Search Pima County Court Records Without Losing the Case in the Wrong Court System
Pima County court records are split among Superior Court, Consolidated Justice Court and Tucson City Court, so a name can return nothing even when a case exists. Superior Court also separates basic case searching, party access, downloadable state-court documents and electronic filing into different tools.
This guide shows where to search first, how Agave fits into Pima County Superior Court records, when Arizona eAccess is useful, how to locate divorce or marriage-license records, what current copies cost, and what to do when an older case has disappeared from the online index.
Start With the Case Type, Not the Search Box
This is the fastest way to avoid a false “no record” result. The three main local court systems do not share one public search screen.
Start with the Clerk’s Case Records page and Public Record Search/Agave.
Superior Court workflowUse the Justice Court search by party name, full case number or complaint number.
Justice Court workflowUse the City Court defendant search when the ticket or notice names Tucson City Court.
City Court workflowUse statewide lookup to identify the court and case number, then return to the local record holder.
Statewide fallbackWhich Pima County Court Has the Record?
A broad phrase such as “Pima County court records” hides an important jurisdiction problem. Superior Court, Justice Court and Tucson City Court handle different case types and maintain different public-access systems.
Use for felony criminal matters, divorce and other family cases, probate, guardianship and many civil proceedings.
Use for lower-court civil matters, civil traffic, many criminal/DUI cases, evictions and small claims.
Use when the citation, complaint or notice identifies Tucson City Court rather than a county court.
Use Public Access Case Lookup when you know the party name but do not know which participating Arizona court has the case.
How to Search Pima County Superior Court Records by Name
The Pima County Clerk of the Superior Court is the record keeper for Superior Court case documents. Its Case Records page separates general public searching from party access, attorney access and statewide document access.
- Open the Clerk’s official Case Records page. Begin there rather than on a third-party court-record directory. The Clerk explains which public-access tool applies to each user.
- Choose Public Record Search / Agave. This is the general-public route for limited viewing of Pima County Superior Court case information.
- Search the legal name most likely used in the case. Use the spelling shown on a complaint, petition, citation, earlier order or other court paper when one is available.
- Try name variations separately. Test a former surname, alternate spelling or business-name variation rather than entering several uncertain details at once.
- Open the plausible result and copy the full case number. The case number is more useful than the name for later document searches, telephone calls and copy requests.
- Verify the case type and filing date. Check whether the result is criminal, civil, family, probate, guardianship or another Superior Court matter.
- Do not assume every docketed document is downloadable. The Clerk describes Public Record Search as limited public viewing. A visible case does not guarantee that every document image is available remotely.
- Allow for a recent-filing delay. The Clerk advises allowing approximately three business days after a document is filed for its information to appear online.
- Call Public Records Services when the expected file is missing. The Clerk specifically directs users to Public Records Services when a person or case cannot be found online.
Agave, ECR, eAccess and eFiling Are Four Different Things
This is one of the easiest parts of Pima County court access to misunderstand. The names sound related, but each tool serves a different user and a different task.
| Tool | Use it when | Do not use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Agave / Public Record Search | You are a member of the public trying to locate Pima County Superior Court case information. | Assuming every case document will be downloadable or certified. |
| ECR for Parties | You are a party to a Pima County Superior Court case and qualify for the Clerk’s party-access route. | General research about unrelated people. |
| ECR for Attorneys | You are an attorney assigned to a party and need permitted electronic case access. | General public searching. |
| Arizona eAccess | You need eligible Arizona Superior Court civil or criminal case data or document images. | Pima family, probate or juvenile document searching. |
| eFiling | You need to submit court documents electronically through an approved filing provider. | Searching another person’s case by name. |
Pima County has a special eAccess criminal-date limit
Arizona eAccess generally includes qualifying Superior Court civil and criminal cases filed on or after July 1, 2010, but Pima County criminal document coverage begins on or after July 1, 2015. Older Pima criminal documents may therefore require the local Clerk rather than eAccess.
eFiling is a filing system, not a public-record search
The Clerk’s current eFiling FAQ, dated August 5, 2026, explains that electronic filing occurs through an approved electronic filing service provider. Once a filing is accepted, a filer can use that provider for permitted case-document access. That does not make eFiling the correct tool for a member of the public who simply wants to find a case.
