Maricopa County Superior Court Records | Case Search & Dockets

Key Court Records Resources in Maricopa County, Arizona

Residents, businesses, and attorneys rely on the Maricopa County Superior Court and the Maricopa County Justice Courts to access civil, criminal, family, probate, and other case information, while the Clerk of the Superior Court maintains many of the official case files. For a broader view of public-record resources across the state, you can also review Arizona Public Records.

Before you start searching, gather any case numbers you have, the full names of parties, and dates of birth where they appear on court paperwork, because most online tools focus on those details. Online dockets may be audited and can experience short maintenance windows, so very recent activity or older cases may not appear immediately; critical information should always be verified directly with the appropriate court or clerk, and nothing here is legal advice or a guarantee that specific records will be available.

  • Know which court is handling the case (Superior Court or Justice Court).
  • Keep case numbers, party names, and dates of birth nearby when searching.
  • Expect some delay before new filings or orders show up online.
  • Confirm anything important with the court or Clerk of the Superior Court.

How Maricopa County Courts Are Typically Organized

Maricopa County’s trial courts are centered on the Superior Court, which is part of the Judicial Branch of Arizona in Maricopa County. Within the Superior Court, separate departments focus on different types of cases, and those departments share information through the court’s online docket systems and case-information tools.

The Civil Department handles disputes between individuals, businesses, and government entities, including contract disagreements, personal injury claims, property damage matters, and medical malpractice cases. The Criminal Department hears felony criminal cases from the initial appearance through trial, sentencing, and post-conviction matters. The Probate and Mental Health Department oversees probate and related matters, while the Family Department handles divorce, legal separation, parenting time and decision-making, child and spousal support, and related family-law issues.

The Juvenile Department of the Superior Court focuses on matters involving children and families, such as adoptions, delinquency, dependency, emancipations, guardianships, injunctions against harassment for certain minors, and severance of parental rights. Juvenile case processing, hearings, and juvenile-related court services are tied to specific juvenile court centers in Maricopa County, and many juvenile-related forms and resources are linked through the Juvenile Department and the Law Library Resource Center.

Alongside the Superior Court, Maricopa County also has Justice Courts, which are limited-jurisdiction trial courts. According to the Justice Courts, these courts handle misdemeanor crimes, protective orders, small claims cases up to a specified dollar amount, and civil lawsuits up to another stated limit, along with traffic and certain eviction matters. Each Justice Court precinct has an elected Justice of the Peace who serves as the judge for that precinct, and appeals from Justice Court generally go to the county’s Superior Court.

Because both the Superior Court and the Justice Courts hear different categories of cases, court records can be split between those systems. Felony criminal cases and larger civil disputes are typically handled in the Superior Court departments, while many traffic, misdemeanor, and small civil cases are heard in Justice Courts. Knowing which court has the case will determine whether you should be using a Superior Court docket tool or the Justice Courts case search.

Several court facilities in Maricopa County serve as in-person locations for hearings and for accessing case information at the clerk or court counters. The table below highlights a few commonly referenced sites for court business and court-records questions; always confirm current locations and hours with the courts before you travel.

Facility Name Physical Address Phone Number
Superior Court (Central Court Building) Central Court Building - 201 W. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, AZ 85003 (View on Google Maps) (602) 506-3204
Civil Department 201 W Jefferson St. 4th Floor, Phoenix, AZ 85003 (View on Google Maps) (602) 506-1497
Agua Fria Location (Justice Court) 10420 W. Van Buren St. Avondale, AZ 85323 (View on Google Maps) (602) 372-8001

The main online gateway for Superior Court information is the docket system labeled “Public Access to Court Information.” From this entry point, users can view court calendars, case information, and minute entries for Civil, Criminal, Family, and Probate court cases. To begin working with Superior Court data, you can search Superior Court cases online and then choose the appropriate case-type tool from that page.

