Arizona Court Case Search: Find Your Lawsuit Fast
Arizona provides multiple online tools to search for court cases, including the statewide Judicial Branch database and separate Maricopa County system. If you're being sued for debt, finding your case is the first step toward responding properly and protecting your rights.
Answer Your LawsuitAre you being sued for a debt in Arizona? You can check your case status online. The Arizona Public Record Law makes court records accessible to all citizens. Criminal and civil court documents are viewable online in all states.
Arizona Public Record Law was enacted in 1901 to ensure transparency. Court case information is available to the public with some restrictions. Mental health cases, probate cases, and victim data are excluded. Juvenile delinquency cases may also be restricted.
Found Your Arizona Debt Lawsuit? Respond Now
Collectors win most cases because defendants don't respond. Draft your Answer with attorney review and file it properly before your deadline.
Respond to LawsuitYou can access court records to monitor your debt collection lawsuit. Here’s everything you need to know about Arizona court structures.
Arizona Courts Operate on Three Levels
Arizona has courts at three different levels. Debt collection lawsuits almost always start at the Justice Court level.
Level 1: Limited Jurisdiction Courts
Municipal Courts and Justice of the Peace Courts handle specific case types. These courts have constraints on subject matter and monetary amounts. You’ll find most debt collection cases here first.
Level 2: General Jurisdiction Courts
The Superior Court of Arizona is a trial court with statewide jurisdiction. Each county has at least one Superior Court facility. For example, Maricopa County Superior Court serves that county.
Level 3: Appellate Courts
Arizona’s appellate courts include the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court. The Court of Appeals has two divisions that handle most appeals. The Supreme Court hears death penalty cases and disputes between counties.
Appellants must submit a petition for Supreme Court review. Justices decide whether to hear each case. Unlike the Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court isn’t required to hear every appeal.
How to Find Court Records in Arizona
First, determine which courthouse holds your records. Public bodies in Arizona must safeguard their records under state law. Court clerks maintain court records and make them accessible.
You can obtain court records three ways: in person, by mail, or online. In-person requests require visiting the courthouse where your case was filed. The court clerk will guide you through the process. You may need to submit a written request even for walk-in visits.
Your Case Number Is the Key
The case number makes it easy to reference specific cases. It indicates the filing year, office, and assigned judicial officer. Every document submitted to court must include the case number.
Case numbers typically follow one of two formats:
CV 2:17cv00010 or 17-00010-PHX-DJH
- “CV” indicates the case type (civil)
- Case types include: civil (cv), criminal (cr), and miscellaneous (mc)
- “17” shows the year filed
- “00010” is your specific case number
- “1” represents the first case filed that year
- “PHX” or “2” indicates the division
- Divisions include: Phoenix (PHX or 2), Prescott (PCT or 3), and Tucson (TUC or 4)
Arizona Judicial Branch Case Search Tool
The Arizona Judicial Branch website offers a Public Access to Court Information tool. You can access court case status from Municipal and Justice Courts statewide. The tool covers 177 Arizona courts.
Search by case number or party name to find your information. The tool provides real-time updates on case status and filings.
Maricopa County Has Its Own Search System
Maricopa County is Arizona’s largest county by population. Cases filed here aren’t included in the statewide search tool. Maricopa County maintains a separate court case search system.
Use the Maricopa County court case search tool for Justice Court cases. You can search by name or case number.
Superior Court Cases Require eAccess
The Arizona Judicial Branch provides Superior Court records through eAccess. You must register and pay for a monthly subscription. The portal gives access to available court records after login.
Subscription costs vary based on document limits:
- Pay As You Go: $10 per document, no monthly fee
- $80/month: up to 20 documents
- $200/month: up to 50 documents
- $360/month: up to 100 documents
- $640/month: up to 200 documents
- $1,050/month: up to 375 documents
- $10,000/month: up to 5,000 documents
- Approved government agencies: free access
- Certified Documents (AOC): available for purchase without monthly fee
Documents exceeding subscription limits cost the Pay As You Go rate. Some courts don’t make their information available through eAccess:
- Arizona Supreme Court
- Court of Appeals – Division 1 and 2
- Chandler Municipal Court (non-delinquent cases)
- Gilbert Municipal Court
- Justice of the Peace Courts (non-delinquent cases)
- Maricopa Superior Courts (non-criminal cases)
- Mesa Municipal Court
- Paradise Valley Municipal Court
- Tempe Municipal Court
- Pima Consolidated Justice Court (non-delinquent cases)
- Pima County Superior Court
Court of Appeals Records Access
You can request Arizona Court of Appeals documents from the Clerk’s Office. Court case information must be viewed in the viewing room. Public access to the Clerk’s Office is restricted for security.
Three ways to request Court of Appeals documents:
Counter Request
Submit a copy request form at 1501 W. Washington Avenue, Phoenix (2nd floor). Requests accepted Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Email Request
Send copy requests to inform@appeals.az.gov. Include full payment before receiving copies.
Mail Request
Send a completed copy request form with payment to: Court of Appeals, Division One Clerk’s Office, 1501 W. Washington Avenue, Phoenix, AZ, 85007.
Contact the Court Clerk for Help
The court clerk can check your case status over the phone. Court clerks answer basic questions about pending cases. If you can’t reach the court clerk, our partner Solo can guide you through the court case search process.
Respond to Your Debt Lawsuit Quickly
Finding your case is just the first step. You must respond to the lawsuit within Arizona’s deadline. Debt collectors win most cases by default when defendants don’t respond.
Our partner Solo helps you draft and file your Answer to the lawsuit. An attorney reviews your document before filing. You can respond properly and protect your rights.
Acting quickly gives you the best chance to fight the lawsuit. You can negotiate a settlement or have the case dismissed. Don’t let the collector win by default.