search for Pima County court records using any of the methods outlined below:

Online

Depending on the court level and the type of information sought, Pima County offers several official portals for online access to court records. Through the Arizona Judicial Branch Public Access to Court Case Information portal, individuals may search for basic information in civil, criminal, and juvenile traffic cases by entering a party name, case number, or date of birth. In contrast, the Arizona eAccess Portal provides the option to purchase and download court documents from both civil and criminal cases. However, for Pima County specifically, this portal only offers access to criminal case documents filed on or after July 1, 2015.

Additionally, the Pima County Superior Court maintains two dedicated portals for accessing its records. The Electronic Court Records (ECR) Online Portal enables parties to a case to securely view and download documents filed in their cases. Access may be obtained either through the driver's license validation option or a registered user account. On the other hand, the public may view available case information through the Records Search Page by entering a party name or case number.

Moreover, eviction, small claims, and misdemeanor cases heard in the Pima Justice Courts may be searched through the designated Case Search page. This page allows users to obtain case information by entering a case number, complaint number, or party name.

The Public Access to Electronic Court Records (PACER) system permits access to federal court records for cases filed in Pima County. To access these records, interested parties must create an account and may search by docket title, party name, and case number.

CourtCaseFinder may serve as an alternative method in searching for both recent federal and county court records. This platform provides access to publicly aggregated court records from numerous courts nationwide, including Pima County courts.

In-Person

The Clerk of each court is responsible for the safekeeping of documents filed in connection with cases heard in their respective courts. Accordingly, court records may be reviewed by visiting the appropriate courthouse during regular business hours. Also, individuals may locate court records conveniently by using public access terminals provided at the Clerk's Office.

Municipal Courts in Pima County typically offer a records request form on their websites, which may be completed and submitted in person at the respective Municipal Court. The Superior Court Legal Records Unit, on the other hand, permits the public to request court records in person at 110 W. Congress Street, Room 241, Tucson, AZ 85701. Obtaining copies or certified copies of court records typically involves a fee. In the Justice Courts, individuals may expect to pay $35 for certified copies and $0.50 per page for standard copies. In comparison, copies of Superior Court records also cost $0.50 per page, while certified copies are available for $35 per document.

Old and Archived Court Records

Individuals may access older or closed cases heard in the Justice and Municipal Courts by visiting the specific courthouse where the case was originally filed. However, Superior Court documents filed before 1950 may be available at the Arizona State Archives. Researchers are encouraged to schedule an appointment in advance by calling (602) 926-3720. The Archives is open to the public Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., and is located at:

How To File a Case in Pima County

Determining the appropriate court to handle a case is a critical step before initiating legal action in Pima County. This step may help prevent delays, additional expenses, or even dismissal of the case. Filers may verify whether a court has proper jurisdiction to hear their case by consulting the Clerk of the Court before filing.

In Pima County, individuals may file a case electronically, by U.S. mail, or by placing documents in a designated courthouse drop box. However, Legal Paraprofessionals and attorneys are required to file cases electronically, while Pro Se litigants have the option to either e-file or submit their documents in person at the courthouse. The procedures and policies governing e-filing in Pima County's state courts are primarily outlined in § 1-901 of the Arizona Code of Judicial Administration. This provision specifies which documents attorneys are mandated to e-file and prohibits the e-filing of certain documents in specific case categories.

Pro Se litigants, Legal Paraprofessionals, and attorneys filing a case electronically in Pima County must use a court-approved Electronic Filing Service Provider (EFSP) appropriate for their case type. An EFSP is a public or private entity authorized by the Administrative Office of the Courts to facilitate e-filing services. The two primary EFSPs approved for submitting court documents in the Pima County Superior Court are AZTurboCourt and eFileAZ. Generally, civil case documents may be filed through AZTurboCourt, while criminal and family law case documents must be filed using the eFileAZ system.

The AZTurboCourt system is also authorized for filing certain civil cases in the Pima County Justice Courts. Alternatively, filers may obtain the appropriate court forms from the official website of the Pima County Consolidated Justice Court, complete them accurately, and make copies before filing at the Clerk's Office. It is the filer's responsibility to ensure the defendant is properly served with the complaint or summons by the County Sheriff or a certified private process server. Once service is completed, the server must fill out, sign, and file the original Affidavit of Service to confirm to the court that the defendant was served.

Filing a case in Pima County typically involves a fee, which may vary depending on the court and the type of case. For civil matters, the Justice Courts may charge between $33 and $116, while the Superior Court follows a fee schedule based on the specific case type.

