Maricopa County Court Records
Maricopa County court records are essential documents created or received by the county's Superior, Justice, and City (Municipal) Courts during legal proceedings. According to Rule 123 of the Rules of the Supreme Court of Arizona, a court record can be a photograph, document, sound recording, film, paper, letter, tape, map, or book.
Arizona law (A.R.S. §12-120.09) authorizes clerks of courts to be custodians of court records. It mandates them to maintain all court records securely and provide access to the public and authorized parties as the law requires. However, court records ineligible to be classified as Maricopa County Public Records may be exempt from public disclosure.
Court records hold significant value as they provide insight into the legal history of individuals, businesses, the government, and the community. Journalists and the media may want to view Maricopa County court records to shed light on legal decisions that impact people's lives. Lawyers frequently access court records to prepare for cases by researching past legal decisions and identifying relevant precedents.
Are Court Records Public in Maricopa County?
Yes. Arizona's Public Records Law (A.R.S. Title 39) ensures that most court records in Maricopa County are accessible to the public, except for records deemed confidential by law.
The Supreme Court of Arizona regulates access to court records through A.R.S. Sup. Ct. Rules, Rule 123. According to the rule, court records may be restricted from public access in cases where those records breach or jeopardize confidentiality, privacy, or the state's or public's interest. However, the rule seals specific records by default, such as some adult criminal and juvenile delinquency records and materials used to prepare a judge's final decision.
What Do Maricopa County Court Records Contain?
Maricopa County court records typically contain the following information:
- The personal details of parties involved in a court case, such as names, addresses, and contact information
- Case number and type
- Court location and jurisdiction.
- Names of attorneys and judges involved in a case
- Filing, hearing, and disposition dates
- Complaints or petitions filed by plaintiffs or prosecutors
- Responses or answers filed by defendants or respondents
- Evidence submitted by either party in a case
- Transcripts of court proceedings
- Court orders and judgments
- Docket sheets and other case management documents
Where to Conduct a Maricopa County Case Lookup
Members of the public can conduct a court case lookup in Maricopa County through the following channels:
- The Clerk of the Court's Office
- Online databases provided by the Arizona Superior Courts, the Justice Courts of Maricopa County, Municipal Courts, and the Arizona Supreme Court
How to Conduct a Maricopa County Court Case Search
The courts in Maricopa County offer different methods for requesting and accessing court case records. One can follow the guidelines below to find court records in the county.
The Justice Courts of Maricopa County
To search for case records maintained by the Maricopa justice courts, individuals can follow these steps:
- Identify the courthouse in charge of the case: A person can utilize the case search tool on the Maricopa Justice Courts website to determine where to send a case records search request. Requesters can use a case number or litigant's name to look up basic details, such as the court handling the case, the case type, and the case status. This service is free. However, any information pulled from this site is not considered the official court record.
- Complete the appropriate request form: Specific request forms are available depending on the use of the court documents one wishes to receive. The Access to Court Records Packet contains these forms and instructions for completion. For instance, requesters interested in bulk justice court data must have a Data Dissemination Agreement (DDA) and Certificate of Insurance (CoI) on file with the Justice Courts. The bulk data request form contains instructions for obtaining the DDA and CoI.
- Pay the required fees: The Justice Courts of Maricopa County follows the specifications of ARS §22-281 in establishing fees for court record requests, which include:
- $28 to certify a document
- $.50 per page for case records
- $28 per month for bulk data requests
- $28 for a video/audio recording
- $28 to search up to 10 files (for commercial requests)
Some defendants and requesters may be entitled to a fee waiver or free copies. One may contact the clerk's office for further information.
- Submit the request: The completed request form, required documents, and fee should be sent to the appropriate clerk's office.
The Superior Court of Maricopa County
Individuals seeking to obtain court records from the Clerk of the Superior Court's office must note the following:
- Parties to a case may access Family, Probate, Civil, Criminal, and Tax Court case records through the ECR (Electronic Court Record) Online system, provided they are registered users.
- Non-case parties can view minute entries, case histories, and court calendars online for Civil, Criminal (limited), Family, Probate, and Tax Court case types.
- Requesters who wish to view Family Court or Probate case documents and are not parties to the case can visit the courthouse where a case was heard.
- Requesters must provide their daytime phone number and email address to enable the Clerk's Office to contact them with any questions.
- The Clerk's Office charges a $30 fee per year and name researched if a requester does not have the information required to initiate a court record search.
The Clerk of the Superior Court of Maricopa County offers other ways to obtain court case records besides using online systems or visiting the courthouse. For instance, individuals can send email requests for Maricopa County Superior Court case records or call the clerk's information line at (602) 506-3204 to ask about additional request channels.
Nonetheless, in all cases, requesters must provide relevant information about the case to facilitate a case records search. This information includes the name of the parties involved, the case number, the specific documents being requested, the filing year or date of a case, and the number of pages required.
Generally, requesters can make payments in person via money order, debit/credit card, or cash. Personal checks are not accepted. Copy fees are $0.50 per page; a $30 charge applies to certify any document. Research fees may apply depending on the level of research required.
