Tucson Family Court Records

Tucson family court records are maintained by the Pima County Superior Court, not by any city office. If you need divorce documents, custody papers, or child support orders for Tucson residents, you must contact the Pima County Clerk of Superior Court at 110 West Congress Street in downtown Tucson. The Tucson City Court only handles traffic tickets and minor crimes. It has no role in family law matters at all. This can confuse people who think they need to start at the city level. They do not. Every family case in Tucson goes through the county court system from day one. The clerk staff at the county courthouse can guide you to the right records.

Pima County Handles Tucson Family Cases

Arizona law puts all family court matters at the county level. City courts like the Tucson City Court have no power to hear divorce, custody, or support cases. This means every Tucson resident who files for divorce or asks for a custody order must go to the Pima County Superior Court. The courthouse is at 110 West Congress Street in Tucson, Arizona 85701. It sits right in the heart of downtown, just a short walk from city hall and the main bus routes. The building holds both the Superior Court and the Clerk of Superior Court offices.

You can reach the Pima County Clerk at (520) 724-3200. The fax number is (520) 724-3531. For family court record requests, call the Legal Records Unit at (520) 724-3240. This unit is in Room 241 of the same building. You can also send an email to COCLegalRecordsWeb@sc.pima.gov if you have questions about getting copies of court papers.

Note: The Tucson City Court cannot look up or provide copies of family court records since those files are kept only at the county level.

What Tucson City Court Does Handle

The Tucson City Court at 103 East Alameda Street handles a narrow set of cases. Traffic tickets are the most common. Minor criminal matters like misdemeanors also go through this court. The city court can issue protective orders in some cases. But when it comes to divorce, child custody, paternity, or child support, the city court has no role. Staff there may get calls from people looking for family records. They will tell you to contact Pima County Superior Court instead. It saves time to know this before you call or visit.

The screenshot below shows the Tucson City Court website, which explains the types of cases they handle. Family court matters are not listed because they do not belong at the city level.

The Tucson City Court phone number is (520) 791-4216. The court is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. You can email them at TCCWeb@courts.az.gov. Again, they cannot help with family law cases. The city court falls under a different part of the court system than the Superior Court where family matters are heard.

How to Search Tucson Family Court Records

Since Tucson family court records are at the county level, you have two main ways to search them. First, the Pima County Online Case Search lets you look up cases from home. You do not need to create an account. Just enter the party name or case number and see what comes up. Results show the case status, filing date, and names of those involved. You may not be able to view all documents online. Some papers require a trip to the clerk office.

The second option is the Arizona Courts Public Access Portal. This statewide tool covers 153 of 180 courts in Arizona. It includes Pima County Superior Court. You can search across multiple counties at once if you are not sure where a case was filed. This is handy for people who moved or whose former spouse lived in a different county. The portal shows basic case data but may lack full document access.

For in-person searches, go to the Pima County Clerk of Superior Court at 110 West Congress Street. Bring the names of the parties and any dates you know. If you have a case number, the search goes faster. The clerk staff can pull up records on their system and make copies for you right there. Fees are $0.50 per page for plain copies and $35.00 for a certified copy. If you need staff to do a deep search, there may be extra research fees.

Types of Family Court Records in Tucson

Divorce records are the largest group of family court files for Tucson cases. A divorce starts when one spouse files a petition with the Pima County clerk. The file then grows to include the other spouse's response, financial documents, and any motions or orders along the way. The final decree is the order that ends the marriage. It sets out how property gets split and whether anyone pays spousal support. Arizona follows community property rules, so most things bought during the marriage get divided equally.

Custody records in Arizona use the term legal decision-making for who makes big choices about a child. Parenting time means the schedule each parent follows. Tucson parents who split up need a parenting plan on file with the court. The plan says where the child lives and when they see each parent. If parents fight about the plan later, those modification requests also go in the case file. All of this stays at Pima County Superior Court.

Paternity cases prove who the legal father of a child is. These files may hold DNA test results, signed acknowledgments, or court orders that name the father. Once paternity is set, the court can order child support and create a parenting plan. Child support records show the amount owed, payment history, and any changes to the order over time. The Arizona Division of Child Support Services helps enforce these orders statewide.

