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Accessing Arizona Public Records

Arizona State Library, Archives & Records COVID-19 Response – Temporarily suspending all in-person services, while maintaining our statutory responsibilities

What our office is doing

  • Our number one goal is to keep the public and our employees safe
  • The situation related to COVID-19 is rapidly developing, as is the response from this office and the state. Please check back regularly for updates
  • We are committed to providing continuity of services while reducing exposure risks
  • In-person trainings for ALL divisions are on hold until further notice. Divisions will hold trainings by webinar as needed.
  • Department staff will attend community meetings virtually or by phone, when available.
  • Services impacted:
    • In-person Patent and Trademark Resource Center consultations
    • The Arizona Capitol Museum is closed until further notice.
    • In-person retrieval and immediate checkout of materials to patrons of Arizona Talking Book Library
    • Walk-in reference service for Archives & the Research Library

Services that are available online or by phone

  • Ask a Question - online reference service
  • Digital Arizona Library, including statewide electronic resources
    • COVID-19 Resources for Arizona Libraries
    • Stay-at-Home Learning Tools
  • Records retention schedules assistance
  • Arizona Talking Book Library requests and link to downloads
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  • Consulting for library staff on grants, electronic resources, digital inclusion efforts, Public Library Survey and all library services
  • Communications channel for County Librarians
  • E-rate Services offered online and by phone
  • Arizona Capitol Museum Giftshop orders can still be placed online
  • Arizona Capitol Museum collections can be viewed online through the Arizona Memory Project and Google Cultural Institute
  • Arizona Capitol Museum staff can respond to email and phone call inquiries.

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Public Records Requests should be made directly to the agency where the records reside. Please read Title 39 of the Arizona Revised Statutes to learn more about accessing public records. For questions or concerns regarding public records requests, contact the Arizona Ombudsman Citizen’s Aide.

Personal Records

Personal records are covered by statute and are under restricted access. Birth certificates are closed for 75 years, death certificates are closed for 50 years. Adoption records, probate records involving juveniles, school student records and Arizona State Hospital records of patients are closed.

Court Records

County Superior Court records that are 50 years and older are required under statute to be transferred to the State Archives. With the exception of some records involving adoptions or juveniles, these court records are open to the public.

Business Records

The state archives does not have an extensive collection of business records. The state archives has some Arizona Corporation Commission records and some records from the Arizona Secretary of State’s office that include business filings.

Personal Records

TYPE OF RECORD AGENCY
Adoptions

Arizona adoption records are sealed in Arizona for 99 years, but a Confidential Intermediary may be able to help you. For more information visit the Confidential Intermediary Program site.

For adoptions over 99 years old, check with the Arizona State Archives or the county Superior Court in which the adoption occurred.

Background Checks

Contact your local police department. See the League of Arizona Cities and Towns for a local government directory.

Births that occurred within 75 years

Department of Health Services, Vital Records

Births that occurred more than 75 years ago

Arizona State Archives

OR

Arizona Genealogy Birth and Death Certificates

Deaths that occurred within 50 years

Department of Health Services, Vital Records

Deaths that occurred more than 50 years ago

Arizona State Archives

OR

Arizona Genealogy Birth and Death Certifcates

Divorce Decrees

Contact the Clerk of the Superior Court for the county in which the divorce was filed in.

Divorce decrees filed before 1950 may be held by the Arizona State Archives, depending on the county.

Drivers Licenses & Vehicle Registration

Arizona Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division

For car title information, use the Motor Vehicle Record Request Form

Genealogy Resources

Arizona State Archives

OR

State of Arizona Research Library

Marriage Certificates

Contact the Clerk of the Superior Court for the county they were filed in.

Marriage and divorce records filed prior to 1950 may be held by the Arizona State Archives depending on the county.

Naturalizations granted by municipal, county, or state courts (prior to 1906)

Arizona State Archives

Naturalizations granted by Federal courts (after 1906)

National Archives and Records Administration

Police Records

Police records reside in the city or town where the offense occurred. See the League of Arizona Cities and Towns for a local government directory.
Probate Records

Probate cases are held by the county Superior Court in which they were filed.

Cases prior to 1950 may be held by Arizona State Archives.

School Records

Public school records are maintained by the Department of Education.

Charter school records are maintained by the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools.

Private school records are maintained by the school or company/entity affiliated with the school, or the National Association of Independent Schools.