Individuals filing a case in the Superior Court who are unable to afford the associated filing fees may request a fee waiver. To do so through one of the court-approved Electronic Filing Service Providers (EFSPs), the filer must submit the following documentation:

• Confidential Sensitive Data Form
• Application for Deferral or Waiver of Court Fees or Costs and Consent to Entry of Judgment - AOCDFGF1F
• Proposed Order Regarding Deferral or Waiver of Court Fees and Costs and Notice Regarding Consent Judgment - EF-AOCDFGF2F
• Any applicable supporting documentation
• Affidavit in Support of Application for Deferral or Waiver of Service of Process Fees - AOCDFGF3F
• Verification of Party's Receipt of Non-Profit Legal Services (if applicable) - AOCDFGF14F
• The documents intended to be filed

In summary, to file a case in Pima County, individuals must first identify the correct case and court type and may confirm with the Clerk of the Court whether the selected court has jurisdiction over the matter. Whether filing electronically or in person at the Clerk's Office, filers must complete the required forms, pay the applicable filing fees or request a fee waiver, serve the complaint or summons on the defendant, and submit an Affidavit of Service to demonstrate that service was completed.

Legal Help and Self-Help Resources

Legal help and self-help resources play a vital role in promoting access to justice, especially for individuals who cannot afford legal representation and for Pro Se litigants navigating complex legal systems. In Pima County, a variety of these resources are available, including the Law Library, legal clinics, online databases, general legal information websites, and Attorney Referral Services.

The Law Library and Resource Center is designed to assist Pro Se litigants and other members of the public in conducting legal research, locating court forms, and accessing information necessary to address legal matters. The Library's collection of books and periodicals is available both in person and online through its catalog. These materials may serve as valuable resources for individuals focusing on Arizona law and family law. In addition, self-represented litigants may access online legal databases provided by the Library, including HeinOnline, LexisNexis, Gale Legal Forms, and Westlaw. By registering for and participating in Westlaw Patron Access for Pro Se, individuals may remotely access cases, statutes, legal treatises, and court forms commonly used by courts and law firms.

Although Library staff cannot provide legal advice and may offer only limited assistance, individuals may seek help with legal forms through Licensed Legal Paraprofessionals. These professionals are authorized to provide limited legal advice, prepare, sign, and file certain types of court documents, appear in court, and negotiate legal rights. Additionally, interested parties may choose to work with a certified Legal Document Preparer to assist in completing legal forms.

Individuals who cannot afford private attorneys may benefit from a free, one-on-one, 30-minute consultation organized by certain organizations at the Pima Superior Court Law Library, particularly for family law matters such as child support, child custody, divorce, and paternity. To participate in these legal clinics and speak with a lawyer, interested parties must schedule an appointment in advance. The organizations offering these services, along with their appointment days and contact information, are listed below:

Furthermore, income-eligible individuals who cannot afford to hire a lawyer at regular rates may get help from certain legal aid organizations available to Pima County residents. These organizations include:

• Southern Arizona Legal Aid - Provides civil legal aid to individuals who meet their income eligibility guidelines in matters such as housing, domestic relations, consumer issues, and immigration.
• Pima County Bar Association's QUILT Modest Means Program - Provides reduced-fee legal representation for individuals who earn too much to qualify for free legal aid services but too little to afford standard attorney fees.
• Immigration LawHelp - Provides low-cost legal services related to immigration to individuals who meet certain income-eligibility criteria.

Other legal aid resources that may be explored by Pima County residents include:

• American Bar Association Free Legal Answers
• Emergency Eviction Legal Services
• Arizona Law Help
• Law for Veterans

Types of Courts in Pima County, Arizona

Pima County residents are served by several levels of courts, including the Arizona Superior Court, Justice Courts, and various Municipal Courts, each with jurisdiction over specific types of cases. In addition, federal courts located within the county handle criminal and civil matters that fall under federal jurisdiction. The jurisdiction of these courts and their contact information are listed below:

Arizona Superior Court in Pima County

• Jurisdiction - felony criminal matters, civil cases involving claims of $10,000 or more, probate proceedings, family law matters such as divorce and child custody, as well as appeals from lower courts in criminal cases. Additionally, this court has a juvenile division that handles juvenile matters.
• Contact Information -

Pima County Superior Court

Pima County Juvenile Court

Justice Courts in Pima County

• Jurisdiction - civil actions in which the amount in dispute is $10,000 or less, civil and criminal traffic cases, small claims, certain misdemeanors, and evictions.
• Contact Information -

Pima County Consolidated Justice Court

Green Valley Justice Court

Ajo Justice Court

Municipal Courts in Pima County

• Jurisdiction - civil traffic cases, criminal misdemeanor offenses, preliminary hearings to determine probable cause in felony cases, and city and town ordinance violations.
• Contact Information -

Marana Municipal Court

Sahuarita Municipal Court

Oro Valley Town Court

Tucson City Court

South Tucson City Court

Federal Courts in Pima County

United States District Court for the District of Arizona - Tucson Division

• Jurisdiction - firearms violations, white collar crimes, drug trafficking, federal employment disputes, immigration offenses.
• Contact Information -

United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Arizona (Tucson Office)

• Jurisdiction - all bankruptcy filings for organizations, municipalities, and individuals.
• Contact information -

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Pima County Courts