Graham County Family Court Records

Graham County family court records are held at the Superior Court in Safford, Arizona. These records cover divorce cases, child custody disputes, support orders, and paternity filings. The Clerk of Superior Court at 800 W Main Street keeps all family law case files. You can request copies in person, by mail, or through the online payment system. Staff at the Graham County clerk office can help you find case information and explain what documents are on file. Free interpreter services are available if you need them. The court serves all Graham County residents from the main courthouse location.

Graham County Clerk of Superior Court

The Graham County Clerk of Superior Court is at 800 W Main Street in Safford, AZ 85546. Call the office at 928-428-3100. The fax number is 928-428-0061. Hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The clerk office handles all family court filings, record requests, and case information for Graham County.

One thing that sets Graham County apart is the free interpreter service. If you do not speak English well, the court will get an interpreter for you at no charge. This helps make sure everyone can take part in family court proceedings. Many rural Arizona counties charge for this service or require parties to bring their own interpreter. Graham County does not. Just let the clerk know ahead of time so they can arrange for the right language.

You can pay court fees and fines online through AZCourtPay. This state system works for Graham County payments. You will need your case number to use the online system. If you do not have a case number, call the clerk office to get it before you try to pay online. Cash, checks, and money orders are also accepted at the counter during business hours.

Note: Graham County is a small court, so wait times are often shorter than in larger Arizona counties.

Search Graham County Family Court Records Online

The Arizona Courts Public Access Portal lets you search Graham County cases from anywhere. This free tool covers most Arizona courts. You can look up family court cases by party name or case number. Results show basic case info like filing dates and case status. Not all documents are available to view online. For full copies, you may need to contact the clerk office directly.

When you search, keep in mind that family court records have some limits on what is public. Adoption cases are sealed. Juvenile matters are not open to the public. Some parts of custody evaluations may be redacted to protect children. But most divorce and support records are fully available. You just need to know what to ask for. Arizona Supreme Court Rule 123 governs access to court records across the state, including Graham County.

The AZ Court Help website has tools to help you find records. It includes a court finder that gives contact information for every court in Arizona. The site also explains how different case types work and what records you can expect to find. If you are new to family court, start here to get your bearings before diving into the search.

Graham County Family Court Forms

The Graham County Family Court Forms page has documents you need to start or respond to a case. You can download these forms for free. Print them out, fill them in by hand or on a computer, and file them at the clerk office. Some forms are also available at the CASA and Law Library in the basement of the courthouse.

Common Graham County family court forms include petitions for dissolution of marriage, responses to divorce filings, parenting plan worksheets, and child support guidelines. Arizona uses standard forms across all counties, so the forms you download from the state self-service center work in Graham County too. The Superior Court Forms page has additional documents for other case types.

CASA and Law Library in Graham County

Graham County has a combined CASA and Law Library in the basement of the main courthouse. Call them at 928-428-3969. CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates. These volunteers help children in abuse and neglect cases by speaking up for their best interests in court. The Law Library part of the office has legal resources for people handling their own cases.

The Law Library has self-help materials for family court matters. You can find sample forms, guides on how to fill them out, and information about court procedures. Staff can point you to the right resources but cannot give legal advice. They can show you where to find forms for divorce, custody, or support cases. They can also help you understand what steps come next in your case. This is a good first stop if you are representing yourself in Graham County family court.

For more in-depth help, the state offers the AZ Court Help website. It has videos, guides, and step-by-step instructions for common family law situations. The site covers topics like how to file for divorce, how to modify a custody order, and how to enforce a support order. All these resources are free and available online at any time.

Note: The Law Library cannot recommend a lawyer or tell you what to write on your forms.

Types of Graham County Family Court Records

Divorce records are the most common family court documents in Graham County. A divorce file includes the petition that starts the case, the response from the other party, financial disclosures, any agreements reached, and the final decree. The decree is the court order that ends the marriage. It covers property division, debt allocation, and spousal support if any. When there are children, it also addresses custody and child support.

