Divorce records may be accessed by anyone as they come under the public domain. You may have several reasons for obtaining Arizona divorce records. These records can be obtained by visiting the county where the divorce had been granted. Or you can also get the record by searching centralized databases that store public records over the Internet. Some people hire a private detective to procure this information on their behalf. However, this involves very high cost and the process is also time-consuming. There is also no certainty about the accuracy of the information obtained.
Divorce records are stored and updated regularly by the state authorities. Divorce records may be procured by anyone who wishes to verify a person’s marital status before getting involved with him or her. As marriage is a long-term bonding, it is better to double check your potential partner's history before accepting the person as your married partner. This is particularly important if you know he or she had been married earlier. It makes sense to find out whether the divorce was actually granted or not.
Since the information is in the public domain, all divorce records will need to be maintained, and the authorities must share the information with you when you ask for it.
The fact is, getting the divorce record in Arizona is more difficult than getting it in most other states. This happens because there is no centralized storage centre. Although Arizona has an Office of Vital Records, but all the records maintained here do not fall in the public domain. The address of this office is:
Office of Vital Records
1818 West Adams, PO Box 3887,
Phoenix, AZ 85030-3887
Thus, the best place to get the divorce record is the county from where the divorce was granted. However, every county has a different process for procuring the records.
To get the record in print, you will need to visit the Superior court between 8.00am and 5.00pm. You can get the record you want in less than 2 hours here. However, if you wish to get it by phone, it may take you 2 to 3 weeks. Different counties charge different fees for offering this service.
You must provide some information to get the record. The minimum information that you must provide is the person's name. It is important to know the full name of the person, and the nickname if any. Do always ensure that you are providing the correct name and the spelling. You should also know the name of the county from where the divorce was granted.
There's nothing to worry if you do not know the name of the county that issued the divorce decree. Just approach the state office. It will direct you to the appropriate county. But in case you are aware of the county's name, you can get the record quickly.
The fees charged by each county might be different. The fee is higher if you cannot provide adequate information. The fee is more if the search is difficult.
To secure copies of Arizona divorce decrees, follow the instructions below:
Step 1.
Obtain as much information as you can about the divorce record, including the case number, names of the parties on the divorce document, filing date and year, and the number of pages.
Step 2.
Place a written request with the above information to the office listed below either by mail or fax. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for mail orders, or a $7 check for shipping and handling. Fees for copies of divorce are $0.50 per page, and an additional $26 applies if you want a certified copy.
Step 3.
You may also call the correspondence office directly to order copies of divorce records. Be sure to have all the important information, or be prepared to pay an additional $26 research fee. All fees must be paid via credit card for phone orders.
More assistance and information can be provided through contacting the following office:
Arizona Clerk of the Superior Court
201 West Jefferson
Phoenix, AZ 85003
Phone: (602) 506-3360
Fax: (602) 506-7619
Retrieving Arizona Divorce Records
While the State of Arizona keeps most vital records stored in the Office of Vital Records of the Department of Health Services, official court records, including Arizona divorce records, are maintained by the Clerk of the Superior Court in the county where the event occurred. Arizona laws do not restrict access to family court records, therefore the anyone in the general public may place a request for a record.
Obtaining Copies of Arizona Divorce Records
While Arizona divorce certificates are issued by each county court, copies of all official court records can be obtained at correspondence section of the Clerk of the Superior Court in Phoenix. Copies may be obtained via written request by mail, fax, or by phone.
Data to Provide to Obtain Arizona Divorce Records
To avoid research costs, you must have the case number of the divorce decree, the names of the parties listed on the divorce, the filing date and year, and the estimated number of pages, along with your mailing address and contact info.
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