Arizona Public Records. Steps to Obtaining Public Records in Arizona

Public records in Arizona are non-confidential documents or information available for public inspection or use. There are many types of public records in the Grand Canyon state, including divorce decrees, property records, criminal records, birth certificates, death certificates, and marriage licenses.

According to Title 39 of the Arizona Revised Statutes, anyone searching for public records in the state can make direct requests to the local or state agency that maintains the specific data. In this article, we'll highlight relevant organizations keeping public records in Arizona and how you can access the files in their care.

Public records access in Arizona

Before you begin your public records search, understand that some vital public records in Arizona are closed to the public for specific lengths to protect the Arizonian's privacy or comply with some legal requirements. 

These restricted personal records include birth certificates, death certificates, adoption records, juvenile probate records, and some school student records. According to the statute, birth certificates remain closed for 75 years, while death certificates remain for 50 years after the person's birth and death, respectively. 

Juvenile court records are confidential except when needed for investigations to protect the identity of minors, while ongoing criminal investigation records remain sealed pending the time they're completed. 

County superior court records of 50 years and older are closed and kept within the state archives. In contrast, adoption records are typically sealed forever, except for the adoptees and their birth parents. It's also important to note that the state does not have an extension collection of business records.

How to access public records in Arizona 

You can find public records in Arizona by sending emails or visiting the following government organizations' websites or physical addresses. 

Arizona State Library, Archives, and Public Records 

This government agency keeps and updates the most extensive range of history public records in the state, including government documents, maps, and photographs. 
You can access their collections in person or online using the following information:

Address: 
Arizona State Library, Archives, and Public Records,
1901 W Madison St.,
Phoenix, AZ 85009,
Phone: (602) 926-3720
Email: state library, archive, and public records 
Fax: 602-256-7982
Visiting hours: Monday to Friday, 8.00 am to 5.00 pm
 

Arizona Department of Health Services

This government parastatal maintains and issues copies of all vital records, including birth and death certificates. You can access information on family genealogies, delayed birth records from 1855, and certificates of fetal deaths due to stillbirths. 

You can access their wealthy vaults of vital information online or in person with the following contact information:

Physical address: 
Arizona Department of Health Services,
150 North 18th Ave., Ste. 120
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone: (602) 364-1300
Toll-Free Contact: (888) 816-5907
Visiting hours: Weekdays, except state holidays, from 8.00 am to 5.00 pm

Arizona Superior Courts

Arizona's supreme court in each county maintains and issues copies of records related to all court cases. These documents may be criminal, probate, family, or civil records, and you can access them at the specific courthouse where they were resolved or through their websites.

If you are unsure about a case's records, you may find all documents within the last 16 years at the central supreme court with this contact information:

Headquarters
Address:
Arizona Supreme Court
1501 W. Washington
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone: 602-452- 3300
Hearing impaired contact: 602-452-3545
 

Arizona Department of Public Safety

This government department handles all records related to criminal histories, such as arrest and warrant records. They may also have details about a person's traffic violations, background checks, accidents, DUI/DWI-related offenses, and emergency response efforts. 

You can request this information through the department's website or its locations at strategic points throughout the state.

Use the following contact information to make your requests:
Address:

Arizona Department of Public Safety,
Public Service Center,
2222 West Encanto Blvd., Phoenix, AZ 85009.
Visiting hours: Monday - Friday, 8.00 am - 5.00 pm
Phone: (602) 223-2945
Email: public department safety

Arizona Corporation Commission 

This Arizonian agency keeps all public records related to businesses registered in the state. It includes annual filings and reports of corporations, partnerships, securities, limited liability companies, and utilities. 

You can request access to corporate and business entity records, securities records, and public utility records using the following contact information:
Address: 

Arizona Corporation Commission,
1200 W. Washington Street,
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone: 602-542-3026
Toll-free number: 1-800-222-7000
Visiting hours: 8.00 am - 5.00 am, Monday - Friday

Public Records In Arizona: Fees

Upon submitting a request to the agency with the public records you're trying to access, make sure you enquire about the applicable statutory fees for the document. Note that the costs may vary depending on the document type and the request method.

Arizona State Library, Archives, and Public Records provide copies of documents for $0.50 per page, and certified copies cost $5 per document. 

Arizona Department of Health Services provides certified birth or death certificates for $20 each, while additional fees may be incurred for expedited requests. 

Arizona Superior Courts fees vary depending on county locations. For example, Maricopa County Superior Court charges $0.50 per page of the records, and you pay additional fees for more copies of the same or different documents. 

The Arizona Department of Public Safety charges $10 per record and additional fees for expedited requests. 
The Arizona Corporation Commission charges $0.50 per page, while certified copies cost $3 per document.

Bottom Line

Accessing public records in Arizona is a fundamental right for all residents in the state to obtain important information about friends, family, community, and the government itself. But there's a better way to save time and effort. It involves using third-party websites: Truepeoplesearch.io offers an efficient and thorough search engine tool to find public records in Arizona in seconds. Feel free to use the details here to efficiently comb through public records on Arizonian government agencies.