Individual Superior Court dockets are available for specific case categories, such as Civil Court Case Information, Criminal Court Case Information, Family Court Case Information, and Probate Court Case Information. Each of these pages offers search forms that allow you to look up a case by name or case number. The same public access system may also show upcoming hearings and minute entries, subject to data-entry practices and any public-access rules that apply to a particular case.

The Superior Court docket pages emphasize that case information is subject to auditing, and that entries may be adjusted after they first appear online. They also note that there are planned maintenance windows, including a stated downtime in the early morning hours on several days of the week, and that the court and the Clerk of the Superior Court do not guarantee the online data as a substitute for an original document bearing the clerk’s filing stamp.

For limited-jurisdiction cases handled by the Maricopa County Justice Courts, there is a separate Justice Court case-history tool. That system allows you to look up Justice Court cases by name, business name, case number, and, in some situations, a date of birth. The Justice Courts describe their case-history site as a convenience, explain that it is not the official court record, and state that case records follow the Arizona Supreme Court’s retention schedule for limited-jurisdiction courts, which can affect how far back online information is available.

The Justice Courts website also provides navigation to other functions such as looking up case information, viewing court calendars, filing or responding to cases, and making payments, along with links to certain other Arizona courts. If you are not sure whether a case is in Superior Court, Justice Court, or a municipal court, the Justice Courts “Case Search” page includes references to other courts around the state that may hold the official record.

Search Tips for Maricopa County Court Records

Case numbers are usually the most precise way to search in both the Superior Court and Justice Court systems, so start with the case number printed on your paperwork whenever you have it. Enter the number exactly as it appears on court documents or correspondence, because differences in punctuation or format can prevent a match in the online case-search tools.

When you do not have a case number for a Superior Court case, the individual docket pages allow searches by name. Civil Court Case Information, Family Court Case Information, and Probate Court Case Information all provide search fields for a last name and first name, and some forms offer a separate field for a business name. Spelling and spacing should match the way the name appears in the case caption or on the court filings for the best chance of finding the correct record.

Criminal Court Case Information adds another search option that uses initials and a date of birth. The form prompts for a last-name initial, first-name initial, and a date of birth entered in mm/dd/yyyy format, or you can search by full last name and first name or by case number. This can help narrow down results when multiple people share similar names but you have a date of birth available from your paperwork.

The Justice Courts case-history search offers similar flexibility: you can search by a person’s name, a business name, or a case number, and the page includes a format prompt for a date of birth when that field is required. Because the Justice Court site notes that its information is subject to a retention schedule and is not the official record, it is a good idea to keep your case number and any dates listed on your citation or court notice handy when using this tool.

Across both systems, it helps to double-check you are using the correct court for the case type: felony criminal and larger civil matters will usually appear in the Superior Court dockets, while smaller civil suits, certain traffic matters, and many evictions may appear in the Justice Courts case-history tool. For background on how statewide court records are organized, you can also review Arizona Court Records, but you should always rely on the Maricopa County courts themselves for the final word on where a record is held.

  • Use the exact case number whenever possible.
  • Match names and initials to the way they appear on court papers.
  • Enter dates of birth in the mm/dd/yyyy format when a form requires it.
  • Switch between Superior Court and Justice Court tools if you are not seeing results.

What You Can View Online (and What May Be Missing)

The Superior Court’s Public Access to Court Information system is designed to show basic case details online. Depending on the case type, you may see a case caption, party names, case status, scheduled hearings, and minute entries for Civil, Criminal, Family, and Probate cases. Calendar views allow you to see when hearings are scheduled for a particular case or judicial officer, and docket entries trace filing activity over time.

Civil, Criminal, Family, and Probate Court Case Information pages within the Superior Court docket system typically provide a high-level summary of the case and a series of docket entries or minute entries that describe what has occurred in the case. The entries are based on information from documents filed with the Clerk of the Superior Court, and the clerk notes that only an original document bearing the clerk’s filing stamp can serve as proof of filing or error, so the online display should be treated as informational rather than a legal record.

