La Paz County Family Court Records

La Paz County family court records are held at the Superior Court in Parker, Arizona. These records cover divorce cases, child custody matters, child support orders, and paternity filings. The La Paz County Superior Court Clerk maintains all family law documents at 1316 Kofa Ave., Suite 607 in Parker. You can search for family court records in person during business hours or request copies by phone. La Paz County is a smaller county in western Arizona. It borders the Colorado River and shares boundaries with Yuma County to the south and Mohave County to the north. The court serves all towns and communities in the county.

La Paz County Clerk of Superior Court

The La Paz County Superior Court Clerk is Hollie Lucas. The clerk office is at 1316 Kofa Ave., Suite 607, Parker, AZ 85344. You can call the office at (928) 669-6131 for help with record requests. Hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The office is closed on weekends and state holidays. If you need to visit in person, the courthouse is easy to find near downtown Parker.

The La Paz County family court clerk processes all filings for divorce, custody, support, and paternity cases in the county. Staff can help you find case files and explain how to request copies. They can tell you what documents are in a case file. But they cannot give legal advice or help you fill out forms. For that, you need to speak with an attorney or use the self-help resources from the state court system. Copy fees in Arizona are typically $0.50 per page, and certified copies require an extra fee. Call ahead to confirm current costs.

The La Paz County Superior Court Clerk website has useful details about the clerk office and services offered. You can see a screenshot of the clerk homepage below, which shows contact info and office hours.

Note: La Paz County has one courthouse location in Parker that handles all family court matters for the entire county.

La Paz County Family Court Online Payments

You can pay court fees online through the La Paz County Superior Court payment portal. This site lets you pay filing fees, copy fees, and other court costs from your home. You will need your case number to make a payment. The system accepts major credit cards and debit cards. There may be a small service fee for online payments.

If you prefer to pay in person, the clerk office takes cash, checks, and money orders. Make checks payable to the La Paz County Superior Court. Personal checks may not be accepted in all cases, so call ahead if you plan to pay that way. Some people find it easier to get a money order or cashier's check to avoid any issues at the counter.

Search La Paz County Family Court Records

The statewide Arizona Courts Public Access Portal connects to courts across Arizona, including La Paz County. This free online tool lets you search for case information by party name or case number. You can see the case status, filing date, and names of the parties. The portal is updated regularly and does not require you to make an account. It works on computers and phones.

La Paz County is one of the smaller counties in Arizona, so the volume of family court cases is much lower than in places like Maricopa or Pima counties. This can make it faster to get help at the clerk office. If you cannot find a case online, staff at the courthouse may be able to help you locate it. Older records from before the court went digital may need to be searched in paper files.

For general help with Arizona courts, the AZ Court Help site has resources and guides. You can find the La Paz County court info page there, which lists contact details and links to forms. The site explains what different case types mean and how to read case records. It is a good starting point if you are new to the court system.

La Paz County Courts Information

The La Paz County government website has a page about the courts that serves the county. You can find info about the Superior Court, Justice Courts, and how the court system is set up. The screenshot below shows the La Paz County Courts page from the county website.

Family court cases go to the Superior Court. The Justice Courts handle small claims and minor criminal matters. They do not hear divorce or custody cases. If you are not sure which court handles your matter, call the clerk office at (928) 669-6131 and they can direct you to the right place. The staff are helpful and can answer basic questions about where to file.

Types of La Paz County Family Court Records

Divorce records in La Paz County include the initial petition, the response from the other spouse, any motions filed during the case, settlement agreements, and the final decree. The decree is the court order that ends the marriage. It spells out how property is split, whether one spouse pays support to the other, and how child custody and support are handled if there are kids. Both spouses get a copy of the decree when the case ends.

Child custody records use Arizona's terms: legal decision-making and parenting time. Legal decision-making covers who makes big choices for the child about school, health care, and faith. Parenting time sets the schedule for when each parent has the child. These records include the parenting plan that spells out the schedule and any court orders that modify the plan over time. If parents go back to court to change the arrangement, those new filings become part of the case file too.

