Arizona divorce records are public records under Arizona Supreme Court Rule 123 and A.R.S. § 39-121. Anyone may inspect dissolution case files at the county Superior Court Clerk or through the statewide eAccess portal, where unrestricted documents cost $10 each as of 2026. Sensitive data like Social Security numbers is redacted.
Because Arizona presumes court records are open, the question "are divorce records public Arizona" almost always resolves in favor of access. This guide explains where records live, how a public divorce filings search works, what is redacted, how to seal divorce records, and the exact fees and residency rules that govern the underlying dissolution case.
Key Facts: Arizona Divorce Records at a Glance
| Item | Arizona Rule |
|---|---|
| Are records public? | Yes — presumed open under Supreme Court Rule 123 |
| Filing Fee (petitioner) | $376 in Maricopa County (2026); ~$321–$376 statewide |
| Waiting Period | 60 days after service (A.R.S. § 25-329) |
| Residency Requirement | 90 days domicile before filing (A.R.S. § 25-312) |
| Grounds | No-fault: "irretrievably broken" (A.R.S. § 25-312) |
| Property Division Type | Community property, equitable (A.R.S. § 25-318) |
| Record copy fee (eAccess) | $10 per document (2026) |
| Where records are held | County Clerk of Superior Court (no central state repository) |
Filing fees are current as of January 2026. Verify with your local clerk before relying on any amount.
Are Divorce Records Public in Arizona?
Yes. Divorce records are public in Arizona under Arizona Supreme Court Rule 123, which states that court case records "are presumed to be open to any member of the public for inspection." A divorce is legally called a "Dissolution of Marriage," and the case file—petition, response, decree, and most motions—is accessible to any person, attorney, journalist, or government agency without needing to state a reason.
The statutory foundation is Arizona's Public Records Law at A.R.S. § 39-121, which requires government bodies to make records available to the public on request. Arizona Rule of Family Law Procedure 13(D) then applies Rule 123 specifically to dissolution proceedings, confirming that divorce records "shall be maintained and disclosed in accordance" with the open-records presumption. Only records specifically closed, sealed, or made confidential by law or court order fall outside public reach, and those exceptions are narrow. This open-access default means a divorce records search in Arizona is generally straightforward for anyone who knows the county and party names.
Where Are Arizona Divorce Records Kept?
Arizona divorce records are kept at the Clerk of the Superior Court in the county where the divorce was filed and finalized—there is no centralized state repository. Arizona maintains 15 county Superior Courts, and each holds its own dissolution files. The Arizona Department of Health Services Bureau of Vital Records does NOT register divorce decrees, so requests sent there are redirected to the county clerk.
This county-based structure matters for any public divorce filings search. If a couple divorced in Maricopa County (Phoenix), the file sits with the Maricopa County Clerk of Superior Court at 620 West Jackson Street, Phoenix, AZ 85003; a Pima County (Tucson) divorce sits with that county's clerk. Historical records add another layer: the Arizona State Archives holds divorce case indices and files roughly from 1864 to 1972, useful for genealogical research. For any case finalized in the modern era, the correct starting point is identifying the exact filing county, because a search of the wrong county's index will return nothing even when a valid public record exists elsewhere in the state.
How to Search and Access Divorce Records in Arizona
Arizona offers four ways to access divorce records: the statewide eAccess portal (documents cost $10 each in 2026), an online docket search for case history, in-person public access terminals at the courthouse (free to view), and mail requests to the county clerk. eAccess provides 24/7 online access to unrestricted documents from 177 of Arizona's 184 courts.
Each method serves a different divorce records search need. The online docket search lets you look up a case by party name or case number and see the list of filings, but it does not display document images—useful for confirming a case exists and finding the case ID. To view or copy actual documents, eAccess (aza.eaccess.azcourts.gov) is the primary tool; a one-time document costs $10, or you may buy a subscription for higher-volume access, and approved government agencies pay nothing. For those who prefer to work in person, most county clerk offices provide free public access computers where you can read records electronically during business hours. Finally, mail requests require a written request, a photocopy of government-issued ID, and a check or money order for copy fees. Certified copies of a decree typically cost more than plain copies; confirm the exact per-page and certification rate with the specific county clerk.
What Divorce Information Is Redacted or Protected?
While the core divorce file is public, Arizona automatically shields specific personal identifiers: full Social Security numbers, financial account numbers (bank, investment, and credit card), and minor children's full dates of birth. Filers must strip this "sensitive data" out of public documents and instead record it on a separate Confidential Sensitive Data Coversheet, which the clerk keeps as a restricted, non-public record under Arizona Rule of Family Law Procedure 43.1(f).
