In Maricopa County, public records are maintained by various county offices in both physical and digital formats. The Maricopa County Superior Court, Justice Courts, Municipal Courts, Sheriff’s Office, Clerk of Superior Court, Recorder’s Office, and Office of Vital Registration all preserve different types of public records. These offices handle a wide range of documents, such as court records, property information, vital statistics, and law enforcement data.
Court Records in Maricopa County
The Clerk of the Maricopa County Superior Court is responsible for maintaining dockets and providing the public with access to the records. You can search various types of court records by using any of the methods below:
- Online through the Public Access to Court Information website
- Visiting the courthouse in person
Court records in Maricopa are generally public, as mandated by the Arizona Supreme Court Rule 123 and §12-304. However, there are some exceptions, such as juvenile and adoption records, mental health information, etc.
You can access traffic and misdemeanor, probate, evictions, civil suits, appeals, protective orders, and numerous other types of court records through the Maricopa County Court Records Case Search Tool. Details to include in your query include a name, business, and case number. You don’t have to pay a fee to use this tool. However, keep in mind that these records are not official, and only the court can provide you with direct access to Maricopa County judicial records.
If you would like to visit the courts in person, here is comprehensive information on Maricopa County justice court locations. Keep in mind that you will be required to pay a fee to access these court records (as specified in ARS §22-281).
- Case files cost $.50/page
- Certifications cost $28.00/document
- Audio/video recordings cost $28.00/hearing
- The search fee for commercial requesters is $28.00 (covering up to 10 files)
- A bulk data disc is $28.00/month
Courts are open on weekdays, from 8.00 AM to 5.00 PM, except on state holidays.
The Court System in Maricopa County
The court system in Maricopa County has the following structure:
- Superior Court with multiple locations
- 26 Justice Courts
- 23 Municipal Courts
The Maricopa County Superior Court is the general jurisdiction court in Maricopa County. It has the right to make rulings on a large number of cases, except those that are exclusively assigned to other courts. The Superior Court has several specialized departments, including civil, criminal, family, probate, tax, and juvenile.
Justice Courts and Municipal Courts in Maricopa County have rather limited jurisdiction compared to that of the Superior Court. They have the authority to handle civil lawsuits up to $10,000, small claims, evictions, orders of protection, traffic cases, etc. Municipal Courts, on the other hand, mainly handle city ordinance violations, misdemeanors, and traffic offenses within their municipalities.
Civil Court Records
Civil court records in Maricopa County are generated during proceedings for cases such as contract disputes, personal injury claims, divorce and family law cases, property matters, evictions, etc. If you need to access civil court records in Maricopa County, you can use any of the below methods:
- Visit the Clerk of the Superior Court’s office in person at one of their locations during business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM).
- Use the online Public Access to Court Information system provided by the Arizona Judicial Branch, where you can search for case information by name or case number.
- Access the Electronic Court Record (ECR) Online system, which provides registered users with access to documents for cases they are directly involved in. Attorneys can access cases where they are on record, while individuals can access cases where they are a party.
- Submit an Online Records Request Form for more complex records or if you are unable to locate the information through other means.
- Use the eAccess portal provided by the Arizona Supreme Court, which offers access to Superior Court case records for a fee.
Some records may require fees for copies or certification. Additionally, certain records may be restricted or sealed and not available for public access.
Probate Court Records
The Maricopa County Adult Probation Department is part of the Judicial Branch of Arizona in Maricopa County, Arizona. It is responsible for overseeing and providing probation services in Maricopa County.
If you need to access probation information, you can simply contact the Maricopa Adult Probation Department.
Mailing Address:
PO Box 3407
Phoenix, AZ 85030-3407
Monday-Friday
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM(602)-506-7249
Alternatively, you can contact the Maricopa County Adult Probation Department locations or the Probation Violation Court at (602)-372-0427. Another option is to search for records on any probationer in the state of Arizona with a statewide search.
Criminal Records in Maricopa County
Criminal records in Maricopa County are open to public access. There are several ways to access these records.