Arizona State Archives only maintains school records for select charter schools that have closed down. For a listing of these schools visit ASBCS. Public school records available at the archives are as follows:

  • St. David's School (1925-1983)
  • Coolidge (1935-1944)
  • Nogales Unified School District (circa 1920-1980)

 

Sex Offender Search

Department of Public Safety

 

 

 

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COURT RECORDS

TYPE OF RECORD AGENCY
Court of Appeals, Division I

Cases filed within 15 years may be held by Court of Appeals Division One.
Cases filed more than 15 years ago may be held by Arizona State Archives.

Court of Appeals, Division II

Cases filed within 10 years may be held by Court of Appeals Division Two.
Cases filed more than 10 years may be held by Arizona State Archives.

Superior Courts

For cases after 1950 check with the Clerk of the Superior Court for the county it was filed in.

Cases filed before 1950 may be held by Arizona State Archives.

Supreme Court, all cases

For cases filed within 16 years check with the Arizona Supreme Court.

Cases filed more than 16 years ago may be held by Arizona State Archives.

Territorial Supreme Court cases

Arizona State Archives

Business Records

TYPE OF RECORD AGENCY
Business licenses

Department of Revenue

Also, check with cities for additional license's.

Contractor licenses

Arizona Registrar of Contractors

Incorporation Records

Arizona Corporation Commission

Liens: Vehicle Title

Arizona Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division

Liens: Uniform Commercial Code

For transactions involving personal property, not real property contact the Office of the Secretary of State.

Liens: Property

Liens may be filed with the Arizona County Recorder's Office in the county where the property is located.

Liens may also be filed with the Arizona Superior Court in the county in which the lien was filed.

Real Estate Ownership Records

Contact the County Recorders Office for the county in which the property is located.

Trade Names

Trade names are filed in several places. For small businesses check with the Commerce Authority

OR

with any licensing boards overseeing the trade.

OR

Arizona Secretary of State Trade Name Search

Water Rights Records

Arizona Department of Water Resources

Some records may be held at the Arizona State Archives.

Branches

  • Archives
    • Accessing Arizona Public Records
    • Archives and Records Management Policies
    • Conservation Disaster Recovery
    • Contact
    • Programs, Training, and Presentations
      • Class Offerings
    • Research at the Archives
      • Ancestry.com Arizona
      • Arizona State Agency Records and Publications
      • Genealogy Collection
        • Genealogy Information Portals
        • Ten Basic Steps to Researching Your Family Tree
      • Maps at the Arizona State Archives
      • Photograph Collections
        • Photograph Collection List
      • Arizona Women's Hall of Fame
  • Arizona Capitol Museum
    • About the Arizona Capitol Museum
    • Capitol Museum Store
    • Capitol Museum Tours
    • Educator Resources
    • Exhibits
      • Online Art Exhibits
      • Online Exhibits
    • Museum Events
      • Celebrating Suffrage: More than the 19th Amendment
    • Museum Guild
    • Plan your Visit
      • Explore the Capitol
    • Reserve a Room
    • Visitor Satisfaction Survey
    • Volunteer Opportunities
  • Arizona Talking Book Library
  • E-Rate
  • Library Development
    • Arizona Center for the Book
    • Arizona Reading Program
    • Contact Library Development
    • Continuing Education
      • Arizona State Library Leadership Institute
      • Arizona State Library Summer Institute
      • Get Involved Collaborative
      • Library Practitioner Certification
      • Scholarships
    • Grants
    • Library Directory
    • Library Services & Technology Act (LSTA) Funding
    • Programs, Services and Tools
    • State Grants-in-Aid (SGIA)
  • Records Management
    • Records Center Services
      • Records Warehouse and Vault
    • Retention Schedules, Forms, Standards, Guidance and FAQs
      • Forms and Approvals
      • Guidance, Standards and Statutes
      • Retention Schedules
  • State of Arizona Research Library
    • Arizona Collection
    • Arizona Newspapers
    • Federal Agency Publications and Information
    • Legal Resources
    • Legislative Assistance and Resources
    • Patent and Trademark Resources
    • Research Center
    • Research for State Employees
    • State Publications
    • State of Arizona Research Library Policies

Polly Rosenbaum State Archives and History building
1901 W. Madison St.
Phoenix AZ 85009
602 926 3720

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Except state holidays

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