Accessing Arizona Public Records
Public Records Requests should be made directly to the agency where the records reside. Title 39 of the Arizona Revised Statutes covers public records requests, and requires that public records and other matters in the custody of any officer shall be open to inspection by any person at all times during business hours.
For questions or concerns regarding public records requests, contact the Arizona Ombudsman Citizen’s Aide.
Personal records are covered by statute. Many personal records 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.
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.
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.
Accessing Records with azpublicinfo.com
The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com have created the website azpublicinfo.com to make it as simple as possible for citizens to request public records from government agencies. The website identifies the types of public information maintained by Arizona’s governmental jurisdictions, helps users identify records they may be seeking, and allows users to send public-record requests directly to the agencies:
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. The Arizona Supreme Court administers the Confidential Intermediary program. 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 75 years ago or prior |
Department of Health Services Arizona State Archives |
|
Births that occurred less than 75 years ago |
Department of Health Services, Vital Records |
|
Deaths that occurred 50 years ago or prior |
Department of Health Services Arizona State Archives |
|
Deaths that occurred less than 50 years ago |
Department of Health Services, Vital Records |
|
Divorce Decrees |
These records are held at the county Superior Court where they are filed. Older divorce decrees (prior to 1950) may be held by the Arizona State Archives or the county Superior Court in which the divorce occurred. |
|
Drivers Licenses |
Arizona Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division |
|
Genealogy Resources |
Arizona State Archives |
|
Marriage Certificates |
These records are held at the county Superior Court where they are filed. Marriage certificates prior to 1950 may be held at the county Superior Court or at the Arizona State Archives. |
|
Motor Vehicle Registration |
Arizona Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division For car title information, use the Motor Vehicle Record Request Form http://www.azdot.gov/docs/default-source/mvd-forms-pubs/46-4416.pdf?sfvrsn=2 |
|
Naturalizations prior to 1906 |
Naturalization may be done through either the Federal or State Courts. For Federal Court naturalizations: For County Superior Court naturalizations:
For County Superior Court naturalizations: |
|
Naturalizations from September 27, 1906, for genealogy |
Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services For Arizona State Court naturalizations:
For county Superior Court naturalizations: |
|
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 the county Superior Court or at the Arizona State Archives. |
|
School Records |
Public School Records: Charter School Records: Select closed charter schools are housed at the Arizona State Archives Private Schools: Student Records held at the Arizona State Archives: |
|
School Locator links |
District Schools Charter Schools Private Schools |
|
Sex Offender searchable list |
Department of Public Safety |
Court Records
| TYPE OF RECORD | AGENCY |
|---|---|
| Court of Appeals, Division I | 1501 West Washington Street, Phoenix, AZ 85007 602-542-4821 http://azcourts.gov/coa1/ Also, for cases between 1984 to 2005 contact the Arizona State Archives |
| Court of Appeals, Division II | 400 West Congress, Tucson, Arizona 85701 520-628-6954 http://www.appeals2.az.gov/ Also, for cases between 1989 to 2009 contact the Arizona State Archives |
| Superior Courts | The superior court is the state's general jurisdiction court. It is a single entity with a location in each county. See links to Arizona County General Information below. Older cases may be held at the Arizona State Archives |
| Supreme Court, all cases | Arizona Supreme Court 602-452-3398 (clerk of the court) http://www.azcourts.gov/azsupremecourt.aspx |
| Territorial Supreme Court cases | Arizona State Archives 602-926-3720 http://www.azlibrary.gov/arm/ |
Business Records
| TYPE OF RECORD | AGENCY |
|---|---|
| Business licenses | Business license, Department of Revenue http://www.azdor.gov/ Check with cities for additional license's. See the League of Arizona Cities and Towns for a local government directory. |
| Contractor licenses | Registrar of Contractors 602-542-1525 http://www.azroc.gov/ |
| Incorporation Records | Arizona Corporation Commission 602-542-3026 http://www.azcc.gov |
| Liens: Vehicle Title | Arizona Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division http://www.azdot.gov/mvd/vehicle/titleholding.asp |
| Liens: Uniform Commercial Code | Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) liens are filed with the Office of the Secretary of State, and deal primarily with transactions involving personal property, not real property. A search link can be found at: http://apps.azsos.gov/apps/ucc/search/ |
| 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 | Property is recorded with the County Recorder for County where property is located. See links to Arizona County General Information below. |
| Trade Names | Trade names are filed in several places. For small businesses check with the Commerce Authority first, or with any licensing boards overseeing the trade. http://www.azcommerce.com/ Arizona Secretary of State Trade Name Search |
| Water Rights Records | Arizona Department of Water Resources 602-771-8500 http://www.azwater.gov/azdwr/ Arizona State Archives |
Arizona County General Information
| COUNTY | PHONE | WEBSITE |
|---|---|---|
| Apache County | 928-337-4364 | http://www.co.apache.az.us/ |
| Cochise County | 520-432-9200 | http://cochise.az.gov/ |
| Coconino County | 928-774-5011 | http://www.coconino.az.gov/ |
| Gila County | 928-425-3231 | http://www.gilacountyaz.gov/ |
| Graham County | http://www.graham.az.gov/ | |
| Greenlee County | 928-865-2072 | http://www.co.greenlee.az.us/ |
| LaPaz County | 928-669-6115 | http://www.co.la-paz.az.us/ |
| Maricopa County | 602-506-3011 | http://www.maricopa.gov/ |
| Mohave County | 928-753-9141 | http://www.mohavecounty.us/ |
| Navajo County | 928-524-4000 | http://www.navajocountyaz.gov/ |
| Pima County | http://www.pima.gov/ | |
| Pinal County | 520-509-3555 | http://pinalcountyaz.gov/ |
| Santa Cruz County | 520-375-7800 | http://www.co.santa-cruz.az.us/ |
| Yavapai County | 928-771-3100 | http://www.yavapai.us/ |
| Yuma County | 928-373-1010 | http://www.yumacountyaz.gov/ |