Coconino County, Arizona State Court Records
Coconino County court records are the files and case documents created during judicial proceedings within the county. Whenever civil disputes, criminal prosecutions, or probate matters are litigated, the courts generate and maintain materials that provide an official account of the legal process. These records typically encompass pleadings, motions, summonses, minute entries, court orders, evidentiary filings, and judgments.
The Clerk of the Superior Court is the custodian for records stemming from felony, family law, and major civil cases. Meanwhile, the county’s Justice Courts maintain records for small claims, evictions, and select misdemeanor offenses. The maintenance and public dissemination of these records is governed by Rule 123 of the Rules of the Supreme Court of Arizona (Ariz. R. Sup. Ct. 123).
In Coconino, it is normal for other public records to become part of court cases. Property records frequently appear in real estate litigation to establish ownership history, while birth certificates are regularly submitted as supporting evidence in paternity and custody hearings.
Are Coconino County Court Records Public?
Yes. According to Ariz. R. Sup. Ct. 123, the records of all state and county courts are presumed to be open to the general public. This directive empowers residents and non-residents alike to inspect and copy most criminal, civil, and probate case documents.
All the same, the state’s public access laws do not grant unfettered access to all court documents in practice. Various statutes specify the redaction of social security numbers and similar information before dispensing a record. Other laws, such as Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 36-509 for mental health cases and Ariz. R. Prob. Proc. 8 for protective proceedings, prescribe confidentiality for most filings in sensitive cases.
What Information is Available in Coconino County Court Records?
Individuals can expect to see some combination of the following when inspecting a Coconino County case file:
- Case or docket number, case type, and filing date
- The names of the litigants and their legal counsel
- Name of the judge assigned to the case
- The docket, which lists all events from start to finish
- The case calendar
- Complaints, motions, affidavits, petitions, summonses, and other court filings
- Sentences, decrees, orders, dismissals, and other judicial decisions
Coconino County Court Records Search
Individuals seeking Coconino court records must use statewide platforms for online access, as the county is integrated into the state’s judicial system. However, people can direct physical requests to the relevant court where the case was heard, as the Superior, District, and Magistrate Courts have their respective record custodians.
Statewide Online Portals
The Arizona Judicial Branch maintains the Public Access Case Lookup database, which allows individuals to review case summaries, court dockets, and hearing schedules. With respect to Coconino County data, the system provides basic case information for the Superior Court only. Users can conduct two types of searches:
- Name Search: Uses a party’s individual or business name. A personal name search requires the last and first name, with optional date of birth and court selection.
- Case Search: This method involves typing the case number and selecting the relevant court.
The Judicial Branch also operates the official eAccess portal, which allows people to view, download, and purchase actual document images. This platform has various service tiers and is exclusively for Superior Court criminal and civil cases filed on or after July 1, 2010. Users must create a registered user account and can opt to pay per document or subscribe to a recurring monthly plan for higher-volume access. However, documents in probate, family, and juvenile proceedings are not available on this platform due to statutory restrictions.
Superior Court Records Requests
Inquirers may need to make requests directly to the Clerk of the Superior Court to obtain certified copies, records restricted from online view, or records predating the transition to digital document access.
The Clerk’s office offers an online Contact Us form that individuals can utilize to make general record inquiries. In addition, the county provides a specialized High Profile Court Cases Information Request form for public or media inquiries regarding widely publicized court cases.
Written record requests can be mailed to the Clerk’s office. Mail-in applications should include the case number, party names, the specific documents required, and a self-addressed envelope. People can also search through courthouse terminals or request assistance over the counter.
200 North San Francisco Street
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Phone: (928) 679-7600
Justice and Municipal Court Requests
Dockets for cases emanating from a Justice Court may appear on one of the statewide portals. However, documents from small claims, traffic infraction, misdemeanor, or eviction cases are typically localized to the originating court of limited jurisdiction.
Therefore, requests for plain or certified copies must be directed to a specific precinct (such as Flagstaff Justice Court or Page Justice Court). Searchers can contact a local court by phone or visit in person to confirm the availability of the desired record and the inspection or duplication process.