Municipal Courts of Maricopa County
To obtain Maricopa County municipal court records, individuals or agencies must submit a written records request to the court that heard a case. They may submit the request form in person at the front counter, mail it to the relevant Maricopa Municipal Court, or send it via email. The form must specify the requester's name or agency and the information they seek. The requester must also indicate whether they prefer to pick up the records or have them mailed or emailed. The court will process the request within 7-10 business days, depending on the size of the request.
If a name search is required to obtain case information, the requester will be charged a $17 fee per A.R.S. §22-404. The request may include up to three names per application or three cases per name.
If a requester needs a sealed certified copy of a record, they will be charged a $17 fee for each certification plus the $0.50 per page copy fee, per A.R.S. §12-115. The courts charge $17 to release an audio CD of a court case.
Requesters can contact the municipal courthouse where a case was heard for more information on requesting copies of case documents. Most Municipal Courts in the county provide online, mail, and email search and request options.
The Arizona Supreme Court
Individuals can access the Arizona Supreme Court's Public Access to Court Information website to view details about a case filed in a Maricopa County court. The site provides records from Maricopa County's Superior and Municipal courts with some exceptions.
Requesters can also register and purchase a subscription on the Supreme Court's eAccess portal to obtain Arizona Superior Court case records available to the public.
Maricopa County Civil Court Case Records
Civil court case records in Maricopa County are generated during non-criminal proceedings between disputing parties. Examples of such cases are contract disputes, personal injury cases, evictions, and property disputes.
These records are held by the Clerk of the Superior Court and the Maricopa Justice Courts. Individuals can request access to these records using the guidelines mentioned earlier.
Maricopa County Criminal Court Case Records
Criminal court case records in Maricopa County are created in cases where individuals face prosecution for breaking the law, such as theft, assault, or drug offenses. These records are maintained by the Clerk of the Superior Court, the Municipal (City) Courts, and the Justice Courts of Maricopa County. Members of the public can request criminal court case records by going to the courthouses where cases were filed or using online and mailing methods provided by courts.
How to Get Court Records Online for Free
Several options exist for accessing court records online for free in Maricopa County. For instance, one may access the online case management systems of the Maricopa County Superior Court, the Arizona Supreme Court, and the Justice Courts of Maricopa County to view case records at no cost. However, these databases do not offer access to case documents for free; one can only obtain case information, such as the court location, judge's name, and case status.
Considered open to citizens of the United States, court records are available through both traditional, government sources, and through third-party websites and organizations. In many cases, third-party websites make the search easier as they are not limited geographically or by technological limitations. They are considered a good place to start when looking for a specific record or multiple records. In order to gain access to these records, interested parties must typically provide:
- The name of the person listed in the record. Juveniles are typically exempt from this search method.
- The last known or assumed location of the person listed in the record. This includes cities, counties, and states.
While third-party sites offer such services, they are not government sponsored entities, and record availability may vary on these sites when compared to government sources.
Courts in Maricopa County
Below is an overview of the locations and contact information of the courts in Maricopa County, Arizona:
Maricopa County Justice Courts
Agua Fria
10420 W. Van Buren Street
Avondale, AZ 85323
Phone: (602) 372-8001
Fax: (602) 372-8201
Arcadia Biltmore
620 West Jackson Street
Phoenix, AZ 85003
Phone: (602) 372-6300
Fax: (602) 372-6412
Arrowhead
14264 West Tierra Buena Lane
Surprise, AZ 85374
Phone: (602) 372-2000
Fax: (602) 372-2620
Country Meadows
10420 W. Van Buren Street
Avondale, AZ 85323
Phone: (602) 372-8000
Fax: (602) 372-8024
Desert Ridge
18380 North 40th Street
Phoenix, AZ 85032
Phone: (602) 372-7100
Fax: (602) 372-7912
