In Yavapai County, several county offices are responsible for maintaining public records in physical and digital formats. The Yavapai County Superior Court, along with the Justice Court, Clerk of the Superior Court, Yavapai County Community Health Services, Sheriff’s Office, Recorder’s Office, Assessor’s Office, and other designated entities maintain and manage different types of public records. These records include court documents, vital records, criminal records, property records, and more, which are accessible to the public with certain restrictions and exemptions in place.
Yavapai County Court Records
Yavapai court records cover the following types of legal documents:
- Court orders
- Court judgements
- Transcripts
- Judgment summaries
The Clerk of the Superior Court of Yavapai County is the main responsible for preserving court records in Yavapai. The Justice of the Peace also plays an important role in preserving and managing court records from the Justice Court through the court clerks.
Are Court Records Public in Yavapai County?
Per Arizona Public Record Law, Yavapai County court records are accessible to the members of the public. That being said, some exemptions exist due to privacy and security reasons. These include:
- Protective orders: Access to protective orders is restricted until proof of service has been filed with the court.
- Juvenile records: This covers information on termination of parental rights, dependency, and adoption.
- Judicial work product: Draft decisions and personal notes made by judges are considered confidential and are not available for public inspection.
- Unofficial verbatim recordings: These are not released for public viewing.
- Psychiatric case records: Psychiatric case files are subject to strict confidentiality
- Records on sexually violent, dangerous, or incompetent individuals: Such records are kept confidential for privacy concerns. Only eligible parties can access this information.
You can search for public court records in Yavapai through the Public Access Case Lookup database by the Arizona Judicial Branch. You can also visit public terminals at Yavapai County Superior Court locations:
- Camp Verde: 2840 N. Commonwealth Dr., Camp Verde, AZ 86322
- Juvenile Justice Center: 1100 Prescott Lakes Pkwy., Prescott, AZ 86301
- Prescott: 120 S. Cortez St., Prescott, AZ 86303
County Courts
The main courts of Yavapai County are the Superior Court and the Justice Court.
The Superior Court possesses general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases (e.g. divorce, felonies, misdemeanors, probate-related cases, etc.).
The Justice Court, on the other hand, has only a limited scope and shares jurisdiction with the Superior Court over cases of misdemeanors for which the potential amount of penalty does not surpass $2,500 or a six-month-long imprisonment. The Justice Court also has original jurisdiction over rather minor civil cases of below or equal to $10,000.
Civil Court Records
The Clerk of the Superior Court in Yavapai County maintains records for various civil cases, such as contract disputes, property issues, debt collection, personal injury claims, divorces, and evictions.
You can access these civil records through different methods:
- In-person: Visit the Clerk’s office during business hours to request a case search.
- By mail: If you prefer the mailing method, send document copy requests to:
Yavapai County CourthouseClerk of Superior Court120 S. Cortez, Room 207Prescott, AZ 86303
Ensure to include case number (if you know it) and party names. Keep in mind that you might be required to pay the mandatory fee for the copies.
- Online: Use the Arizona Judicial Branch portal for unofficial civil court records.
Some records may be restricted or redacted due to sensitive content. The Clerk’s office can provide information on document availability and associated fees.
Probate Court Records
The Superior Court is the main legal entity responsible for handling probate matters in Yavapai County. Such matters include the administration of wills, handling estates without valid wills (intestate succession), appointing guardians for minors or incapacitated adults, and managing conservatorships for individuals unable to handle their financial affairs. If you are looking for probate records in Yavapai, you can access them through the Public Access Case Lookup database. Alternatively, you can visit the Yavapai County Superior Court’s Clerk.
Keep in mind that the probate records that contain sensitive or financial information may be restricted from public access.
Criminal Records in Yavapai County
In Yavapai County, criminal records by managed by the Sheriff’s Office. To obtain these records:
- Submit a written request by mail or in person
- Include the appropriate Public Data Request Form (Non-commercial or Commercial)
- Pay a $5 fee via check or money order
Requests can be delivered to any substation or mailed to:
Yavapai Sheriff’s Office
Law Enforcement Records Section
1015 Fair Street
Prescott, Arizona 86305
To obtain criminal court records, you can also use the Arizona Public Access to Court Information service website for non-confidential statewide records. Alternatively, you can visit the Clerk of the Superior Court, which maintains records for various case types including criminal cases.
Arrest Records in Yavapai County
As of 2022, Yavapai County reported 845 criminal incidents; 225 of these were violent crimes and 620 were property crimes. Larceny thefts (408) and aggravated assaults (200) were the most common offenses.
Arrest records in Yavapai County document the legal process of restricting an individual’s freedom when they are suspected of committing a crime or to prevent potential criminal activity.
Under Arizona Public Records Law, most arrest records in Yavapai County are openly accessible to members of the public. The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office and local law enforcement agencies maintain these records. However, certain exceptions exist:
- Information about crime victims (unless consented to or the crime occurred at their address)
- Personal information of law enforcement personnel
- Sealed or expunged records
Typical information in Yavapai County arrest records includes:
- Arrestee’s name, aliases, and physical description
- Details of the arrest (offense type, date, location)
- Arresting agency
- Bail conditions and booking number
Several methods are available to find Yavapai County arrest records:
- State level: Arizona Department of Corrections Rehabilitation and Reentry’s online inmate record repository
- Federal level: Federal Bureau of Prisons online database
- Local level: Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office inmate search portal
To request arrest reports, individuals can contact the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office in person or by mail. A $5 search fee applies, covering the first ten pages of the report.