This redaction system balances transparency with divorce records privacy. Arizona Rule of Family Law Procedure 43.1(f) directs that before filing any document containing sensitive data, the party must omit or redact it. When the court requires the underlying data—as in support cases—it goes only on the confidential coversheet, which is not shared with the opposing party and is not a public record. Statute reinforces this: under A.R.S. § 25-501, parties in a support action must file Social Security numbers, but "in a manner that is consistent with the requirements of the Arizona rules of family law procedure"—meaning on the sensitive data sheet, not in the open affidavit. Additionally, any portion of a case involving adoption or juvenile matters is confidential and closed to the public entirely, separate from the dissolution record.
Can You Seal Divorce Records in Arizona?
Yes, but sealing is difficult and rare. Under Arizona Rule of Family Law Procedure 13(D), a Superior Court judge may seal or restrict access to a divorce record only after finding that the "confidentiality or privacy interests of the parties or their minor children outweigh the public interest in disclosure." You must file a Motion to Seal, and judges routinely deny full-file sealing, favoring targeted redaction of specific pages instead.
The demanding standard exists because Arizona's open-records presumption is strong. To seal divorce records, you carry the burden of showing a compelling, specific reason—the request is never automatic. Courts are most receptive when the record contains a documented history of domestic violence, stalking, or harassment; a genuine threat to a child's safety or identity; or confidential business records and trade secrets whose exposure would cause real harm. Even then, relief is usually partial: if you move to seal only your company's financial data, the rest of the file stays public. When a judge grants a motion, the outcome is typically redaction rather than erasure—the sensitive portions are blocked while the remainder of the case remains open. Because standards and local practice vary, most litigants who need protection rely first on the sensitive data coversheet and reserve a formal Motion to Seal for genuinely high-risk information.
Underlying Divorce Requirements: Fees, Residency, and Timeline
To file for divorce in Arizona, at least one spouse must have been domiciled in the state for 90 continuous days before filing, per A.R.S. § 25-312. The petitioner's filing fee is $376 in Maricopa County (2026), and Arizona imposes a mandatory 60-day waiting period after the respondent is served before a decree can be entered, under A.R.S. § 25-329.
These requirements produce the case that later becomes a public record, so understanding them clarifies what a searcher will find. Arizona is a pure no-fault state: the only ground is that the marriage is "irretrievably broken," with no reasonable prospect of reconciliation. The 90-day residency rule is jurisdictional—if unmet, the court lacks authority to grant the divorce—though military members stationed in Arizona for 90 days qualify even without domicile. Fees vary by county and change often; the Maricopa figure derives from A.R.S. § 12-284 base fees plus local additions. A fee deferral (waiver) is available to qualifying low-income filers. The 60-day clock is a floor, not the typical duration; a genuinely uncontested divorce often finalizes near that minimum, while a contested case can run many months longer, and every filing along the way becomes part of the public record.
Contested vs. Uncontested: What Ends Up Public
| Factor | Uncontested Divorce | Contested Divorce |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum timeline | ~60–90 days (post-service) | 6–18+ months |
| Documents filed | Petition, consent decree | Petition, motions, discovery, trial exhibits |
| Public exposure | Minimal, brief file | Extensive, detailed public file |
| Financial detail visible | Limited | Often substantial (redacted identifiers only) |
| Typical filing fee | $376 petitioner (2026) | $376 petitioner + $287 respondent (2026) |
Contested cases generate far more public documents, which is why parties with privacy concerns often prefer negotiated, uncontested resolutions.
How to Protect Your Privacy in an Arizona Divorce
The most effective privacy strategy in Arizona is proactive redaction, not after-the-fact sealing. Always place Social Security numbers, account numbers, and children's birth dates on the Confidential Sensitive Data Coversheet under Rule 43.1(f) rather than in public filings, and reserve a formal Motion to Seal for genuinely sensitive material like business trade secrets or domestic-violence safety concerns.
Several practical steps reduce your public footprint. First, complete the Affidavit of Financial Information carefully—it is a required disclosure, so use the sensitive data sheet to keep identifiers out of the public version while still satisfying A.R.S. § 25-501. Second, consider resolving the case through settlement or mediation; a consent decree files fewer detailed documents than a contested trial, shrinking the amount of financial information that enters the public divorce filings record. Third, if you have a protective order or documented safety risk, tell your attorney early so the appropriate address-confidentiality and sealing protections can be requested from the outset. Finally, remember that names and case numbers generally remain public even after sealing specific data—Arizona's transparency default means you cannot make a divorce entirely invisible, only shield the most sensitive components.