Scottsdale Family Court Records

Scottsdale family court records are held by the Maricopa County Superior Court, not by any city court or local office. The Scottsdale City Court at 3700 N. 75th Street handles traffic tickets, minor crimes, and protective orders, but it does not process divorce, custody, or child support cases. If you need family law records for a Scottsdale resident, you must go through the county court system in Maricopa. The Clerk of Superior Court in Phoenix maintains all divorce decrees, custody orders, paternity cases, and support judgments for Scottsdale and every other city in Maricopa County.

Where Scottsdale Family Court Records Are Kept

All family court records for Scottsdale are filed and stored at the Maricopa County Superior Court. This is because Arizona does not have city-level family courts. Municipal courts in Scottsdale and other Arizona cities only deal with traffic cases, misdemeanor crimes, and some protective order matters. Divorce, legal separation, child custody, parenting time, and child support all fall under the jurisdiction of the county Superior Court.

The main Maricopa County Clerk office is at 620 West Jackson Street in Phoenix. You can also visit regional court centers across the county. The Southeast Justice Center at 222 E Javelina Ave. in Mesa is one of the closer options for Scottsdale residents. All four Maricopa County court locations offer the same services for family law matters. Staff can help you search for cases, request copies, and file new petitions.

The Scottsdale City Court provides the following image that shows what services are available at the city level. As you can see, family matters are not part of their scope.

The city court does handle orders of protection. If you need to file for a protective order against someone in Scottsdale, you can start at the city court or use the AZPOINT online portal. These orders are free to file. But any ongoing family law case involving custody or divorce must go through Maricopa County.

Scottsdale City Court Records

While Scottsdale City Court does not handle family cases, it does keep records of its own proceedings. The court is at 3700 N. 75th St., Scottsdale, AZ 85251. You can reach them at 480-312-2442. Office hours are Monday through Friday. If you need traffic records, misdemeanor case files, or protective order documents, this is where to go.

The Scottsdale City Court records request page shows the fee structure for city-level documents. A $17 record request fee applies to all requests. Copies cost $0.50 per page. Certification adds another $17 per document. Audio CDs of court proceedings cost $17 each. These fees only apply to Scottsdale City Court records. Family court records from Maricopa County have a different fee schedule.

Many people call the city court looking for divorce papers or custody orders. Staff will direct you to the county clerk office in Phoenix. It can save time to go straight to the Maricopa County system if you know your case involves family law.

Search Scottsdale Family Court Records Online

You can search for Scottsdale family court records using the Maricopa County Family Court Case Search online. This free tool lets you look up divorce, custody, support, and paternity cases filed in the county. Enter the name of a party or the case number to find what you need. Results show basic case information, filing dates, and case status.

The statewide Arizona Courts Public Access Portal also covers Maricopa County cases. This system connects to 153 courts across Arizona. You do not need an account to search. Some case documents may be available to view right on screen, while others require a trip to the clerk office or a mail request.

The AZ Court Help website has guides and resources for people searching court records in Arizona. The site explains how to read case information and what different case types mean. It also has a court finder tool that gives contact details for any court in the state. This is helpful if you are not sure where a case was filed or need to find the right forms.

Note: Online searches show case information but may not include all documents in the file.

Filing Scottsdale Family Court Cases

If you live in Scottsdale and want to file for divorce, custody, or child support, you will file at the Maricopa County Superior Court. The Family Department handles all these case types. You can file at any of the four regional court centers in the county. The Central Court Building at 201 W Jefferson St. in Phoenix is the main hub for family cases.

Filing fees for family cases in Maricopa County include:

• Petition for Dissolution of Marriage: $376.00
• Summary Consent Decree: $331.50
• Response to Dissolution: $287.00
• Legal Decision-Making Petition: $306.00
• Paternity or Maternity Filing: $371.00

Orders of protection have no filing fee. If you cannot afford to pay, you may apply for a fee waiver. Forms for waivers are available at the clerk office or through the Law Library Resource Center. Staff can help you fill out the application but cannot give legal advice about your case. Call (602) 506-7353 for assistance.