Maricopa County Superior Court
The Clerk of the Maricopa County Superior Court is the main entity responsible for maintaining records of all court proceedings, including criminal records. You can access these records in two ways:
- Online Case Search Tool: Use the court’s free Case Search Tool to query records by name, business name, or case number. However, these are not considered official court records.
- Contacting the Court: For official court records, you’ll need to contact the court directly. Visit the Maricopa County Interactive Elections Map to find the appropriate court location.
Arizona Department of Public Safety (ADPS)
The ADPS is the central repository for state criminal records in Arizona. This department offers checks for three main types of records:
- Criminal History Records
- Public Records Unit (for DPS-related records)
- Department Records Unit
To request a record review of your own criminal history, contact the Criminal History Records Section at (602)-223-2222. You’ll receive a packet with instructions and a fingerprint card. The process is free and takes about 15 days.
State and Federal Resources
Additional resources for criminal record searches include:
- Arizona Department of Corrections (ADC): This department has a dedicated Arizona State Criminal Records Search Tool, which you can use to discover whether or not someone has a criminal record. The tool is free of charge. Moreover, interested parties can submit a record request to get these criminal records for a small fee.
- State of Arizona Sex Offender Registry: Search for convicted sex offenders using the Arizona Sex Offender Search Tool.
- Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP): Arizona has as many as 6 federal facilities. Interested parties can find inmates held in these facilities since 1982. They can use the Federal Criminal Records Search Tool free of charge.
Arrest Records in Maricopa County
Arrest records in Maricopa County can be obtained through law enforcement agencies. You can use any of the methods below:
Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO)
The MCSO is the primary custodian for arrest records in the county. They offer two main tools:
- Maricopa County Inmate Lookup Tool: Search using booking number or name and date of birth
- Maricopa County Mugshot Lookup Tool: Find mugshots and booking information.
With these tools, you can find free arrest history reports including:
- Name of inmate
- Booking number
- Case number
- Bond amount
- Arresting agency
City Police Departments
You can also obtain arrest records from city police departments within Maricopa County. Some major departments include:
- Phoenix Police Department: (602)-262-6151
- Mesa Police Department: (480)-644-2323
- Scottsdale Police Department: (480)-312-5000
- Chandler Police Department: (480)-782-40001
Some departments maintain online jail rosters, while others require direct contact for inmate information.
Online Search
For other cities in Maricopa County, you can perform a Google search using the format: “[city name] [state] arrest records” which will take you to reports about recent arrests.
Remember that arrest records are not the same as criminal records, as they pertain to individuals who have been taken into custody but not necessarily convicted of a crime.
For both criminal and arrest records, it’s important to note that access may be restricted for certain records (e.g. juvenile or sealed records). Always check the most current procedures and requirements when requesting these records.
Maricopa County Vital Records
Birth and Death Records
If you are looking to obtain birth and death records in Maricopa, you can order them from the Maricopa County Health Department – Office of Vital Records. They accept both in-person and mail-in requests.
If you opt for in-person requests for Birth and Death Records, then please keep in mind that, for now, you can make in-person requests only for changing or updating AZ birth certificates or registering home births. 4 locations across the valley are open during business hours on workdays, except for holidays. You can call 602-(506)-6805 to schedule an appointment.
If you prefer the mail method to request Birth and Death certificates:
- You can complete the Maricopa County Health Department birth certificate request form for birth record request (Spanish).
- You should fill out the death certificate request form for death record requests (Spanish).
You can request certificates of birth that resulted in stillbirth and fetal death records by using the Maricopa County Health Department fetal death certificate request form (Spanish).
Be prepared to pay the required fees to obtain the copies.
- Mail your application (including a signed, valid government ID with both pages, proof of your relationship with the registrant, proof of payment, and self-addressed envelope to:
- MCOVR (Maricopa County Office of Vital Registration)
PO Box 2111
Phoenix, AZ 85001
Birth records and certificates in Maricopa County can also be ordered through the VitalChek portal or via a mail request to the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) – Vital Records. Only Maricopa County citizens who are 18 years or older can order certified copies of birth certificates.
Marriage Records
If you would like to know if someone is married, you can check this information by visiting or writing to the Maricopa County Superior Court – Clerk of the Court.