How to Search Pima County Consolidated Justice Court
Justice Court has its own public search. Do not assume an eviction, small-claims case, traffic matter or lower-level criminal case will appear in the Superior Court Agave search.
- Open Pima County Consolidated Justice Court Case Search. The court provides its own free current-case search.
- Choose the name search when you do not know the case number. Enter the last name and first name and choose Person or Business as appropriate.
-
Use the full case number when you have it.
The search page instructs users to enter the complete number beginning with
CR,CVorTR. - Use complaint number when that is what your paperwork provides. This can avoid name-spelling problems.
- Review the current status and scheduled information. Online data is a convenience resource, not the certified official record.
- Use the separate Online Records Request when you need copies. Finding the case and buying the record are separate tasks.
Tucson City Court Has a Separate Defendant Search
A case filed by the City of Tucson may not belong in either the Pima County Superior Court or Consolidated Justice Court system. Read the court name on the citation or notice before searching.
Use the City Court defendant-search route for a Tucson municipal case.
The number printed on the citation can be more precise than a common surname.
Tucson directs users to call the court or file a public-record request when the expected case is not displayed.
Tucson City Court: 520-791-4216
Use Arizona Case Lookup When You Do Not Know Which Court Filed the Case
Arizona Public Access Case Lookup is most useful as a discovery tool. Search statewide, identify the court and case number, then use the record-holding court for documents, certified copies and local access questions.
- Search the party in Arizona Public Access Case Lookup.
- Confirm that the result belongs to Pima County.
- Write down the exact court name and complete case number.
- Return to Agave, Justice Court or Tucson City Court as appropriate.
- Use eAccess only if you need a qualifying Superior Court civil or criminal document.
For a broader explanation of statewide Arizona searching, use our verified Arizona Court Records Search by Name guide.
How to Find Pima County Divorce Records
A divorce is a Superior Court family-law case. The useful search goal is usually to locate the case number first and then request the decree, judgment or another specific family-court document from the Clerk.
- Search one spouse’s name through the Superior Court route. If the result is not obvious, repeat the search using the other spouse’s name.
- Confirm the family-law case type. Do not identify a divorce from the parties’ names alone.
- Copy the complete case number. Use it when speaking with Public Records Services.
- Identify the document you actually need. Ask for the decree, judgment, minute entry or another named filing instead of automatically ordering an entire file.
- Use Civil and Family Support Services for filing/procedure questions. Use Public Records Services when your goal is an existing court document or certified copy.
Civil & Family Support Services: 520-724-3210.
Pima County Marriage License Records Use the Clerk, Not a Divorce Search
Marriage-license records are handled by the Pima County Clerk of Superior Court, but they are not family-court divorce cases. The Clerk specifically includes marriage-license records among the records that Public Records Services can provide.
| What you need | Correct route | Useful contact |
|---|---|---|
| Copy of an existing marriage license | Public Records Services | 520-724-3240 |
| New marriage-license questions | Marriage Clerk / Civil & Family Support Services | 520-724-3206 |
| Divorce decree | Superior Court family case + Public Records Services | Do not use the new marriage-license process. |
What Arizona Rule 123 Means When You Ask for a Pima County Court Record
Arizona’s judicial-record access framework starts from public access, but “public” does not mean every record must be available through an internet search. Confidentiality, privacy rules, sealed material, record format and the court’s custody of the file can affect how access is provided.
A case number is ideal. If you do not have one, give party names, the court, approximate year, case type and exact document sought.
Your job is to provide enough information to reasonably identify the record, not to know how the court stores it.
Older files, off-site storage, clarification, confidentiality review or redaction can make a request take longer than an online search.
Commercial-purpose disclosure matters
Both Pima County Superior Court and Justice Court record-request materials require users to identify whether a records request is for a commercial purpose. Do not skip that question or give an incomplete request; use the court’s own form or instructions.
A restricted document is not a broken search
Closed, sealed or confidential material is not handled like an ordinary public docket. If the case is expected but unavailable, ask the record custodian what access is legally permitted instead of trying unrelated databases.
Current Pima County Superior Court Copy Fees: Effective June 1, 2026
Older third-party pages can show outdated Pima County copy charges. The Clerk’s currently posted Superior Court fee schedule is effective June 1, 2026.