Get Copies of Scottsdale Family Court Records

Copies of family court records for Scottsdale residents come from the Maricopa County Clerk of Superior Court. The main office is at 620 West Jackson Street, Phoenix, AZ 85003. Phone is (602) 372-5375. Hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. You can visit in person, send a mail request, or call ahead to check on your case.

Copy fees at Maricopa County are $0.50 per page for plain copies. Certified copies add $35.00 per document on top of the copy cost. If staff must search for records on your behalf, there is a $35.00 research fee per year searched. Postage and handling add $8.00 for mail requests. Payment options include cash, check, or credit card at the counter. Mail requests should include a check or money order to the Clerk of Superior Court.

The Scottsdale City Clerk handles city administrative records, not court files. This office deals with public records requests for city government documents. The image below shows the city clerk page.

If you are looking for a marriage license, those are issued by the Maricopa County Clerk of Superior Court, not the city. Divorce decrees also come from the county. The city clerk only handles municipal business like meeting minutes, ordinances, and city contracts.

Types of Scottsdale Family Court Records

Divorce records are the most common type of family court document. A divorce file includes the initial petition, the response from the other spouse, financial disclosures, settlement agreements, and the final decree. The decree is what officially ends the marriage. It states the terms for property division, spousal support, and any child-related matters.

Child custody records use the Arizona terms legal decision-making and parenting time. Legal decision-making covers who makes major choices for the child about school, health care, and religion. Parenting time sets the schedule for when each parent has the child. These files include parenting plans submitted by the parties, any evaluations done by experts, and the court orders. If parents later go back to court to change things, those modification filings become part of the record too.

Child support records show the payment amount ordered and any actions to collect. The Arizona Division of Child Support Services works with the court to set up and enforce support orders. They can be reached at 602-252-4045 or toll-free at 1-800-882-4151. Support orders include calculations based on both parents' income. Changes happen when circumstances shift, like a job loss or the child turning 18.

Paternity records establish who is the legal father of a child. These cases may have DNA test results, signed acknowledgments of paternity from both parents, or court orders naming the father. Once paternity is set, the court can order support and set up custody.

Note: Some records may have sensitive information redacted when you get copies.

Arizona Family Law for Scottsdale Cases

Arizona law governs all family court matters in Scottsdale. The Arizona Revised Statutes Title 25 covers marital and domestic relations. This includes marriage licensing, divorce rules, custody standards, and support requirements. The state legislature updates these laws each year. Courts follow these statutes when deciding cases.

To file for divorce in Arizona, at least one spouse must have lived in the state for 90 days before filing. You file in the county where you or your spouse lives. Arizona is a no-fault state. This means you do not have to prove wrongdoing by your spouse. You just say the marriage is irretrievably broken. After the other spouse is served, the court must wait 60 days before it can finalize the divorce.

Arizona is a community property state. Most assets and debts from the marriage get split equally between spouses. Each person keeps their separate property, things they owned before the marriage or received as gifts. Courts aim for a fair division, which usually means 50/50 in Arizona. Scottsdale cases follow the same rules as anywhere else in the state.

Self-Help for Scottsdale Family Court Matters

The Maricopa County Law Library Resource Center helps people who are handling their own family cases. Staff can show you where to find forms, explain how to file, and point you to helpful guides. They are open Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM. Call (602) 506-7353 or email services@jbazmc.maricopa.gov for help.

The center offers live webinars and workshops on family law topics. Classes cover how to fill out divorce forms, what to expect at a hearing, and how to modify custody orders. Recorded videos are on the website if you cannot attend a live session. Self-help tools walk you through common tasks step by step.

The Arizona Courts Self Service Center has forms and instructions for family cases statewide. Many forms can be downloaded, filled out, and printed at home. Some can be filed electronically through the court e-filing system. The AZ Court Help site also has guides for people without lawyers.

Nearby Arizona Cities

Several major cities near Scottsdale are also part of Maricopa County. Family court cases for all these cities go through the same county Superior Court system. Below are links to other cities where you can learn about local court resources and how to access family records.

Maricopa County Family Court

Scottsdale is located in Maricopa County, the most populous county in Arizona. All family law cases for Scottsdale residents are handled by the Maricopa County Superior Court system. Visit the county page for complete information about the clerk office, court locations, filing procedures, fees, and online resources.