How to Find Divorce Records in Arizona: eAccess, Clerk, and Archives

To find divorce records in Arizona, start with the Clerk of the Superior Court in the county where the divorce was granted. That office keeps the complete case file, including the final decree. If you’re not sure which county handled it, or you don’t have a case number, search the state’s free eAccess portal first to confirm the case exists and pull the details you’ll need to order copies.¹²

Arizona divorce records are public unless a judge has sealed them or a specific rule closes part of the file. The Arizona Department of Health Services does not issue divorce records, even though it handles birth and death certificates; its vital records page directs people to the county clerks.³

What to Gather Before You Search

A little preparation prevents research fees and back-and-forth with the clerk. Have these ready:

Full names of both spouses, including maiden names and any other names used during the marriage.
The county where the divorce was filed. Arizona keeps records at the county level, so searching the wrong county turns up nothing.
An approximate date, or better, the exact date the divorce was finalized.
The case number, if you have it. With this, the clerk can pull the file immediately and skip a name search.

If you don’t know the county, try eAccess first. You can also call the Superior Court where either spouse lived at the time, since Arizona requires filing in the county of residence.

Search Online Through eAccess

Arizona’s eAccess portal offers free, 24-hour access to Superior Court case records for civil cases filed on or after July 1, 2010. Divorce is a civil case, so you can search by party name or case number and see basic case information, filing dates, and docket entries.¹

eAccess is a search tool, not a document delivery service. You won’t be able to download a certified decree, and cases that are sealed or confidential by law or court order won’t appear.¹ Maricopa County also runs its own family court docket search that can help confirm case numbers before you order copies.⁴

Use eAccess as step one: confirm the case, grab the case number, then order the actual documents from the clerk.

Order Copies from the Clerk of the Superior Court

In Person

Going to the Clerk of the Superior Court in person is the fastest route. Bring photo ID and your case number. The clerk can usually pull the file and print copies while you wait, and certified copies get stamped and signed on the spot. This is the only method that reliably gets you documents the same day.

By Mail or Online

Most county clerks accept mail requests. Check the county’s website for the correct form. Maricopa County also has an online records request form.² Send the completed form, payment (typically a check or money order payable to the Clerk of the Superior Court), and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Turnaround runs from a few days to several weeks depending on the county’s workload and how much searching the clerk has to do.

Fees

Superior Court fees are set statewide, so the schedule is the same in every county. As of December 28, 2024:⁵

Standard copies: $0.50 per page.
Certification: $35 per document.
Exemplification: $70 per document (two seals at $35 each).
Authentication: $105 per document (three seals at $35 each).
Research fee: $35 per year or source searched, applied when the clerk has to look up your file by name or date range instead of case number.

The math adds up fast without a case number. A 10-page certified decree with no research runs about $40: $5 in copies plus $35 for certification. Add a research fee and you’re at $75 or more. Bringing the case number is the single easiest way to keep the cost down.

Decree or Certificate: Which One to Ask For

Arizona produces two different documents, and asking for the wrong one wastes time. A divorce decree, formally called a Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage, is the full court order that ended the marriage. It contains property division, spousal support, custody, and child support terms. You need the decree whenever someone is enforcing or modifying the divorce, or when a court, lender, or agency wants to see the legal details.⁶

A divorce certificate is a shorter summary confirming that a divorce happened. It lists the names of both former spouses, the date, and the county. That’s usually enough for administrative tasks like updating a driver’s license or applying for a passport.⁶

Certified vs. Exemplified

A certified copy carries the clerk’s signature and seal confirming the document is authentic. An exemplified copy adds a judge’s confirmation that the clerk had authority to certify it. Certification costs $35; exemplification requires two seals and costs $70.⁵ You typically need an exemplified copy only when enforcing an Arizona decree in another state’s court. For use inside Arizona or for federal purposes like a passport, a standard certified copy is enough.

Older Divorces at the State Archives

For very old cases, the Arizona State Archives may have the file. The Archives holds divorce indices and case files from 1864 through roughly 1972, though coverage varies by county. Researchers can look up case numbers by name, and files typically include the original complaint, judgment, and other documents filed with the court.⁷ Anything more recent goes back to the county clerk.⁸

What’s Sealed or Restricted

Divorce records are generally public, but Arizona Rule of Supreme Court 123 closes certain information within a file. Documents containing Social Security numbers, credit card numbers, financial account numbers, and credit reports collected by the court for administrative purposes are not open to public inspection. Juvenile records tied to a divorce, such as dependency or guardianship matters involving minor children, are confidential unless a court order allows access.⁹ The decree itself and basic filings are accessible; sensitive financial discovery and information about children may not be. Parties to the case can petition the court for access to sealed materials.

Using the Record for Name Changes, Passports, and Abroad

A certified divorce decree is accepted by the U.S. Department of State as proof of a legal name change for a passport. If the name change happened within one year of your most recent passport being issued, you can request a corrected passport by mail with the decree. Otherwise, you apply in person.¹⁰ The Social Security Administration also accepts a certified decree or certificate to update your name.¹¹

If you need the decree recognized in another country, you’ll likely need an apostille from the Arizona Secretary of State. The document must be a certified copy from the Superior Court with the clerk’s signature and seal; photocopies won’t be accepted. The Secretary of State processes apostille requests by mail for $3 per document, with a turnaround of about 10 business days.¹² For countries that don’t participate in the Hague Apostille Convention, the process is longer: authentication from the Secretary of State ($105 for the court document) followed by legalization through the destination country’s consulate or embassy.⁵

1
Arizona Judicial Branch. eAccess
2
Maricopa County Clerk of Superior Court. Obtaining Records
3
Arizona Department of Health Services. Vital Records
4
Maricopa County Superior Court. Docket – Public Access to Family Court Case Information
5
Arizona Judicial Branch. Superior Court Filing Fees
6
Pima County Court. Marriage and Divorce Records
7
Arizona Secretary of State. Vital Records – Marriage and Divorce – Arizona Genealogy Resources
8
Arizona Secretary of State. How Do I Get a Copy of Marriage or Divorce That Took Place in Arizona
9
New York Codes, Rules and Regulations. Rule 123 – Access to Judicial Records of the State of Arizona
10
U.S. Department of State. Name Change for U.S. Passport or Correct a Printing or Data Error
11
Social Security Administration. Code of Federal Regulations 404.331
12
Arizona Secretary of State. Apostille and Certificate of Authentication Request