Lake Havasu City Family Court Records

Family court records in Lake Havasu City are kept at the Mohave County Superior Court, not the city level. If you need divorce papers, custody orders, or child support documents for Lake Havasu City cases, you must go through the county system. The good news is that Mohave County runs a satellite office right in Lake Havasu City at 2001 College Drive. This saves you a long trip to Kingman for many tasks. The Lake Havasu City Municipal Court deals with traffic and minor crimes only. It plays no part in family law cases at all. Every divorce, custody fight, or support case from Lake Havasu City goes to the Mohave County clerk.

Mohave County Manages Lake Havasu Family Cases

Arizona state law gives county courts control over all family matters. City courts like the Lake Havasu City Municipal Court lack the power to hear divorce or custody cases. This means every Lake Havasu City resident who wants to file for divorce, ask for custody, or set up child support must use the Mohave County Superior Court system. The main clerk office sits at 415 East Spring Street in Kingman, Arizona 86402. That is about an hour drive from Lake Havasu City. The good news is that Mohave County has made things easier for local residents.

The county runs a branch office in Lake Havasu City at 2001 College Drive. You can reach this office at (928) 453-0701. Staff there can help you with many tasks. They accept filings for family cases. They can look up case info. They make copies of court records. The branch office keeps the same hours as the main office in Kingman. This saves Lake Havasu City residents a lot of drive time.

For questions about record copies or research fees, you can also call the main Kingman office at (928) 753-0713 extension 4089. The email for the clerk is clerkofcourt@mohavecourts.com. You can fax requests to (928) 718-4930. Mail goes to Clerk of Superior Court, Attn: Research Clerk, 415 East Spring Street, P.O. Box 7000, Kingman, Arizona 86402-7000.

What Lake Havasu City Municipal Court Does

The Lake Havasu City Municipal Court handles a limited set of cases. Traffic tickets make up most of the work. Misdemeanor crimes also go through this court. The court can deal with some protective orders. But it has no role in divorce, custody, or child support cases. If you call the municipal court about family records, staff will tell you to contact Mohave County instead. The city court and the county court are two separate systems with different jobs.

Visit the Lake Havasu City Municipal Court website to see what services they offer and learn more about their limited case types.

The Lake Havasu City Municipal Court is at 92 Acoma Blvd S, Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403. The phone number is 928-732-0024. You can email the court at lakehavasumunicipalcourt@courts.az.gov. The lobby is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Staff there are helpful but cannot look up family court records since those files stay at the county level only.

How to Search Lake Havasu Family Records

You have a few ways to find family court records for Lake Havasu City cases. The Arizona Courts Public Access Portal covers 153 of 180 courts in Arizona. This includes Mohave County Superior Court. You can search by name or case number from any computer with internet access. The portal shows basic case data like filing dates, party names, and case status. It may not let you view all documents online. Some papers need an in-person trip to get copies.

For deeper searches, the Mohave County Clerk records page explains how to request copies. You can do this by phone, fax, email, mail, or in person. The staff can search for records even if you lack a case number. Having names and dates helps. The more details you give, the faster they can find what you need.

In-person searches work well if you are in Lake Havasu City. Stop by the branch office at 2001 College Drive. Bring the names of both parties and any dates you know. If you have a case number, the lookup goes much faster. Staff can pull records from their system and print copies on the spot. You pay for copies at the counter.

Types of Family Court Records in Lake Havasu City

Divorce records make up a big chunk of family court files. These cases start when one spouse files a petition. The file grows to hold the response from the other spouse, financial forms, and any motions filed along the way. The final decree is the order that ends the marriage. It says how property gets split and whether anyone pays spousal support. Arizona uses community property rules. Most things bought during the marriage get divided in half. Debt splits too.

Custody records in Arizona use special terms. Legal decision-making means the right to make big choices about a child. This covers school, health care, and religion. Parenting time is the schedule of when each parent has the child. Lake Havasu City parents who break up need a parenting plan on file with Mohave County Superior Court. The plan sets out where the child lives and when visits happen. If either parent wants to change the plan later, that request also goes in the case file.

Paternity cases prove who the legal father is. The file may contain DNA test results, a signed acknowledgment form, or a court order naming the father. Once paternity is set, the court can order child support and create a parenting plan. Child support records show how much is owed and track payment history. The Arizona Division of Child Support Services helps enforce support orders across the state. You can reach them at 602-252-4045 or 1-800-882-4151.

Note: Adoption and juvenile records are kept sealed and are not open to the public under Arizona law.

Lake Havasu City Clerk Office

The Lake Havasu City Clerk handles city government records. This includes meeting minutes, city ordinances, and public documents tied to city business. The city clerk does not keep family court records. Those belong to Mohave County. If you call the city clerk about divorce papers, they will send you to the county office. It is a common mix-up.

Check out the Lake Havasu City Clerk website for city government documents and services.