Child custody in Arizona is called legal decision-making and parenting time. Legal decision-making means who gets to make the big choices for the child. This includes decisions about school, health care, and religious training. Parenting time is the schedule for when each parent has the child. Graham County custody records include parenting plans filed by the parties, court orders setting the arrangement, and any motions to change the plan later. If a custody evaluation was done, that report is also part of the file.

Child support records show how much one parent must pay the other for the child's needs. The amount is based on Arizona's child support guidelines, which look at both parents' income and the parenting time schedule. Graham County support files include the worksheet used to calculate support, the court order setting the amount, and any motions to modify the payment. The Arizona Division of Child Support Services can help with enforcement if payments are not being made.

Paternity cases establish the legal father of a child. These records may include DNA test results, voluntary acknowledgments of paternity, and court orders declaring who the father is. Once paternity is set, the court can order support and set up a parenting plan. Single parents in Graham County often start with a paternity case before moving to custody and support issues.

Arizona Family Law Statutes

Arizona Revised Statutes Title 25 covers marital and domestic relations. This is the main law that applies to Graham County family court cases. Title 25 includes rules on marriage, dissolution, custody, support, and paternity. Judges in Graham County follow these statutes when making decisions in family law matters.

Chapter 3 of Title 25 deals with dissolution of marriage. It explains the grounds for divorce in Arizona, which is a no-fault state. That means you do not have to prove the other person did something wrong. You just have to show the marriage is irreparably broken. The law also covers annulment, legal separation, and the Court of Conciliation. Chapter 4 covers legal decision-making and parenting time. It sets out factors the court must consider when deciding what is best for a child.

Chapter 5 addresses family support duties including child support and spousal maintenance. Arizona has guidelines that courts must follow when setting support amounts. Chapter 6 deals with paternity proceedings. It explains how to establish or challenge who the legal father of a child is. These statutes apply in Graham County just as they do across all Arizona counties. The same rules govern how cases are handled in Safford as in Phoenix or Tucson.

How to Request Graham County Family Court Records

To get copies of Graham County family court records, you have a few options. The easiest is to visit the clerk office in person at 800 W Main Street in Safford. Bring the case number if you have it. Staff can pull the file and make copies while you wait. If you do not have the case number, give them the names of the parties and the approximate date of the case. There may be a search fee if staff have to locate the file for you.

You can also request records by mail. Write a letter that includes the case number or party names, the specific documents you want, and your contact information. Include a check or money order for the copy fees. Mail it to the Clerk of Superior Court at 800 W Main Street, Safford, AZ 85546. Processing time varies depending on how busy the office is. Call ahead to confirm current fees before you send payment.

Copy fees in Arizona are typically $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost more. The certification fee is usually $35.00 per document plus the per-page charge. If you need a certified copy for official use, make sure to ask for it specifically. A plain copy will not have the court seal and may not be accepted by other agencies.

Nearby Arizona Counties

Graham County borders several other Arizona counties. If you are not sure where a family court case was filed, it could be in one of these nearby counties. Cases are filed in the county where the parties lived at the time, not where they live now. Check the neighboring counties if you cannot find a record in Graham County.

Additional Graham County Family Court Resources

The Arizona Division of Child Support Services helps parents establish and collect child support. They work with the Graham County court to enforce support orders. Call them at 602-252-4045 or toll-free at 1-800-882-4151. They can help locate a parent, set up a support order, or take enforcement action when payments are missed.

If you need a protective order in Graham County, you can file at the clerk office. Orders of protection are free to file. The AZPOINT system lets you prepare the forms online before going to court. Emergency orders can be issued the same day if there is immediate danger. Graham County takes these matters seriously and moves quickly on protection requests.

For general help with family law issues, the state bar has a lawyer referral service. The Gila-Graham-Greenlee Legal Aid office may also be able to help if you have low income. Not every case requires a lawyer, but complex situations with significant assets or contested custody may benefit from legal counsel. The CASA and Law Library can help you figure out if your case is one you can handle on your own.