The Maricopa County Justice Courts case-history system shows information for limited-jurisdiction cases, such as the parties, a case number, and a history of actions taken. The Justice Courts make clear that the website is not the official court record and that they are not liable for damages arising from use of the site, and they also explain that their online case records follow the Arizona Supreme Court’s retention schedule for limited-jurisdiction courts. That means very old Justice Court cases may not be available online even though the court maintains records according to statewide retention rules.

Neither the Superior Court nor Justice Court online tools are guaranteed to display every document that exists in a physical case file. Attachments, exhibits, or certain confidential filings may not appear in the public online view, and some case categories may be restricted or partially available depending on privacy rules and court orders. For complete files, certified copies, or documents that do not show up online, you may need to submit a records request or visit a court location in person.

For Superior Court case records, minute entries, and marriage license copies, the Records Requests information explains that these items are available from the Clerk of the Superior Court through a dedicated “Request Court Records” process. Judicial Branch administrative records that fall under Arizona Supreme Court Rule 123 are handled differently, and those requests are directed to the Judicial Branch of Arizona in Maricopa County rather than through the standard case-records request path.

When You Need an In-Person or Written Request

Online access is useful for checking hearing dates and reviewing basic case status, but some situations still require a written request or an in-person visit. Older cases that fall outside the online retention schedule, restricted or sealed matters, and requests for certified copies of orders, minute entries, or marriage licenses are examples where the courts may direct you to use a records-request process rather than relying on the public web tools.

The Records Requests page for the Judicial Branch of Arizona in Maricopa County explains that Judicial Branch administrative records open to the public are handled under Arizona Supreme Court Rule 123. Requests for these judicial public records are routed to the Judicial Branch using the PublicRecords@jbazmc.maricopa.gov email address, and the page lists standard business hours and a Washington Street mailing address for that office. These requests are distinct from routine case-file copies obtained through the Clerk of the Superior Court.

For copies of case documents or marriage license copies, the same Records Requests information states that you should work with the Clerk of the Superior Court. The Clerk’s office is identified as the custodian for case records, minute entries, and marriage license copies, and the Records Requests material directs users to the Clerk of the Superior Court and to a phone number formatted as (602)37-CLERK for questions about those case-file copies.

Before sending a written request, it is helpful to confirm which court holds the case and whether you are asking for a case record or an administrative judicial record. You can review instructions and email contacts on the Judicial Branch Records Requests page to review Judicial Branch records procedures and then follow the steps described there, including any forms or identification requirements they list.

Justice Court case-file copies and records requests are handled through the individual Justice Courts rather than the Clerk of the Superior Court. The Justice Courts website includes sections for requesting court records and provides telephone numbers for each precinct; if an online case-history search does not give you what you need, the next step is usually to contact the specific Justice Court handling your case and ask about that court’s process for obtaining records or certified copies.

Official Maricopa County Contacts and Summary

For questions that go beyond what the online docket or case-history tools show, such as confirming whether a case exists, requesting certified copies, or asking about records that are not visible online, you should contact the appropriate Maricopa County court or clerk’s office directly. Use the Superior Court and Justice Court portals described above to confirm current office locations, hours, and any special procedures before visiting in person.

  • Clerk of the Superior Court: 601 W. Jackson Street, Phoenix, AZ 85003 (View on Google Maps)
  • Phone: (602)37-CLERK
  • Judicial Branch public records email: PublicRecords@jbazmc.maricopa.gov

Is the online case search the official court record in Maricopa County?
No. Both the Superior Court public access docket and the Justice Courts case-history site explain that their web tools are conveniences and not the official court record, so you must contact the court itself for any official or certified copies.

What can I do if I cannot locate my case in a Maricopa County court records search?
First confirm you are searching the right court, check the spelling of names, dates of birth, and any case numbers, and if the case still does not appear, call the Clerk of the Superior Court or the specific Justice Court listed on your paperwork to ask about older, sealed, or otherwise unavailable records.

Because procedures and availability can change, always confirm details such as office locations, hours, and record-request requirements directly with the official Maricopa County court or clerk sources before relying on them.