Flagstaff Family Court Records

Flagstaff family court records are stored at the Coconino County Superior Court, not at any city office. The city sits at over 7,000 feet in the mountains of northern Arizona and serves as the county seat. Residents who need divorce filings, custody orders, or child support documents must go through the county court system. The Coconino County Clerk of Superior Court at 200 N San Francisco St. in Flagstaff holds all family law case files for the area. You can search these records online, visit the courthouse in person, or send a mail request. The Flagstaff Municipal Court does not handle family matters at all.

Flagstaff Municipal Court Does Not Handle Family Cases

A common mistake is going to the Flagstaff Municipal Court for family law matters. The municipal court handles traffic violations, city code cases, and misdemeanors only. It cannot process divorce filings. It cannot hear custody disputes. Child support cases are also outside its reach. Those matters fall under the sole authority of the Coconino County Superior Court. Staff at the municipal court will point you to the county courthouse if you show up with a family case.

The Flagstaff Municipal Court is at 101 W. Cherry Avenue, Flagstaff, AZ 86001. You can call them at 928-213-3000. Hours are Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM. While they can answer questions about traffic tickets and city violations, they have no access to divorce or custody records. For all family court matters, you need the Coconino County Superior Court just a few blocks away.

The Flagstaff Municipal Court website has details about local court services. You will not find family law resources there. The site covers traffic cases, protective orders, and payment options for fines.

Note: Flagstaff Municipal Court can issue protective orders, but the underlying custody and divorce matters still go through Coconino County Superior Court.

Where Flagstaff Residents File Family Cases

Flagstaff residents file all family court cases at the Coconino County Superior Court. The courthouse is at 200 N San Francisco St. in downtown Flagstaff. This building handles all family law hearings. It is also where the Clerk of Superior Court keeps records. Divorce petitions, custody motions, and support orders all go through this one location. There are no satellite offices for family matters in Coconino County.

The Coconino County Clerk of Superior Court processes all record requests for Flagstaff family court cases. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Copy fees are $0.50 per page for plain copies. Call 928-679-7600 for help with your request. Staff can search for your case and tell you what documents are in the file. They cannot give legal advice, but they can explain the request process.

The law library is also at the courthouse. You can reach it at 928-679-7540 or toll-free at 877-806-3187. Staff there help people find forms and resources for handling their own cases. Many Flagstaff residents use these services when they cannot afford a lawyer. The library has books on Arizona family law and computers for filling out court forms.

Flagstaff Family Court Records Request

The Flagstaff Records Request page covers city records only. It does not handle family court documents. However, the fee structure gives you an idea of what public record costs look like in the area. The city charges a $17 record request fee and $0.50 per page for copies. Standard processing time is five to seven business days.

For family court records, you must go through Coconino County instead. The county clerk charges $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost more. Certification adds the court seal to prove the document is authentic. You may need certified copies for banks, employers, or other agencies. Ask the clerk about current certification fees when you call.

You can request Coconino County family records in person, by mail, or online. In-person requests are fastest. Walk into the clerk office, give them the case name or number, and pay for your copies. Mail requests take one to two weeks. Send a letter with the case details and a check for the estimated fees. The statewide Arizona Courts Public Access Portal lets you search for case info online before you order paper copies.

Flagstaff City Clerk Office

The Flagstaff City Clerk handles city business records. This office manages public records requests for city council meetings, local ordinances, and official city documents. It does not have access to divorce decrees. It cannot pull custody orders. Child support records are not there either. Those files exist only at the county courthouse level.

People sometimes confuse the city clerk with the clerk of court. These are different offices with different jobs. The Coconino County Clerk of Superior Court at 928-679-7600 handles all court records. The Flagstaff City Clerk deals only with city administrative matters. Marriage licenses also come from the county, not the city. Flagstaff does not issue marriage licenses at the city level.

Search Flagstaff Family Court Records Online

Flagstaff family court records are searchable through the Arizona Courts Public Access Portal. This free tool covers 153 out of 180 courts statewide, including Coconino County. You can look up divorce cases, custody matters, and support orders by party name or case number. Results show case status, filing dates, and basic party information. You do not need an account to search.