In Yavapai County, judges issue arrest warrants based on evidence of criminal involvement or failure to appear in court. These warrants remain active indefinitely until the suspect is arrested or the judge cancels them. To search for arrest warrants, contact the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office or use the Arizona Judicial Branch’s online search portal.
Expungement of Arrest Records
If you meet the eligibility criteria, you can petition to seal your arrest record by filing a motion with the Superior Court. For criminal convictions, the petition must be filed with the court that handled the original case.
Under Arizona Revised Statute §13-911, you may be eligible to seal arrest records if:
- You were arrested but charges were not filed or were later dismissed
- You completed your sentence and all required conditions after a conviction
- Your case was dismissed by the court or you received a favorable verdict
To expunge arrest records in Yavapai County, follow the below steps:
- Complete the expungement petition form, including:
-
- Personal information (name, address, email, birth date)
- Arrest details and case number (if applicable)
- Status of any outstanding court fees
- Proof of completed sentence/probation conditions
- Submit the form to the appropriate county court
- The court will review the petition within 30 days, during which time the prosecutor may object and request a hearing.
For dismissed charges, you can petition immediately. For convictions, waiting periods apply:
- Class 2 or 3 felonies: 10 years
- Class 4, 5, or 6 felonies: 5 years
- Class 1 misdemeanors: 3 years
- Class 2 or 3 misdemeanors: 2 years
Keep in mind that certain charges cannot be expunged in Yavapai County. These include:
- Sex crimes
- Class 1 felonies
- Violent offenses
- Crimes involving deadly weapons or firearms
Vital Records in Yavapai County
Vital records in Yavapai County include birth, death, marriage, and divorce records.
Marriage and Divorce Records
The Yavapai County Clerk of the Superior Court is the main entity responsible for maintaining dissolution of marriage records. The Clerk of Court maintains the official records for all family court cases in the jurisdiction, including those that have been concluded, such as finalized divorces.
You can request such copies using the Arizona Public Access to Court Information service. Alternatively, you can make a request in person at the following address:
Yavapai County Courthouse
Clerk of Superior Court
120 S. Cortez, Room 207
Prescott, AZ 86303
Ensure to provide the necessary details (e.g. the names of the divorcees and the filing date) to start the process.
Marriage records can also be obtained by submitting a request to the Yavapai Superior Court Clerk’s office. Similar to the process of dissolution of marriage records search, the Arizona Public Access to Court Information might also be useful for looking for marriage records.
Birth and Death Records
While birth and death records are maintained by public agencies, their access is limited. Only the individual named in the record, their immediate family members (parents, spouse, or siblings), or those with legal authorization can obtain these documents. If you are eligible to access these records, you should complete the birth or death certificate application request at the Community Health Service.
Ensure to provide the filled-out form, a photocopy of the requestor’s ID, evidence of relationship, and a stamped, self-addressed envelope, and pay the required fee. Then, mail this package to:
Yavapai County Community Health Services
1090 Commerce Drive
AZ 86303
(928) 771-3125
Property Records in Yavapai County
Property records in Yavapai County are maintained by two primary offices, Assessor’s and Recorder’s:
Assessor’s Office
This office is responsible for property discovery, listing, and valuation, and provides public assessment information.
To request records through the Assessor’s Office, make sure to mention:
- Owner’s name
- Property address
- Sales history information
Fees range from $0.25 to $1 per page, with potential additional charges.
Contact:
Yavapai County Assessor’s Office
1015 Fair Street
Prescott, AZ 86305
Phone: (928) 771-3220
Recorder’s Office
This office takes care of records like liens, deeds, and deeds of trust since January 1, 1953.
It has two main locations:
- Prescott Office:1015 Fair StreetPrescott, AZ 86305Phone: (928) 771-3244
- Cottonwood Office:10 South 6th StreetCottonwood, AZ 86326Phone: (928) 639-5807
Both offices can be contacted via email at [email protected] address.
Accessing Yavapai County Public Records Online
The Arizona Judicial Branch provides online access to court records through the Public Access Case Lookup database, which includes civil and criminal records for Yavapai County. For property records, the Yavapai County Assessor’s Office offers public assessment information, while the Recorder’s Office maintains records such as liens, deeds, and deeds of trust since January 1, 19531. Marriage and divorce records can be obtained from the Yavapai County Clerk of the Superior Court, either in person or through the Arizona Public Access to Court Information service. Vital records such as birth and death certificates are managed by the Yavapai County Community Health Services. For criminal history information and arrest records, individuals can contact the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office or use their online inmate search portal. The Yavapai County Superior Court’s Clerk maintains probate records, which can be accessed through the Public Access Case Lookup database or by visiting their office.
Address and Contact Information
| Legal Entity Name | Address | Phone Number | Website |
| Yavapai County Superior Court | 120 S. Cortez St., Prescott, AZ 86303 | (928) 771-3312 | Website |
| Yavapai County Clerk of Superior Court | 120 S. Cortez, Room 207, Prescott, AZ 86303 | (928) 771-3312 | Website |
| Yavapai County Community Health Services | 1090 Commerce Drive, Prescott, AZ 86303 | (928) 771-3125 | Website |
| Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office | 1015 Fair Street, Prescott, Arizona 86305 | (928) 771-3260 | Website |
| Yavapai County Assessor’s Office | 1015 Fair Street, Prescott, AZ 86305 | (928) 771-3220 | Website |
| Yavapai County Recorder’s Office (Prescott) | 1015 Fair Street, Prescott, AZ 86305 | (928) 771-3244 | Website |
| Yavapai County Recorder’s Office (Cottonwood) | 10 South 6th Street, Cottonwood, AZ 86326 | (928) 639-5807 | Website |