If you are opting for a mail & walk-in request method to obtain marriage records in Maricopa, ensure to include the following information:
- The full legal name of each applicant who is on the marriage certificate, along with the year of the marriage, and the marriage license number.
- You also need to mention if the request includes a name change with the Social Security Administration (SSA) for a more speedy and effective delivery.
- Ensure to include a money order which has to be paid to the “Clerk of the Court” for certified copies of marriage records.
- Include a business-size self-addressed envelope. If you don’t include this in the package, then the money order will be $37.50 (to include postage and handling). Ensure to include in your money order the customer’s name, address, and phone number information.
Send the written request to the following address:
Correspondence Section
Clerk of the Superior Court
201 W. Jefferson Street
Phoenix, AZ 85003
You can also make walk-in requests to any of the Maricopa County clerk’s office locations.
Keep in mind that these requests will be processed within 7-10 business days.
If you prefer making an online request for marriage records, then the process will be exactly like that for offline requests. The only exception is that, when making an online request, the requester will now need to submit the information by completing the Maricopa County marriage request form.
Divorce Records
You cannot obtain divorce records in Maricopa online. To make a request, you should contact the Maricopa County Superior Court – Clerk of the Court.
You will need to indicate if you are looking for a divorce decree for the property settlement or a custody agreement. Additionally, you will need to mention if the decree involves a name change with SSA. Then, the Clerk of the Court will decide what the required fees are based on the nature of your request. Payments to the Clerk’s Office can be made through a money order, or through debit/credit card. The fees for the copies are $0.50 per page. Certification is done at an additional cost. To learn more, check out the tutorial on obtaining divorce details in Maricopa County, Arizona.
Property Records in Maricopa County
Property records in Maricopa County can be obtained from the Maricopa County Assessor Office. This entity monitors nearly 2 million property parcels (both real and personal) in Maricopa.
You can use the Maricopa County Property Search Tool to access any property information at no cost. Important search details include:
- Parcel Number
- The owner’s name
- Site address
- VIN (Vehicle Identification Number)
Contact the Maricopa County Assessor’s Office at (602)-506-3406 to learn more. Alternatively, you can submit a question using the form.
Maricopa County Assessor’s Office
301 W Jefferson Street
Phoenix, AZ 85003
Accessing Maricopa County Public Records Online
To obtain court records, use the Maricopa County Court Records Case Search Tool or visit the Maricopa County justice court locations. To access criminal and arrest records, contact any of the following entities: Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO), City police departments, Maricopa County Superior Court, Arizona Department of Public Safety, Arizona Department of Corrections, the State of Arizona Sex Offender Registry, and the Bureau of Prisons. Probate records can be obtained from the Maricopa County Adult Probation Department. You can look for Warrant information through the Superior Court of Maricopa County and the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO). If you want to order marriage and divorce certificates, you can contact the Maricopa County Superior Court – Clerk of the Court. Other vital records such as birth and death certificates can be obtained from either the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) – Vital Records or the Maricopa County Health Department – Office of Vital Records. You can find property records by contacting the Maricopa County Assessor’s Office. Alternatively, you can use the office’s Maricopa County Property Search Tool.
Address and Contact Information
| Court Name | Location | Phone Number | Website |
| Maricopa County Superior Court | 201 W. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, AZ 85003 | (602) 506-3204 | Website |
| Maricopa County Justice Courts | Various locations across the county | (602) 506-8530 | Website |
| Phoenix Municipal Court | 300 W. Washington Street, Phoenix, AZ 85003 | (602) 262-6421 | Website |
| Mesa Municipal Court | 250 E. 1st Avenue, Mesa, AZ 85210 | (480) 644-2255 | Website |
| Scottsdale City Court | 3700 N. 75th Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85251 | (480) 312-2442 | Website |
| Chandler Municipal Court | 200 E. Chicago Street, Chandler, AZ 85225 | (480) 782-4700 | Website |
| Gilbert Municipal Court | 55 E. Civic Center Drive #101, Gilbert, AZ 85296 | (480) 635-7800 | Website |
| Peoria Municipal Court | 10100 N. 83rd Avenue, Peoria, AZ 85345 | (623) 773-7400 | Website |