Accessing Arizona Public Records
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 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.
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.
Personal Records
| TYPE OF RECORD | AGENCY |
|---|---|
| Adoptions |
Arizona adoption records are sealed in Arizona for 100 years, but a Confidential Intermediary may be able to help you. For more information visit the Confidential Intermediary Program site.
For adoptions over 100 years old, check with the Arizona State Archives or the county Superior Court in which the adoption occurred.
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| Background Checks |
Contact your local police department. See the League of Arizona Cities and Towns for a local government directory.
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Births that occurred within 75 years
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Department of Health Services, Vital Records
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Births that occurred more than 75 years ago
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OR
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Deaths that occurred within 50 years
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Department of Health Services, Vital Records
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Deaths that occurred more than 50 years ago
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OR
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Divorce Decrees
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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.
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Drivers Licenses & Vehicle Registration
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Arizona Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division
For car title information, use the Motor Vehicle Record Request Form
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Genealogy Resources
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OR
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Marriage Certificates
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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.
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Naturalizations granted by municipal, county, or state courts (prior to 1906)
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Arizona State Archives |
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Naturalizations granted by Federal courts (after 1906)
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National Archives and Records Administration |
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Police Records
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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.
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| 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:
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Sex Offender Search
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Department of Public Safety |
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.
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| 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.
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| Territorial Supreme Court cases |
Business Records
| TYPE OF RECORD | AGENCY |
|---|---|
| Business licenses |
Also, check with cities for additional license's.
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| Contractor licenses | |
| Incorporation Records | |
| Liens: Vehicle Title |
Arizona Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division
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| Liens: Uniform Commercial Code |
For transactions involving personal property, not real property contact the Office of the Secretary of State.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| Water Rights Records |
Arizona Department of Water Resources
Some records may be held at the Arizona State Archives. |