The city clerk can help with things like public records requests for city council actions. They handle business license info and other city matters. Just know that family law records are not in their system. The Mohave County Clerk of Superior Court holds all divorce, custody, and support files for Lake Havasu City.

Record Fees for Lake Havasu Family Cases

Mohave County charges $0.50 per page for plain copies of family court records. Certified copies cost $30 per document. You pay at the counter if you visit in person. For mail requests, send a check or money order payable to the Clerk of Superior Court. The Lake Havasu City branch office at 2001 College Drive accepts the same payments as the main Kingman office.

Credit cards work at both locations. Cash and checks are fine too. If you ask staff to do a detailed search without a case number, there may be extra research fees. Having good info about the parties and dates can cut down on search time and cost. The AZCourtPay portal also handles some court fee payments online for those who prefer that method.

Arizona Family Law for Lake Havasu Residents

Arizona Revised Statutes Title 25 sets the rules for all family law in the state. This covers marriage, divorce, custody, support, and paternity. Lake Havasu City residents follow the same laws as everyone else in Arizona. There are no city rules for family court matters. The only difference between counties is how busy the court calendar gets and some local procedures. Mohave County handles a steady flow of family cases from Lake Havasu City and the rest of the county.

To file for divorce in Lake Havasu City, at least one spouse must have lived in Arizona for 90 days. You file in the county where you or your spouse lives. Arizona allows no-fault divorce. You do not need to prove your spouse did something wrong. You just state that the marriage is broken with no chance to fix it. After one spouse files and the other gets served, the court must wait at least 60 days before it can finalize the divorce. This waiting period applies even if both sides agree on everything.

Child support follows state guidelines based on income. The court looks at what each parent earns, health insurance costs, daycare costs, and the parenting time schedule. The formula aims for fair support that meets the child's needs. Either parent can ask to modify the order if income or needs change a lot. You file that request with Mohave County Superior Court. The Division of Child Support Services can help enforce orders and collect past-due support.

Self-Help Resources for Lake Havasu Cases

AZ Court Help is a free statewide site with guides and forms for family court matters. It covers divorce, custody, support, and more. The site has step-by-step instructions for common tasks. It points you to the right forms for your case type. For Lake Havasu City residents, the site links to Mohave County Superior Court resources. This is a good place to start if you plan to handle your own case.

Mohave County does not have a large law library like some bigger counties. But the court website has forms and instructions. You can find many family court forms on the Mohave County Courts website. The self-service center in Kingman can answer basic questions. Staff cannot give legal advice, but they can point you to the right forms and explain filing steps.

If you need more help than self-service can provide, think about talking to a lawyer. The State Bar of Arizona has a lawyer referral service. Legal aid groups may help if you meet income limits. Some Lake Havasu City residents drive to Las Vegas or Phoenix to find lawyers who handle Arizona family law. The internet makes it easier to work with a lawyer who is not right in town.

Filing Family Cases in Lake Havasu City

To start a family case in Lake Havasu City, you file with Mohave County Superior Court. The Lake Havasu City branch at 2001 College Drive accepts new filings. You can also file in Kingman if you prefer. The initial filing fee depends on the case type. Dissolution of marriage with children costs around $350 to $400. Fees change, so check with the clerk for the current amount. Fee waivers exist for people who cannot afford to pay.

Most family filings require several forms. You need a petition that states what you are asking for. You may need a summons to serve on the other party. Financial disclosure forms are required in divorce and support cases. Parenting plans are needed when children are involved. The court website has packets that bundle these forms by case type. Read the instructions with each form. Fill out every required section. Missing info can delay your case.

Note: Mohave County accepts e-filing for family cases, which lets you submit forms online without a trip to the office.

Mohave County Court Locations

Mohave County has three clerk office locations. Lake Havasu City residents usually use the local branch at 2001 College Drive, Lake Havasu City, AZ 86404. The phone there is (928) 453-0701. This office handles most tasks you would do at the main office. It is the closest option for people in the Lake Havasu area.

The main office is at 415 East Spring Street in Kingman. That is where the central court records are stored. Phone is (928) 753-0713. If you have a complex request or need old records, the Kingman office may be your best bet. The third location is at 2225 Trane Road in Bullhead City. Phone is (928) 758-0730. That office serves the western part of the county.

Other Mohave County Areas

Lake Havasu City is the only city in Mohave County with more than 50,000 people. Bullhead City, Kingman, and other towns are smaller. All family court cases from anywhere in Mohave County go through the same Superior Court system. The files end up with the Mohave County Clerk of Superior Court. If you need records from a case filed by someone who lived in Kingman or Bullhead City, you request them the same way as Lake Havasu City cases.

For records from outside Mohave County, you contact that county's clerk. La Paz County is to the south. Coconino County is to the east. Yavapai County is to the southeast. Each county has its own Superior Court clerk that handles family court files for that area. The Arizona Courts Public Access Portal can search across multiple counties if you are not sure where a case was filed.