Pima County Court Records Search
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Pima County encompasses the Tucson metropolitan area and is Arizona’s second-most populous county. Its court system handles tens of thousands of filings each year across criminal, civil, family, and probate divisions. For residents, attorneys, and researchers who need to access court documents, Pima County offers multiple pathways — from walk-in requests at the courthouse to several online search portals. This guide walks through each major category of court records, the offices responsible for maintaining them, and the specific steps required to obtain copies.
Individuals searching for court records in Arizona can begin by exploring official court resources, including clerk of court offices, public access terminals located at courthouses, and statewide online tools. The ArizonaCourts.us website may assist users in locating publicly available court case information across Arizona counties, including Pima County. From there, the Clerk of the Superior Court, the Consolidated Justice Court, and the Arizona Judicial Branch each maintain their own search systems, which are described in detail below.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Pima County?
Pima County’s court structure includes the Superior Court (with divisions for civil, criminal, family, probate, and juvenile matters), the Consolidated Justice Court, and several municipal courts. Each operates its own records system, but the most comprehensive starting point is the Pima County Clerk of the Superior Court, which manages filings for all Superior Court divisions.
Online Search Portals
Several digital tools are available for locating Pima County case records:
- Public Record Search (Agave Online) — Provides limited public viewing of Pima County Superior Court case information, searchable by party name or case number. Documents may take up to three business days after filing to appear.
- ECR for Parties — Allows parties to a case who have an Arizona driver’s license to view their own public case information online.
- eAccess — A statewide portal operated by the Arizona Judicial Branch, offering 24/7 access to Superior Court civil and criminal records filed on or after July 1, 2010. Note that Pima County criminal case records have limited availability on eAccess.
- Arizona Public Access Case Lookup — A separate statewide search tool, though not all Pima County courts upload records to this portal.
- Justice Court Case Search — Covers cases filed in the Pima County Consolidated Justice Court, searchable by name, case number, or complaint number.
In-Person, Mail, and Phone Requests
The Clerk’s Public Records Services office accepts requests through multiple channels:
Public Records Services
110 W. Congress Street, Room 241
Tucson, AZ 85701-1317
Phone: (520) 724-3240
Fax: (520) 724-2134
Email: COCLegalRecordsWeb@sc.pima.gov
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
For mail requests, complete the Request for Copies of Court Records form and submit it with payment (check or money order payable to “Clerk of the Court”) to the address above, attention: Legal Records. Phone requests are accepted with credit card payment (Visa, MasterCard, or Discover).
Under A.R.S. § 39-121.01, all public records requests must include an affirmation that the records are not sought for a commercial purpose, or if they are, a statement explaining the intended use.
Copy and Certification Fees
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Regular copies | $0.50 per page |
| Certified copy | $35.00 plus $0.50 per page |
| Postage and handling | $8.00 |
| Research fee (per year/source) | $35.00 |
| Marriage license (certified copy) | $35.00 |
Are Court Records Public in Pima County?
Arizona maintains a strong presumption of public access to court records. Under Arizona’s Public Records Law (A.R.S. Title 39), public records held by any officer are open to inspection during office hours. Court records specifically are governed by Rule 123 of the Arizona Rules of the Supreme Court, which establishes that all case records are open to the public unless closed by law or court order. The Arizona Code of Judicial Administration Sections 3-402 and 1-604 further define how public access applies to court records.
Records that are restricted or closed to public inspection include:
- Juvenile court records — Managed by Juvenile Support Services at the Pima County Juvenile Court Center, not through the Clerk’s standard Public Records Services
- Title 36 mental health cases — Involuntary commitment and related proceedings
- Sealed or expunged records — Cases sealed by court order are removed from public view
- Records involving victims of sexual or physical abuse — Personal identifying information may be redacted
- Pending investigation records — May be temporarily restricted
- Confidential personal information — Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and similar data are subject to redaction under court rules
The Clerk’s office notes that records deemed closed, sealed, or confidential under these authorities may not be subject to review or reproduction. If a search on the online portals does not return results, the Clerk recommends contacting Public Records Services directly at (520) 724-3240 before visiting in person.
Pima County Criminal Court Records
Criminal felony cases in Pima County are prosecuted in the Superior Court, while the Consolidated Justice Court handles misdemeanor criminal matters, DUI cases, and preliminary hearings for felonies. Municipal courts throughout the county process city ordinance violations and certain misdemeanors within their respective jurisdictions.