The portal is available around the clock. Use it from any device with internet access. Some documents may be viewable online. Others require an in-person visit or paid request. The online search helps you find case numbers before ordering paper copies. This saves time at the clerk office. You can also check if a case is still open or has been closed.

The AZ Court Help website has guides for understanding court records. It explains what different case types mean. It shows how to read case documents. The site also has a court finder tool. Use it to get contact info for the Coconino County Superior Court or any other Arizona court. Forms and self-help guides are free to download.

Types of Flagstaff Family Court Records

Divorce records are the most common family court files people request. A Flagstaff divorce case includes the initial petition, any response from the other spouse, financial disclosures, temporary orders, settlement agreements, and the final decree. The decree ends the marriage. It sets out property division, spousal support, and terms for children if any. All papers become part of the permanent court record in Coconino County.

Child custody records use Arizona terms. Legal decision-making covers major choices about a child. These include education, health care, and religious upbringing. Parenting time sets the schedule for when each parent has the child. The parenting plan is a key document. It lists rules both parents must follow. If someone wants to change the plan later, they file a modification. That filing joins the record too.

Child support records show the payment amount ordered by the court. They include income worksheets and support calculations. The Arizona Division of Child Support Services helps enforce these orders. You can reach them at 602-252-4045 or toll-free at 1-800-882-4151. Support orders can change if there is a big shift in circumstances. The file will show the original order and any later changes.

Paternity records prove who the legal father is. These cases happen when parents are not married. The file may hold DNA test results or voluntary acknowledgment forms. It might have a court order declaring paternity. Once paternity is set, the court can order support and custody arrangements for the child.

Flagstaff Family Court Legal Resources

Handling a family court case without a lawyer is hard. Many Flagstaff residents do it anyway. The Coconino County Law Library at 928-679-7540 is a good starting point. Staff can point you to forms and guides. They cannot give legal advice, but they can show you where to look. The library has computers for filling out court papers. It has books on Arizona family law too.

Arizona law governs family court matters statewide. Arizona Revised Statutes Title 25 covers marital and domestic relations. This includes marriage, divorce, legal decision-making, parenting time, child support, and paternity. Court access rules come from Arizona Supreme Court Rule 123. That rule controls who can see court records and how. General public records laws do not apply to court files.

Legal aid groups may help if you meet income limits. Ask the law library for contact info. Some lawyers offer free consultations. Others have reduced fees for simple cases. Do not skip getting help if you feel lost. Family court orders affect your life for years. Custody arrangements determine where your children live. Support orders control your finances. Getting these things right matters a lot.

Flagstaff Family Court Filing Fees

Filing fees for Flagstaff family court cases follow the statewide Arizona schedule. The Arizona Courts Fee Schedule sets the rates. As of late 2024, Class A filings cost $330. Class B filings cost $165. Divorce petitions fall into one of these classes. Response fees and other filings have their own costs.

Copy fees at Coconino County are $0.50 per page. Certified copies with the court seal cost more. Call 928-679-7600 to ask about current certification fees. Certified copies prove a document is authentic. Banks and other agencies often want them for official business. Plain copies work fine for personal reference.

Fee waivers are available for people who cannot afford court costs. You fill out an application that shows your income and expenses. The judge reviews it and decides if you qualify. If approved, you can file without paying fees upfront. Forms for fee waivers are at the clerk office. They are also on the AZ Court Help website. Do not let money stop you from filing a needed case.

Coconino County Family Court

All Flagstaff family court records are held by Coconino County. The county serves one of the largest geographic areas in the entire United States. Despite the huge land area, most family court filings come from Flagstaff. The courthouse at 200 N San Francisco St. handles everything. For full details about court locations, fees, forms, and procedures, visit our main county page.

Flagstaff is the only major city in Coconino County that meets our population threshold. Other towns like Page, Williams, and Sedona are smaller. All of them file family cases through the same Coconino County Superior Court in Flagstaff.

Other Arizona Cities

Flagstaff is in northern Arizona, far from the Phoenix metro area where most of the state's population lives. If you need family court records from another part of Arizona, the case file will be in whichever county heard the case. Records do not transfer when you move. Below are some major Arizona cities with family court information.