Current per-page copy charge shown on the Superior Court schedule.
Certification under one document certification.
Certified copy of marriage license/application.
Two certifications/seals under the current fee structure.
Three certifications/seals under the current fee structure.
Current listed postage/handling charge where applicable.
Older-file research can also create a fee
The current fee schedule lists $35 per year/source researched for research in locating a document. This matters when a requester provides only a broad date range or an old record requires staff research.
How to Request an Actual Pima County Superior Court Document
Finding a docket is not the same as obtaining the filed document. Public Records Services accepts requests through several channels and handles ordinary Superior Court case documents, including marriage-license records.
Before you contact Public Records Services
- Write down the complete case number.
- Confirm that the case is actually Pima County Superior Court.
- Write the names of the parties exactly as shown.
- Identify the exact document: decree, judgment, complaint, minute entry, order or another filing.
- Write down the approximate filing date or docket date.
- Decide whether you need a plain, certified, exemplified or authenticated copy.
- Be ready to state whether the request is commercial or non-commercial.
- Ask about total pages, certification, mailing and research fees before paying.
Superior Court request methods
| Method | Useful when | Practical preparation |
|---|---|---|
| Online | You already know what record you need and want to begin remotely. | Have case number, document title and delivery information ready. |
| Phone | You need to confirm availability or cost before ordering. | Public Records Services: 520-724-3240. |
| You need a written request route or want to send identifying details. | Use the current email option listed by Public Records Services. | |
| You need paper delivery or cannot use the online system. | Confirm payment and postage instructions first. | |
| In person | You need to inspect availability or arrange copies at the courthouse. | Call first for old/off-site records. |
Phone payment detail
The Clerk’s current Case Records guidance says Public Records Services accepts Visa, MasterCard and Discover for telephone payments and can collect applicable postage and handling by phone.
Justice Court Record Requests Work Differently
For Consolidated Justice Court, use its own records-request process rather than sending the request to the Superior Court Clerk.
- Find the Justice Court case first. Search by name, complete case number or complaint number.
- Use the Online Records Request or the court’s public-record form. Requests can also be made through the court’s stated in-person or mail routes.
- Complete every required field. The court states that incomplete requests will not be processed.
- State commercial or non-commercial purpose. This is part of the court’s record-request process.
- Expect confidentiality review where necessary. Closed documents are removed and confidential information can be redacted before release.
Justice Court case-search/report service
Its current public-record instructions list a $33 non-certified or $66 certified charge for certain record-search/report services that outline case information, report no record found, or state that a case has been purged. Check the current request form for the exact service you need.
Need the audio recording instead of the paper docket?
Justice Court has a separate digital-recording request. Its current instructions list a $33 audio-request fee or $33 per CD. Payment is required before fulfillment, and the court states that delivery is generally made within five business days after payment.
Why an Old Pima County Justice Court Case Can Disappear Online
A missing old case is not always a search failure. Justice Court’s currently posted records-retention schedule allows different case categories to remain on the public website, at the court and in the case-management system for different lengths of time.
| Justice Court record | Currently posted retention example | What that means for a search |
|---|---|---|
| Civil traffic — non-default | Public website/court: generally 1 year after final adjudication and satisfaction; case-management data can remain longer. | A much older traffic case may no longer be visible in the public search. |
| Parking violation | Public website/court retention can be about 6 months; case-management retention can extend longer. | An old parking matter is particularly likely to disappear from public results. |
| Misdemeanor / criminal traffic | Public website/court: generally 5 years after final adjudication and sentence completion; case-management retention can be 10 years. | The court may have information after the public website stops showing the case. |
| Felony matter at Justice Court stage | Public/court retention can be short after discharge or transfer to Superior Court. | Search Superior Court if the felony moved forward there. |
| Eviction | Generally 11 years after final judgment or renewal, whichever is later; different rule after voluntary dismissal. | An older eviction can eventually be legitimately absent rather than mis-indexed. |
| Small claims / general civil | Generally 11 years after final judgment or renewal, with shorter retention after certain voluntary dismissals. | Give the case number and approximate year when asking staff about an older file. |
Sealed, Confidential and Restricted Records Need a Different Expectation
A sealed or confidential matter should not be treated as a broken portal. Superior Court says closed, sealed and confidential records are not available through ordinary online public access.