Searching Criminal Court Records
Superior Court criminal case records can be accessed through the Public Record Search portal or by contacting the Clerk’s Public Records Services. The statewide eAccess system provides access to criminal records, although Pima County criminal case records are only available for cases filed after a specific cutoff date and with some limitations.
For misdemeanor cases heard in Justice Court, the Case Search portal covers all criminal records except those involving juvenile defendants. Copies of Justice Court documents can also be obtained by submitting the Online Request Form or the Public Records Request form (JP77).
Arrest and Custody Records
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department maintains an Inmate Lookup tool for searching individuals currently held in the Pima County Adult Detention Complex. The jail can be contacted at (520) 351-8111.
Criminal History Records
Formal criminal history record checks are handled by the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) through its Criminal History Records Section. To obtain your own criminal history, complete the Contact Information Form and a Fingerprint Card at a local law enforcement agency such as the Pima County Sheriff’s Department. Mail these to:
Arizona Department of Public Safety
Criminal History Records Unit
P.O. Box 18450
Phoenix, AZ 85005-8450
Processing typically takes about 15 business days. For inquiries, call (602) 223-2222 for personal record reviews or (602) 223-2279 for criminal history record check questions.
Record Sealing and Expungement
The Justice Court provides a Petition to Seal Criminal Case Records (JP425) along with instructions (JP426). Separate forms exist for marijuana-related expungement: the Petition to Expunge Marijuana-Related Offense Records (JP771) and accompanying instructions (JP770). An Application to Set Aside Conviction (JP165B) is also available.
Pima County Civil Court Records
Civil litigation in Pima County is split between the Superior Court, which hears cases without a dollar-amount cap, and the Consolidated Justice Court, which handles civil disputes up to $10,000, small claims, landlord-tenant matters, and eviction actions.
Superior Court Civil Cases
Civil filings in the Superior Court — including complaints, answers, motions, orders, and judgments — are maintained by the Clerk of the Superior Court. These records can be searched online through the Public Record Search portal or requested through the Clerk’s Public Records Services. Documents may also be filed and accessed electronically through the eFiling system.
Superior Court Civil Filing Fees (per A.R.S. § 12-284)
| Filing | Total Fee |
|---|---|
| Complaint or petition | $252.00 |
| Answer or initial appearance | $148.00 |
| Change of venue transmittal | $35.00 |
| Foreign judgment | $252.00 |
| Subpoena (civil) | $35.00 |
| Copies (per page) | $0.50 |
| Certification | $35.00 |
Justice Court Civil and Small Claims Cases
The Pima County Consolidated Justice Court provides forms and fee schedules for all civil and small claims filings. Key forms and fees include:
| Form | Description | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| CVSCPK1 | Small Claims Complaint & Summons Packet | $60.00 |
| CVRC1P | Civil Complaint and Summons Packet | $116.00 |
| CVRC4 | Answer (Civil) | $67.00 |
| JP06A | Eviction Complaint Summons Packet | $71.00 |
Persons unable to afford filing fees may apply for a deferral or waiver using the Application for Deferral or Waiver of Fees (JP1).
Justice Court case records are available through the Case Search portal or by completing the Online Request Form.
Pima County Consolidated Justice Court
240 North Stone Avenue
Tucson, AZ 85701
Phone: (520) 724-3171
Pima County Family Court Records
The Family Court division of the Pima County Superior Court adjudicates divorce and legal separation, annulment, child custody and parenting time, child support, paternity and maternity, and protective orders. The Clerk of the Superior Court maintains all family court filings.
Divorce and Dissolution Filing Fees (Effective June 1, 2026)
| Filing | Total Fee |
|---|---|
| Petition for dissolution, legal separation, or annulment | $436.00 |
| Response or initial appearance | $347.00 |
| Summary Consent Petition & Response | $566.50 |
| Petition for paternity/maternity | $431.00 |
| Response in paternity/maternity | $342.00 |
| Post-judgment petition | $102.00 |
| Protective order (order of protection) | No fee |
| Injunction against harassment | No fee |
An additional $50.00 parent education fee applies per A.R.S. § 25-352 when children are involved in any dissolution, legal separation, annulment, or paternity proceeding.
