Arizona Public Records

Arizona is considered a closed records state, but this does not mean that all records are difficult to view. It does mean that Arizona death records and birth records are restricted. These Arizona public records can requested by authorized recipients from the Arizona Department of Health Services or locally from one of their branches. Arizona marriage records and divorce records are not restricted and may be requested from the Clerk of Superior Court in the county where the event took place. Arizona court records are also maintained by the individual Clerks of Superior Court. The Arizona Judicial Branch offers online access to most state court records. The Arizona Department of Public Safety allows individuals to request their own criminal histories, but not that of a third party. To research Arizona military records, cemetery and vital records and obituaries, visit one of the four branches of the State Library and Archives.

About Arizona Public Records

Arizona is cited as being a closed records state because it restricts access to birth, death and criminal records. However, after 75 years, Arizona birth records become public, and death records are released after 50 years. Otherwise, these Arizona public records are only released to the person of record, immediate family or someone with a legal right to view. Arizona criminal records are also restricted and can only be viewed by law enforcement, criminal justice agencies, authorized employers and the person of record. Criminal Arizona court records, however, don’t have the same restrictions, and they are mostly public records.

The Department of Health Services now offers an online public records search tool that allows genealogists or individuals to perform name searches of birth and death records, narrowed by county if desired, for the years 1855 through 1936. Any results include a scanned version of the birth or death record that can be saved and printed from a home computer. This free service is a convenient tool for those just beginning their family history quest.

Obtaining Online Public Records in Arizona

In addition to viewing historic vital records online, the Arizona Judicial Branch offers an online court records access tool to the public at no cost. You can perform a name search or case number search.  The results give an overview of case details and illustrate what court holds the physical case file. These Arizona online public records are free to the public to search. However, to obtain copies of Arizona marriage records and divorce records, you must visit the Clerk of Superior Court where the event took place. Most Clerks of Superior Courts accept telephone or mailed requests for copies, as well as in-person requests.

Although criminal records are protected in Arizona, Arizona court records, unless sealed by a judge, are not. Through the Arizona Judicial Branch online case look-up tool, Arizona criminal court records can be researched here. Whereas obtaining copies might mean contacting multiple courts, an Arizona public records search online will still yield enough information that a complete record might not be necessary.

Historic Public Records Search in Arizona

The Arizona State Library and Archives has four branches located in various cities across Arizona. This helps make a trip to the library more convenient if one location is closer than another. Housed here are Arizona military records, cemetery and vital records, along with some obituaries that are open to the public. A historic public records search in Arizona can yield important clues to laying out family history. There is a charge for making copies here but no admittance fee.