| Situation | Online expectation | Best next step |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary public Superior Court case | Often searchable | Use Agave and contact Public Records Services for documents. |
| Sealed / confidential Superior Court record | Restricted | Ask the Clerk what lawful access, if any, is available. |
| Justice Court Order of Protection / Injunction Against Harassment | Excluded online | Contact Justice Court directly. |
| Juvenile Justice Court criminal/traffic matter | Excluded online | Ask the court about lawful access. |
| Juvenile Court / Title 36 mental-health document | Different office | Contact Juvenile Support Services instead of ordinary downtown Public Records Services. |
If you are unsure what “sealed,” “docket,” “disposition,” “judgment” or “certified copy” means, use our verified Court Records Glossary and Court Record Types Explained before ordering the wrong record.
No Pima County Court Record Found? Use This Diagnostic Order
Do not conclude that a case does not exist from one blank screen. Work through the court, name, age and access questions in order.
- Confirm the court named on the original paperwork. Superior Court, Justice Court and Tucson City Court have separate systems.
- Search the other party’s name. This is useful in divorce, civil, eviction and other cases with more than one named party.
- Try a former surname or spelling variation. Search the name as it may have appeared when the case was filed.
- Use the complete case, complaint or citation number. An exact identifier removes many name-search problems.
- For Superior Court, allow three business days for a recent filing. A new document may not appear immediately.
- Search statewide Arizona Case Lookup. The case may have been filed in another Arizona court or a different participating court level.
- Check eAccess date limits. Pima County criminal eAccess coverage generally begins July 1, 2015.
- Consider Justice Court retention. An old traffic, misdemeanor, parking, eviction or civil case may no longer be on the public site.
- Consider a sealed or restricted record. A missing public result may be expected under access rules.
- Call the court holding the file. Give the name, approximate year, case type and case number if known.
Before You Call or Visit a Pima County Courthouse
110 W Congress St, Room 241
Tucson, AZ 85701-1317
Phone: 520-724-3240
Monday–Friday: 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; closed on court holidays.
110 W Congress St
Tucson, AZ 85701-1317
Phone: 520-724-3200
110 W Congress St, Room 131A
Tucson, AZ 85701-1317
Phone: 520-724-3210
Monday–Friday: 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
110 W Congress St, Room 131A
Tucson, AZ 85701-1317
Phone: 520-724-3206
240 N Stone Ave
Tucson, AZ 85701
Phone: 520-724-3171
Monday–Friday: 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., except court holidays.
Building 21
1313 S Mission Rd
Tucson, AZ 85713-1312
Phone: 520-724-5883
2225 E Ajo Way
Tucson, AZ 85713-6201
Phone: 520-724-2064
Use when the case is a City of Tucson matter rather than a county Superior or Justice Court case.
Phone: 520-791-4216
Before you call
Case number, party names, court, approximate filing year and document title.
Plain, certified, exemplified or authenticated. Ask the receiving organization before paying.
An archive or off-site record may require retrieval and may generate research charges.
Family Court assignments changed in July 2026. Use the latest notice rather than assuming the building.
Justice Court parking and interpreter help
The Justice Court identifies the closest parking garage as the garage connected to the courthouse, with an entrance on Grossetta Street accessible from Toole Avenue or Alameda Street. The court does not provide free parking or validate parking.
If an interpreter is needed for a Justice Court matter, call 520-724-3171 so the court can explain its interpreter-access process.
Before Paying Anyone: Use Pima County’s Court-Scam Check
Pima County Superior Court currently warns about callers, texts and emails that impersonate court employees, law-enforcement officers or judges and pressure people to pay immediately.
- Do not pay because someone threatens immediate arrest over the phone.
- Do not give a caller your Social Security number or card information.
- Do not trust the caller ID; scam numbers can be spoofed.
- Hang up and independently call the official court number.
- For a record fee, verify the case and the current fee on the official Clerk or court website.