Available Family Court Forms
The Pima County Superior Court family court forms page provides an extensive library of downloadable packets, many available in both English and Spanish. These include Packet 01 (Divorce General Information), Packet 02 through 07 (divorce petition, response, and decree forms with and without children), Packet 08 (Child Support), Packet 09 (Parenting Plans), and packets for paternity, modification of orders, and enforcement actions.
Additional forms include the Financial Affidavit, Confidential Sensitive Data instructions, and various post-decree modification packets for parenting time, child support, and relocation.
Accessing Family Court Records
Family court records follow the same access procedures as other Superior Court records. Requests can be submitted online, in person, by mail, by email, or by phone through the Clerk’s Public Records Services. The same copy fees apply ($0.50 per page for regular copies, $35.00 plus $0.50 per page for certified copies).
Marriage Licenses
Marriage licenses are issued by the Clerk of the Superior Court. A marriage license costs $98.00. Certified copies of a marriage license or application cost $35.00. Requests can be made through the Clerk’s Public Records Services or included in the Request for Copies of Court Records form by completing the marriage license records section.
Protective Orders
The Justice Court handles orders of protection and injunctions against harassment at no filing cost to the petitioner. A Petition Packet (OPPK1) is available from the Justice Court’s forms page.
Birth and Death Records
Vital records are administered separately from the court system. The Pima County Health Department Vital Records Office issues copies of birth and death certificates for $20.00 each. Applicants must complete the appropriate application form — the Birth Certificate Application or the Death Certificate Application — and include a copy of valid photo identification or have the form notarized. Confirm eligibility requirements before applying. Requests may be mailed or placed in the lobby dropbox at:
Pima County Vital Records
3950 S. Country Club Road
Tucson, AZ 85714
Phone: (520) 724-7932 or (520) 724-7770
Pima County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in Pima County are heard by the Probate Division of the Superior Court. This division handles estate administration (both formal and informal probate), wills, conservatorships, guardianships for adults and minors, trusts, mental health proceedings, and adult adoptions.
Probate Filing Fees (per A.R.S. § 12-284)
| Filing | Total Fee |
|---|---|
| Petition for informal probate or appointment | $191.00 |
| Petition for formal testacy or appointment | $191.00 |
| Petition for supervised administration | $191.00 |
| Petition to appoint guardian | $191.00 |
| Petition to appoint conservator | $191.00 |
| Opposing petition in guardianship/conservatorship | $191.00 |
| Post-judgment activities in probate | $87.00 |
| Adoption petition or application | No fee |
Searching Probate Records
Probate case information can be searched through Benchmark WEB, which allows lookup by case number, party name, attorney, or calendar date. The Clerk’s Public Record Search also covers probate and guardianship cases. As with other Superior Court records, copies may be requested in person, by mail, email, phone, or fax through the Clerk’s Public Records Services.
Probate Clerk’s Office
110 West Congress Street, 1st Floor
Tucson, AZ 85701
Phone: (520) 724-3230
Probate Registrar (Vicky Nicula)
Phone: (520) 724-3247
Probate Accountant (Lorenzo Garza)
Phone: (520) 724-3286
Probate Forms and Self-Help Resources
The Probate Court forms page provides packets for informal probate (Packets 01–05), adult guardianship and conservatorship (Packets 12–19), minor guardianship (Packets 01–16), and various accounting, reporting, and discharge forms. A Procedural Guide to Routine Filings in Probate is available on the court’s website and covers step-by-step instructions for guardianships, conservatorships, and estate administration. Mandatory training forms for conservators, guardians, and personal representatives include Form 09 (Unlicensed Fiduciary Training Manual) and the Small Estate Affidavit (Form 01) for estates qualifying under Arizona’s small estates threshold.
The Pima County Public Fiduciary office, located at 32 North Stone Avenue, 4th Floor, Tucson, AZ 85701, Phone: (520) 724-5454, serves as fiduciary for individuals who have no one else to act on their behalf.
For those who cannot afford an attorney, the South Alabama Volunteer Lawyers Program equivalent in Pima County is Southern Arizona Legal Aid, reachable at (520) 623-9461, and the Pima County Bar Association Lawyer Referral service at (520) 623-4625. The Pima County Bar Association also sells probate and guardianship form packets at $25.00 per package or $1.00 per individual form.