Child support records show the amount of support ordered by the court and how payments are made. The Arizona Division of Child Support Services helps establish and collect support. You can reach them at 602-252-4045 or toll-free at 1-800-882-4151. Support orders are based on both parents' income and the child's needs. If things change, like a job loss, you can ask the court to modify the order.

Paternity records prove who the legal father of a child is. These cases may include DNA test results, signed acknowledgments of paternity, or court orders. Once paternity is set, the court can order child support and set up custody. In La Paz County, paternity cases go through the same Superior Court that handles divorce and custody matters.

Arizona Family Court Laws

Arizona family law is found in Title 25 of the Arizona Revised Statutes. This title covers marriage, divorce, child custody, child support, and paternity. Chapter 3 deals with dissolution of marriage, which is the legal term for divorce. Chapter 4 covers legal decision-making and parenting time. Chapter 5 addresses family support duties, including child support calculations.

Under Arizona law, courts must consider the best interests of the child when making custody decisions. This is the main standard judges use. Factors include each parent's relationship with the child, the child's adjustment to home and school, and the mental and physical health of all parties. Arizona does not favor one parent over the other based on gender. The law aims for both parents to have meaningful time with their kids unless there are safety concerns.

Access to court records in Arizona is governed by Arizona Supreme Court Rule 123. This rule sets out what records are public and what records are sealed or confidential. Most family court records are open to the public. But some records are protected. Adoption files, juvenile cases, and records sealed by a judge are not available to the general public. If you are not sure if a record is public, ask the clerk.

La Paz County Family Court Self-Help

If you are handling your own family court case in La Paz County, the AZ Court Help page for La Paz Superior Court has resources to get you started. You can find forms, instructions, and guides for common family law matters. The site explains steps for filing divorce papers, requesting custody changes, and modifying support orders. It is free to use and does not require an account.

The Arizona courts offer online forms that you can fill out and print at home. Some forms can be filed electronically, while others must be taken to the clerk office in person. In La Paz County, most self-represented parties file in person because the county is smaller and the clerk office is easy to reach. Staff can check that you have the right forms and tell you how many copies you need.

For complex cases, you may want to talk to a lawyer. The State Bar of Arizona has a lawyer referral service that can connect you with an attorney who handles family law. Many lawyers offer a free or low-cost initial meeting to discuss your situation. Legal aid groups may also help if you have low income. Check with the local bar association for resources in your area.

Note: Court staff can give you forms and explain procedures, but they cannot tell you what to write on the forms or advise you on your case.

Filing Family Court Cases in La Paz County

To start a family court case in La Paz County, you must file a petition with the Superior Court Clerk. The petition lays out what you are asking the court to do. For a divorce, you file a petition for dissolution of marriage. For custody, you file a petition for legal decision-making and parenting time. Filing fees apply to most petitions. The clerk will tell you the current fee when you file.

After you file, you must serve the other party with copies of the papers. This means giving them notice that a case has been filed. Arizona has rules about how service must be done. You can use a process server, the sheriff, or certified mail in some cases. The court will not move forward until the other party has been properly served.

La Paz County family court cases follow the same basic steps as other Arizona counties. After filing and service, there is a response period. Then the case may go to mediation or a hearing. If the parties agree on everything, they can submit a consent decree. If they do not agree, the judge will decide at a trial. Most family cases take several months from start to finish, though simple uncontested divorces can be faster.

Nearby Arizona Counties

La Paz County is in western Arizona along the Colorado River. It borders four other counties. If you are not sure where a case was filed, it could be in one of these nearby counties. Family court records stay in the county where the case was originally filed, not where you live now. Check with each county clerk if you need to search for records in more than one place.

Cities in La Paz County

La Paz County does not have any cities with a population over 50,000. The largest towns include Parker, Quartzsite, and the Colorado River communities. All family court cases for residents of La Paz County are filed at the Superior Court in Parker. There are no city-specific family court pages for this county because all family law matters go through the county court system.

Parker is the county seat and has the only Superior Court location. If you live in Quartzsite or elsewhere in the county, you still file family court papers in Parker. The courthouse is located at 1316 Kofa Ave., Suite 607. The drive may be long for some residents, but it is the only option for family law filings in La Paz County.