Read a Pima County Case Result Carefully
An online docket can show allegations, party names, case events and dispositions, but those pieces have different meanings.
| What you see | What it may tell you | What it does not prove |
|---|---|---|
| Party name | A person or business connected to the case. | That a same-name person is the individual you intended to research. |
| Criminal charge | An allegation filed in the case. | That the defendant was convicted. |
| Civil complaint | A claim filed by a party. | That the court agreed with the claim. |
| Motion | A request asking the court to act. | That the request was granted. |
| Docket event | Activity recorded in the case. | That the full underlying document is remotely available. |
| Disposition | The recorded status or outcome. | That a short portal description contains every term of the final order. |
This site is an educational navigation resource, not a consumer-reporting service. Review the verified FCRA and Consumer Reporting Notice before using public-record information in any eligibility or screening context.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pima County Court Records
What is the best place to search Pima County court records by name?
First identify the court. Use the Clerk’s Public Record Search/Agave for Pima County Superior Court, Consolidated Justice Court Case Search for Justice Court matters, and Tucson City Court’s defendant search for City of Tucson cases. If the court is unknown, begin with Arizona Public Access Case Lookup.
What is Pima County Agave Online?
Agave is the Pima County Clerk of the Superior Court’s Public Record Search. It provides limited public viewing of Superior Court case information. It is not a separate court and should not be confused with Arizona eAccess.
Why is a new Superior Court filing not showing online yet?
The Clerk advises allowing approximately three business days after a document is filed for its information to appear online. If it is still missing and you know it was filed, contact Public Records Services.
What is the difference between Agave and Arizona eAccess?
Agave is the local Pima County Superior Court public case-search route. Arizona eAccess is a statewide system for eligible Superior Court civil and criminal case data and document images. Pima County criminal eAccess coverage generally begins July 1, 2015.
Can I find Pima County divorce records online?
You can use the Superior Court search route to locate a family-law case and obtain the case number. If you need the actual decree or another document, use the Pima County Clerk’s Public Records Services copy process.
How much does a certified Pima County Superior Court copy cost in 2026?
The current Superior Court fee schedule effective June 1, 2026 lists a $35 certification charge. Plain copies are listed at $0.50 per page. Additional mailing, research, exemplification or authentication charges may apply, so verify the total before ordering.
How do I get a certified copy of a Pima County marriage license?
Use Public Records Services through the Pima County Clerk of Superior Court. The current fee schedule lists $35 for a certified copy of a marriage license/application, subject to any other applicable service or delivery charge.
Why did an old Justice Court case disappear from the website?
Justice Court’s retention schedule gives different record types different retention periods. Some traffic, parking, misdemeanor and other records stop appearing publicly before all internal record information is gone. Contact Justice Court with the case number and approximate year and ask whether the matter was purged or destroyed under the retention schedule.
What is the Pima County Superior Court records phone number?
Public Records Services is 520-724-3240. The Clerk of Superior Court main number is 520-724-3200. For Pima County Consolidated Justice Court, call 520-724-3171.
Can I search sealed or confidential Pima County court records online?
Not through ordinary public access. The Superior Court Clerk states that closed, sealed and confidential records are not available through its normal online case access. Contact the record-holding court to ask what access, if any, is legally permitted.
How This Pima County Court Records Guide Was Fact-Checked
- Pima County Clerk of Superior Court — Case Records
- Pima County Clerk — Agave Public Record Search
- Pima County Clerk — Current Fee Schedule
- Pima County Clerk — eFiling FAQ PDF
- Pima County Consolidated Justice Court — Case Search
- Pima County Justice Court — Online Records Request
- Pima County Justice Court — Records Retention Schedule
- Arizona Judicial Branch — Public Access Case Lookup
- Arizona Judicial Branch — eAccess
- Arizona Judicial Branch — Court Rules
- Tucson City Court — Defendant Search
- Pima County Superior Court — Scam Call Warning
Our live internal references used on this page were individually checked during this refresh: Arizona Court Records Search by Name, Court Record Types Explained, Court Records Glossary, FCRA and Consumer Reporting Notice, and the Source Verification and Manual Checking Policy.
Superior Court public searching, Agave, ECR access, eAccess coverage, current eFiling guidance, Justice Court searching, retention periods, record-request procedures, current copy fees, Family Court location changes, marriage-license records and official contact routes were reviewed against current government and court sources.
Court portals, hours, fees, judges, record-retention rules and access restrictions can change. The current official record custodian or Arizona court source controls when it differs from this guide.