Downtown
620 West Jackson Street
Phoenix, AZ 85003
Phone: (602) 372-6300
Fax: (602) 372-6406
Dreamy Draw
18380 North 40th Street
Phoenix, AZ 85032
Phone: (602) 372-7000
Fax: (602) 372-7911
East Mesa
4811 East Julep Street, Suite 128
Mesa, AZ 85205
Phone: (602) 506-8117
Encanto
620 West Jackson Street
Phoenix, AZ 85003
Phone: (602) 372-6300
Fax: (602) 372-6414
Hassayampa
14264 West Tierra Buena Lane
Surprise, AZ 85374
Phone: (602) 372-2000
Fax: (602) 372-2523
Highland
222 East Javelina Avenue
Mesa, AZ 85210
Phone: (602) 372-8300
Fax: (602) 372-8301
Ironwood
209 East Pima Street
Gila Bend, AZ 85337
Phone: (928) 683-2651
Fax: (928) 683-6412
Kyrene
201 East Chicago Street
Chandler, AZ 85225
Phone: (602) 372-3400
Fax: (602) 372-3494
Manistee
14264 West Tierra Buena Lane
Surprise, AZ 85374
Phone: (602) 372-2000
Fax: (602) 372-2068
Maryvale
10420 W. Van Buren Street
Avondale, AZ 85323
Phone: (602) 372-8002
Fax: (602) 372-8203
McDowell Mountain
18380 North 40th Street
Phoenix, AZ 85032
Phone: (602) 372-7000
Fax: (602) 372-7910
Moon Valley
18380 North 40th Street
Phoenix, AZ 85032
Phone: (602) 372-7000
Fax: (602) 372-8025
North Mesa
1837 South Mesa Drive
Mesa, AZ 85210
Phone: (602) 372-4900
Fax: (480) 926-7763
North Valley
14264 West Tierra Buena Lane
Surprise, AZ 85374
Phone: (602) 372-2000
Fax: (602) 372-2066
San Marcos
201 East Chicago Street
Chandler, AZ 85225
Phone: (602) 372-3400
Fax: (602) 372-3468
San Tan
201 East Chicago Street
Chandler, AZ 85225
Phone: (602) 372-3400
Fax: (602) 372-3441
South Mountain
620 West Jackson Street
Phoenix, AZ 85003
Phone: (602) 372-6300
Fax: (602) 372-6410
University Lakes
201 East Chicago Street
Chandler, AZ 85225
Phone: (602) 372-3400
Fax: (602) 372-3414
West McDowell
620 West Jackson Street
Phoenix, AZ 85003
Phone: (602) 372-6300
Fax: (602) 372-6408
West Mesa
2050 West University Drive
Mesa, AZ 85201
Phone: (602) 506-8100
Fax: (480) 969-1098
White Tank
10420 W. Van Buren Street
Avondale, AZ 85323
Phone: (602) 372-8003
Fax: (602) 372-8205
Municipal Courts
Avondale City Court
11325 West Civic Center Drive
Avondale, AZ 85323
Phone: (623) 333-5800
Fax: (623) 333-0580
Buckeye Town Court
21749 West Yuma Road, Suite 101
Buckeye, AZ 85326
Phone: (623) 349-6510
Fax: (623) 349-6511
Carefree-Cave Creek Consolidated Court
37622 North Cave Creek Road, Suite B
Cave Creek, AZ 85331
Phone: (480) 488-1689
Fax: (480) 595-9610
Chandler Municipal Court
200 East Chicago Street
Chandler, AZ 85225
Phone: (480) 782-4700
Fax: (480) 782-4752
El Mirage City Court
14010 North El Mirage Road, Suite C
El Mirage, AZ 85335
Phone: (623) 815-2186
Fountain Hills Municipal Court
16705 East Avenue of the Fountains
Fountain Hills, AZ 85268
Phone: (480) 816-5103
Gila Bend Municipal Court (shares facilities and resources with the Ironwood Justice Court)
209 East Pima Street
Gila Bend, AZ 85337
Phone: (928) 683 - 2781
Gilbert Municipal Court
55 East Civic Center Drive
Gilbert, AZ 85296
Phone: (480) 635-7800
Glendale City Court
5711 West Glendale Avenue
Glendale, AZ 85301
Phone: (623) 930-2400
Fax: (623) 937-8860
The Goodyear Municipal Court
14455 W. Van Buren Street, Suite B-101
Goodyear, AZ 85338
Phone: (623) 882-7200
Fax: (623) 932-6936
Tempe Municipal Court(also serves as the Town of Guadalupe Municipal Court)
140 East Fifth Street
Tempe, AZ 85281
Phone: (480) 350-8271
Litchfield Park Court
214 W Wigwam Boulevard
Litchfield Park, AZ 85340
Phone: (623) 935-7091
Fax: (623) 535-1831
Mesa Municipal Court
250 East 1st Avenue
Mesa, AZ 85210
Phone: (480) 644-2255
Fax: (480) 644-2927
Paradise Valley Municipal Court
6517 East Lincoln Drive
Paradise Valley, AZ 85253-4399
Phone: (480) 404-7000
Fax: (480) 404-7025
Peoria City Court
10100 North 83rd Avenue
Peoria, AZ 85345
Phone: (623) 773-7400
Fax: (623) 773-7407
Phoenix Municipal Court
300 West Washington Street
Phoenix, AZ 85003-2103
Phone: (602) 262-6421
Fax: (602) 534-3628
City of Scottsdale - City Court
3700 North 75th Street
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
Phone: (480) 312-2442
Fax: (480) 312-2764
Surprise City Court
16081 N Civic Center Plaza, Suite 105
Surprise, AZ 85374-7476
Phone: (623) 222-4800
TTY: (623) 222-4802
Fax: (623) 222-4801
Tolleson Municipal Court
8350 W. Van Buren Street
Tolleson, AZ 85353
Phone: (623) 474-4975
Wickenburg Town Court
155 North Tegner Street, Suite B
Wickenburg, AZ 85390
Phone: (928) 684-5451
Fax: (928) 684-0749
Youngtown Municipal Court
12038 Clubhouse Square
Youngtown, AZ 8536
Phone: (623) 972-8226
Fax: (623) 933-4952
Superior Court of Maricopa County
Central Court Building
201 West Jefferson
Phoenix, AZ 85003
Phone: (602) 506-3204
Other Superior Court locations can be obtained from the Maricopa County Judicial Branch's website.
