Arizona Court Records Search

Arizona Court Records & Case Lookup

Arizona courts adjudicate over 1.6 million cases yearly, amounting to over 6,000 cases filed in Arizona courts daily. Civil and criminal court cases account for over 305,000 and 390,000 cases filed at the courts within the year. Likewise, Arizona courts preside over 875,000 traffic cases, 79,000 domestic relations cases, and 9,000 juvenile cases annually.

Generally, Arizona court records are open records per the state's Public Records Act and may be accessed by anyone on request. However, certain court records may be exempted from the public to protect sensitive information or the privacy of the individuals named on the court document.

The Arizona Judicial Branch provides a state-wide repository to look up court records from 177 courts out of the 184 courts in the state. Court records from the 7 outstanding courts are accessible on the county's respective websites.

State of Arizona Court System

Arizona's court system consists of over 180 courts, organized into the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Superior Courts, Justice Courts, and Municipal Courts. The Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal are the state's appellate courts. The Court of Appeal, with two Divisions, is Arizona's intermediate appellate court, having jurisdiction over all cases appealed from the Superior Court.

The Supreme Court is Arizona's highest court, handling appeals from lower courts. Parties unsatisfied with the decision from Arizona's lower courts may petition Arizona's court of last resort, the Supreme Court, to review the case.

Arizona Trial Courts

The trial courts are courts of original jurisdiction that hear cases for the first time. Arizona's trial courts examine evidence, hear witness testimonies, and render verdicts based on facts and law. The following are Arizona's trial courts:

Superior Courts in Arizona

The Superior Court is Arizona's primary trial court of general jurisdiction. The Superior Courts preside over a wide range of cases, from felony criminal cases to civil cases involving claims above $10,000, family law matters, probate cases, and juvenile matters. Superior Courts also handle appeals from limited jurisdiction courts. The Tax Court is a specialized department under the Superior Courts that handles tax-related cases across the state. The court offers taxpayers a judicial forum to resolve issues related to local and state tax laws.

Justice of the Peace Courts in the State of Arizona

Justice Courts manage cases that do not require extensive legal review associated with Superior Courts, such as traffic violations, landlord-tenant issues, and minor criminal offenses. The courts have limited jurisdiction over criminal cases, such as assault and battery, DUI, underage drinking, rad checks, violations of orders of protection, felony preliminary hearings, and harassment. It presides over criminal offenses punishable by a jail term of not more than six months or by a fine of not more than $2,500.

Justice of Peace Courts has original jurisdiction over civil lawsuits for claims under $10,000. Justice Court in Arizona has a Small Claims Courts that presides over civil disputes for amounts below $3,500. The number of Justice Courts per county typically depends on its population. Consequently, larger counties, like Maricopa, have up to 26 Justice of Peace Courts.

Arizona Municipal Courts

Arizona Municipal Courts focus on cases arising within city limits. The court presides over city ordinances and code violations. It deals with lawsuits involving traffic violations, such as driving under the influence, reckless driving, hit-and-run, and other petty offenses. Municipal Courts handle minor disputes such as landlord-tenant or property issues within the city. It also presides over lawsuits relating to city-level domestic violence protective orders.

What are the Specialty Courts in Arizona?

Arizona's specialty courts are problem-solving courts. They are designed to address specific cases, focusing on solving the root cause of the problem instead of resorting to punishment. Specialty courts offer an alternative to incarceration by providing treatment, counseling, and rehabilitation. Specialty Courts in Arizona include:

• Drug Courts
• DUI Courts
• Veterans Treatment Courts
• Homeless Courts
• Domestic Violence Courts
• Animal Welfare Courts
• Community Courts
• Mental Health Courts

Arizona State Court Records vs. Federal Court Records

Generally, Arizona state court records and federal court records are public records from judicial proceedings. However, both records are different. Arizona state courts handle cases involving state laws. It addresses disputes arising under state statutes. Arizona court records are accessible online through the state's judicial branch and at the courthouse where the case was filed.

Federal courts handle cases relating to the violation of federal law, including federal criminal cases, constitutional issues, and disputes between residents of different states. Federal case records are accessible nationwide through Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER). Federal court records are also accessible in person at the federal courthouse in Arizona - the United States District Court for the District of Arizona.

What Are Public and Non-Public Court Records in Arizona?

Court records are generally classified as public records in Arizona. Public court records are accessible to the general public without restrictions. However, certain court records are non-public based on legal standards and privacy considerations. Non-public court records are documents that have been sealed or restricted from public access due to privacy concerns, sensitive information, or legal protections.

How To Seal or Expunge Arizona Court Records

Section 13-911 of the Arizona Statute provides the legal framework for sealing court records in the state. Sealing or expunging court records serves as a legal remedy to protect Arizonians from the long-term consequences of criminal records. Sealing and expunging court records limits public access to the records.

