Phoenix Family Court Records

Phoenix family court records are held by the Maricopa County Superior Court, not by any city office. Residents who need divorce filings, child custody orders, or child support documents must go through the county court system. Phoenix is the state capital and the largest city in Arizona, but it does not have its own family court. The Maricopa County Clerk of Superior Court at 620 West Jackson Street in Phoenix maintains all family law case files for the area. You can search these records online through the county portal or visit any of the four regional court centers in person.

Phoenix Municipal Court Does Not Handle Family Cases

A common mistake is going to Phoenix Municipal Court for family law matters. The municipal court handles traffic tickets, misdemeanors, and city code violations only. It cannot process divorce filings, custody disputes, or child support cases. Those matters fall under the jurisdiction of the Maricopa County Superior Court. If you show up at the wrong court, staff will redirect you to the county courthouse.

The Phoenix Municipal Court is located at 300 W. Washington St., Phoenix, AZ 85003-2103. You can call them at 602-262-6421. The court is open Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM. While they can answer questions about traffic cases and protective orders, they cannot help with divorce or custody records. For all family court matters, you need the Maricopa County Superior Court instead.

The Phoenix Municipal Court website provides information about local court services. However, you will not find family law resources there.

Note: Phoenix Municipal Court can issue protective orders, but child custody and divorce matters still go through county court.

Where Phoenix Residents File Family Court Cases

Phoenix residents file all family court cases at the Maricopa County Superior Court. The main courthouse is at 201 W Jefferson St. in downtown Phoenix. This is where most family law hearings take place. The Clerk of Superior Court office at 620 West Jackson Street handles record requests and new filings. Both buildings are within walking distance of each other in the downtown government complex.

You have four regional court locations to choose from in Maricopa County. The Central Court Building in downtown Phoenix is the busiest. The Northeast Regional Center at 18380 N 40th St. serves north Phoenix and Scottsdale area residents. Many Phoenix residents find this location more convenient than driving downtown. All four centers offer the same family court services, so you can pick whichever is closest to your home.

The Maricopa County Clerk of Superior Court processes all record requests for Phoenix family court cases. Copy fees are $0.50 per page for plain copies. Certified copies add $35.00 per document. Staff can search records for you, but there is a $35.00 research fee per year searched. Call (602) 372-5375 for help with your request.

Phoenix Family Law Resources

The City of Phoenix Law Department provides a FAQ page that addresses common questions about family court matters. According to the Phoenix Law Department FAQ, residents should contact Maricopa County Family Support Services at 602-506-3762 for information on child custody and child support. The Department of Economic Security's Child Support Enforcement Unit is another resource, reachable at 602-252-4045.

For divorce records, the Phoenix Law FAQ directs residents to the Maricopa County Superior Court's Family or Juvenile divisions. The city itself does not keep these records. They exist only at the county level. If you need help finding your case, the Law Library Resource Center at (602) 506-7353 can assist. Staff there help people navigate the court system and find the right forms for their situation.

The Arizona Division of Child Support Services handles support enforcement statewide. Phoenix residents with child support questions can call 602-252-4045 or the toll-free line at 1-800-882-4151. The agency helps establish paternity, set up support orders, and collect payments from parents who owe support. Their office is open Monday through Friday from 7 AM to 5:30 PM.

Search Phoenix Family Court Records Online

Phoenix family court records are searchable through the Maricopa County Family Court Case Search portal. This free tool lets you look up divorce cases, custody matters, and support orders by party name or case number. Results show the case status, filing date, and basic information about the parties involved. Some documents may be viewable online, while others require an in-person visit.

The statewide Arizona Courts Public Access Portal also covers Maricopa County cases. You can search multiple counties at once if you are not sure where a case was filed. Neither system requires an account or login. Just enter the search criteria and results appear on your screen. The portals are available 24 hours a day from any device with internet access.

The AZ Court Help website has guides for understanding court records. It explains what different case types mean and how to read case documents. The site has a court finder tool that shows contact information for every court in Arizona. Use this if you need to find forms or locate the right office for your situation.

Phoenix City Clerk Office

The Phoenix City Clerk handles city business records, not family court documents. This office manages public records requests for city council meetings, ordinances, and official city documents. It does not have access to divorce decrees, custody orders, or child support records. Those are kept at the county courthouse.

Some people confuse the city clerk with the clerk of court. They are different offices. The Maricopa County Clerk of Superior Court at (602) 372-5375 handles all court records. The Phoenix City Clerk deals only with city administrative matters. If you need a marriage license, you must go to the county clerk office as well. Phoenix does not issue marriage licenses at the city level.

Phoenix Family Court Filing Fees

Filing fees for Phoenix family court cases follow the Maricopa County fee schedule. Dissolution of marriage costs $376.00 to file, whether or not there are children involved. A summary consent decree, which is a simpler uncontested divorce, costs $331.50. These fees apply when you first submit your petition to the court.

Other family court fees in the Phoenix area include:

• Response to Dissolution: $287.00
• Legal Decision-Making: $306.00
• Paternity Filing: $371.00
• Document Certification: $35.00
• Copy Fees: $0.50 per page

Fee waivers are available for those who cannot afford to pay. You must fill out an application and provide proof of income. The court reviews each request and decides if you qualify. Forms are available at the clerk office or online. Orders of protection have no filing fee in Maricopa County.

Types of Phoenix Family Court Records

Divorce records are the most common type of family court document. A Phoenix divorce file includes the initial petition, the response from the other spouse, financial disclosures, any temporary orders, settlement agreements, and the final decree. The decree officially ends the marriage and sets the terms for property division, support, and child-related matters. All of these become part of the permanent court record in Maricopa County.

Child custody records use Arizona terms like legal decision-making and parenting time. Legal decision-making covers major choices about a child's education, health care, and religious upbringing. Parenting time sets the schedule for when each parent has the child. These records include parenting plans submitted by the parties, any evaluations from custody experts, and court orders. Modification filings happen when parents need to change the original arrangement.

Child support records show the payment amount ordered by the court. They include income worksheets, support calculations, and any enforcement actions. Paternity records establish legal fatherhood. They may contain DNA test results, voluntary acknowledgments of paternity, or court orders declaring the father. Once paternity is set, the court can order support and establish custody rights for both parents.

Nearby Cities in Maricopa County

Phoenix is surrounded by many other cities in Maricopa County. All of them use the same county Superior Court for family law matters. If you lived in one city but your case was filed in another, the records are still at the county level. Below are major cities near Phoenix that also file family court cases through Maricopa County.

Maricopa County Family Court

All Phoenix family court records are maintained by Maricopa County. For detailed information about court locations, fees, forms, and procedures, visit our main county page. The county has four regional court centers to serve residents across the metro area. Staff at each location can help with record requests, filings, and basic court questions.