Fees for Court Records in Coconino County
Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 12-284 and similar laws authorize court clerks and other record custodians to bill the public for document duplication, certification, and related services. Here are the basic costs associated with acquiring court and vital records in Coconino:
- Plain copy: 50 cents per page
- Certified copy: $30 per document
- Exemplified copy with two seals: $70 per document
- Authenticated copy with three seals: $105 per document
- Research fee: $30 per Name/Year searched
- Online eAccess portal: $10 per downloaded document or a minimum of $80 for a recurring monthly subscription
- Birth and death certificate: $20 per certified copy
- Marriage records: $30 per copy of a marriage license
Coconino County Courthouse Locations
Below is a directory of the Superior, Justice of the Peace, and Municipal Court courthouses operating within Coconino County:
Superior Court
Coconino County Superior Court
200 North San Francisco Street
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Phone: (928) 679-7600
Justice Courts
200 North San Francisco Street
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Phone: (928) 679-7650
112 North Main Street
Fredonia, AZ 86022
Phone: (928) 643-7472
547 Vista Avenue
Page, AZ 86040
Phone: (928) 645-8871
700 West Railroad Avenue
Williams, AZ 86046
Phone: (928) 679-7698
101 West Cherry Avenue
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Phone: (928) 213-3000
112 North Main Street
Fredonia, AZ 86022
Phone: (928) 643-7472
547 Vista Avenue
Page, AZ 86040
Phone: (928) 645-4280
700 West Railroad Avenue
Williams, AZ 86046
Phone: (928) 679-7698
Criminal Records Access in Coconino County
Official statewide criminal history checks for Coconino residents are administered by the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS), not by local courts or arresting agencies. While the local Sheriff’s Office can provide individuals with limited local background checks detailing past contact with county law enforcement, comprehensive state-level criminal background clearances require individuals to contact the AZ DPS Criminal History Records unit directly.
The DPS provides requesters with personal or employee background checks and also issues clearance letters for local or national use. To obtain the relevant information, requesters must download and complete every required form and mail everything to
Arizona Department of Public Safety
Central State Repository Section
P.O. Box 18450 / Mail Drop 3110
Phoenix, AZ 85005-8450
For access to individual criminal case files, the public can utilize the state-administered Public Access Case Lookup platform for docket information, or the eAccess portal to inspect or purchase images of post-2010 case documents. One can also visit or mail a formal request to the relevant court custodian.
Coconino County Probate Records
Coconino County probate records are documents and filings generated during legal proceedings related to estate administration. These estate records are filed with the Superior Court clerk and assigned to internal court divisions which handle the probate of wills, the administration of trusts, guardianships for minors or incapacitated adults, and conservatorships.
Common probate documents include affidavits for property transfer or collection, petitions for informal or formal probate, letters of administration, wills, and other estate filings. Ariz. R. Prob. P. 8 designates records, such as medical reports, estate inventories, annual financial accountings, and credit reports, as confidential files only accessible to legally authorized parties.
One can contact the Superior Court clerk to obtain copies of case records or use the official online options to inspect or purchase digital versions of court documents.
Coconino County Family Court Records
Coconino family court records document domestic relations and other family-related legal matters, including dissolution of marriage, child custody, spousal support, and adoption. The Superior Court handles these cases, with its clerk as record custodian.
The public must know that information in family legal cases is restricted to case parties and representatives in certain instances. Protected cases include adoptions, juvenile dependency, and unserved protection orders.
Individuals may view case dockets by entering a party name or case number into the statewide lookup tool or access documents in non-protected cases through physical or mail requests.
Federal Court Records in Coconino County
The U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona holds jurisdiction over all federal court cases originating within Coconino. This authority encompasses federal criminal prosecutions, civil rights lawsuits, bankruptcy filings, and civil disputes across state lines.
Hearings before the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona for Coconino County are typically conducted at the federal courthouse in Flagstaff. However, physical cases and paper filings are processed in Phoenix. One can visit the courthouse to use the public computers for records inspection or talk with staff at the records section.
Sandra Day O’Connor U.S. Courthouse
401 West Washington Street
Suite 130
SPC 1
Phoenix, AZ 85003-2118
Phone: (602) 322-7200
The public can access federal court records remotely through the U.S. government’s PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) database, which provides case summaries and electronic copies of official court filings. Registered users can download documents for a standard per-page fee.