Sealing court records hides the record from the public. Government agencies and law enforcement offices may still access the record. Expungement, on the other hand, erases the record as if it never existed. Most Arizona court records may only be sealed, as the state only provides only for the expungement of qualifying marijuana offenses.

Not all Arizona court records qualify for sealing. Certain court records cannot be sealed in Arizona, regardless of whether the individual has fulfilled all the terms of their sentence imposed by the court. Court records ineligible for sealing include:

• Sex trafficking as contained in ARS 13-1307
• Convictions for violent or aggravated felonies per ARS 13-706
• Class 2, 3, 4, or 5 felony convictions
• Offenses involving the use of a deadly weapon
• Convictions from dangerous offenses, including those involving weapons or offenses causing serious harm to others under ARS 13-704
• Dangerous crimes against children, including sexual offenses and acts of violence, as contained in ARS 13-705
• Offenses involving situations where the offender knowingly inflicts serious physical injuries on another person

How To Seal Court Records in Arizona

Individuals may petition the courts to seal their court records if they meet certain conditions as contained in Section 13-911 of the Arizona Statute. Per the law, the following persons may seal their case records relating to a criminal offense under the following circumstances:

• The individual was convicted and has fulfilled all sentencing terms, including monetary obligations and victim restitution
• The convicted person has not been convicted of any other offenses
• The person was charged, but the charges were dismissed, or they were found not guilty at trial.
• The person was arrested, but no formal charges were filed.
• The waiting period has elapsed. Generally, the waiting period depends on the class of offense. Class 2 and 3 misdemeanors have a waiting period of 2 years, 3 years for Class 1 misdemeanors, and 5 years for Class 4, 5, and 6 felonies. The waiting period for Class 2 or 3 felony is 10 years.

Persons interested in sealing their court records must do so at the appropriate court, typically at the court where the person was convicted. Petitioners may complete the Petition to Seal Criminal Case Records form to begin the process. The judge reviews the petition to seal the records and may schedule a hearing if necessary. If the judge approves the petition, the courts issue an order to seal all records relating to the petitioner's arrest, conviction, and sentencing.

How To Expunge Marijuana Court Records in Arizona

Arizona law permits the expungement of certain marijuana-related court records. Per Section 36-2862 of the Arizona Statute, persons qualified for expungement may have been arrested, charged, and sentenced for any of the following:

• Possessing, using, or carrying up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana
• Owing, transporting, or cultivating not more than 6 marijuana plants for personal use in a private residence
• Possessing, using, or transporting equipment used for growing, producing, or consuming marijuana.

Eligible persons may file a petition to expunge the records in the court where the case was adjudicated. The court may approve or deny the petition within 45 days. If the request is approved, the court sends copies of the order to the arresting agency, prosecutor, defense attorney, and the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS). The DPS enters the court's judgment into the case management system. This removes the case from online searches as all paper records.

How Do You Access State of Arizona Court Records?

The Arizona Judicial Branch provides electronic access to court records. Likewise, court records are accessible at the courthouses across the state. Access to court records at the courthouse may require mail requests or in-person visits to the exact courthouse where the case was tried.

Online Access to Arizona Court Records

Arizona offers online resources and databases for accessing court records, including:

• Arizona Judicial Branch's Public Access to Court Information Portal: It provides access to a statewide database of court records. The portal includes records on civil, criminal, family, and probate cases. While few counties in Arizona do not have their records on this portal, their records are accessible on the county's website.
• Arizona Judicial Branch's eAccess: The portal provides access to Superior Court records for general civil and criminal lawsuits filed from July 1st, 2010.

In-Person Access To State of Arizona Court Records

Arizona courts permit individuals to obtain case documents at the courthouse where the case was filed. The Clerk of Court is the county's record custodian. Interested persons may access the records by visiting the courthouse or mailing requests. Some Arizona courthouses provide public access terminals where record seekers may search and view court records. Other counties may require searchers to fill out appropriate forms requesting the record.

All requests for court records require the record seeker to provide relevant information on the case record to ensure the right record is retrieved. Typically, searchers must furnish the record custodian with the case name or number to locate the record. There are varying fees to retrieve the record. The cost depends on the county of request and the number of copies requested.

How To Request Judicial Administrative Records

Judicial administrative records relating to the daily operation and administrative functions of the courts are accessible from the Administrative Office of the Courts. Interested persons may request the record in person or by mail at:

Record seekers may also contact the office at (602) 452-3300 to request the records.

How To Access Older and Archived Court Records in Arizona

Arizona law requires court records 50 years and older to be transferred to the state's archives. Therefore, older court records filed after 1950 are accessible at the Clerk of Superior Courts Office in the county where the case was tried. All court cases filed before 1950 are available at the Arizona State Archives. Interested persons may also access older and archived court records by emailing a request or in person at the Archives location at: