Arizona Certificate of Divorce Online Application

Divorce Decree vs. Certificate of Divorce in Arizona: What You Need

Arizona doesn’t issue a separate statewide vital-record divorce certificate in the same way some other states do. Instead, the official record proving that your marriage ended is generally the divorce decree issued by the Superior Court.

A divorce decree is the final court order in a dissolution of marriage case. Depending on the circumstances, it may contain or reference information about property division, spousal maintenance, legal decision-making, parenting time, child support, and other terms of the divorce.

For official purposes, you may be asked for a certified copy of the decree. A certified court copy is stamped and sealed by the Clerk of Superior Court to confirm that it’s a true and correct copy of the document held in the court file.

Arizona Courts specifically notes that someone who changes their name as part of a divorce may need to obtain a certified copy of the decree from the Clerk of Court.

Before ordering, check whether the organization requesting proof of your divorce requires a plain copy or a certified copy.

Who Can Request a Divorce Certificate in Arizona?

Many Arizona court records are available to the public unless access has been restricted by law, court rule, or court order. However, individual documents within a divorce case may contain confidential or protected information and may not be available for public inspection.

The Clerk of Superior Court in the county holding the case determines what records can be released and which documents require additional authorization.

When requesting an Arizona divorce record, it helps to provide:

Access rules can differ depending on the document and whether any part of the case has been sealed or designated confidential.

How to Order Your Arizona Divorce Records Online

Because Arizona does not have a central divorce-record registry, you need to request the record from the specific county's Clerk of Superior Court where the divorce case was handled.

Some Arizona counties provide online court-record request services. For example, the Maricopa County Clerk of Superior Court offers an online records request form for people who need certified copies or records that cannot otherwise be located online.

Availability and ordering methods can differ by county, so make sure you submit your request to the Clerk of Superior Court that holds your divorce case.

Processing Through the Arizona Superior Court

The Arizona Superior Court has jurisdiction over divorce proceedings, officially known as dissolution of marriage cases. Arizona operates one Superior Court system, with court locations and an elected Clerk of Superior Court in each county.

The clerk maintains court case files, provides copies, certifies official documents, and collects applicable fees.

The cost of obtaining a certified divorce decree can include both a per-page copying charge and a certification fee. Fees should be confirmed with the county handling your request before you submit it.

For example, Maricopa County currently lists a charge of $0.50 per page plus $35 to certify a document. Pima County's current fee schedule likewise lists $0.50 per page and $35 for a certificate of correctness of a copy of record.

Processing times vary by county, the age of the case, the availability of the file, and the type of copy requested.

Serving All Arizona Superior Courts (Maricopa, Pima, Pinal & More)

Divorce records are maintained by Clerks of Superior Court throughout Arizona's 15 counties. You should generally request your record from the county where the dissolution case was filed.

Arizona Superior Court clerk offices include those serving:

The Arizona Judicial Branch provides contact details for each county's Clerk of Superior Court.

If you’re unsure which court has your record, start with the county where your divorce took place. Having the case number can make it easier for the clerk to locate the correct file.