Tucson City Clerk Office

The Tucson City Clerk handles city business records like meeting minutes, ordinances, and some public documents. The clerk does not keep family court records. If you call and ask for divorce papers, they will send you to the county. The city clerk office can help with records about the city government itself. It is a common mix-up that brings people to the wrong place.

The city clerk office is helpful for other needs. You can get copies of city council actions, look up local business licenses, and find other city documents there. Just remember that family law files belong to the county court, not the city.

Fees for Tucson Family Court Records

The Pima County Clerk charges $0.50 per page for plain copies of family court documents. Certified copies cost $35.00 plus the per-page fee. You pay these fees when you pick up your copies or include a check with mail requests. The clerk accepts cash, checks, money orders, and credit cards at the counter. For mail requests, send a check or money order made out to the Clerk of Superior Court.

If you ask the clerk to search for records without a case number, there may be a research fee. Having the names of both parties and rough dates helps staff find what you need faster. The more info you give, the easier the search. For online payments on court matters, you can use AZCourtPay. This portal handles various court fees across Arizona.

Note: The Pima County Law Library has self-service copies for just 15 cents per page if you can find the documents yourself on their computers.

Arizona Family Law for Tucson Residents

Arizona Revised Statutes Title 25 covers all family law in the state. This includes marriage, divorce, custody, support, and paternity. Tucson residents follow the same rules as everyone else in Arizona. There are no special city laws for family court matters. The difference between counties is mostly about local court calendars and how busy the docket gets. Pima County, with Tucson as its main city, handles a large number of family cases each year.

To file for divorce in Tucson, at least one spouse must have lived in Arizona for 90 days. You file in the county where you or your spouse lives now. Arizona uses no-fault divorce. You do not have to prove your spouse did anything wrong. You just say the marriage is broken beyond repair. After the other spouse gets served, the court waits at least 60 days before it can finalize things. This waiting period applies even if you both agree on everything. It gives time for second thoughts or to work out details.

Child support in Arizona follows guidelines based on both parents' incomes. The court looks at how much each parent makes, health insurance costs, daycare expenses, and how much time each parent has with the child. The Arizona Division of Child Support Services can help you get an order, change an existing one, or enforce payment. Reach them at 602-252-4045 or toll-free at 1-800-882-4151.

Self-Help Resources for Tucson Family Cases

The Pima County Law Library is at 110 West Congress Street, Room 256. It is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Staff can help you find forms for your case but cannot give legal advice. They cannot tell you what to write on the forms or which forms to use. That would cross the line into practicing law. They can point you to resources and instructions that may help.

The law library has a phone line at (520) 724-8456 and an email at lawlibrary@sc.pima.gov. Many family court forms are on the court website. You can download them at home and fill them out before you come in. The library also has computers with access to legal research databases. If you are handling your own case, spending time at the law library can help you learn the process.

AZ Court Help is a statewide resource with guides, forms, and information about court procedures. It is free to use online. The site covers family law topics like divorce, custody, and support. It links to local court resources for each county. For Tucson residents, the site points to Pima County Superior Court information.

Parent Education for Tucson Cases

Pima County requires parent education classes in most family cases with children. The course helps parents understand how divorce affects kids. It teaches co-parenting skills and ways to reduce conflict. The fee is $50.00 per person. You must attend within 45 days of filing or being served unless the judge sets a different deadline.

The court is strict about which classes count. Pima County only accepts its own parent education program or classes it has approved. If you take an online class from another provider, the court may not accept your certificate. You would need to ask your judge for approval before signing up elsewhere. This rule catches many people off guard. Check with the Pima County Conciliation Court about class options before you pay for anything.

Other Pima County Communities

Tucson is the only city in Pima County with a population over 50,000. Other towns like Oro Valley, Marana, Sahuarita, and South Tucson are smaller. All family court cases from these areas still go through the Pima County Superior Court in Tucson. There is no separate court for each town. If you live in any part of Pima County and need family court records, the Clerk of Superior Court at 110 West Congress Street is where you go.

If you need records from outside Pima County, check with the neighboring counties. Pinal County is to the north. Santa Cruz County is to the south. Cochise County is to the east. Each has its own Superior Court clerk who handles family court files for that area.