Graham County Court Records

Graham County court records may be defined as any available document, irrespective of physical form or characteristics, collected, received, or maintained by any court in Graham County (Rule 123(b)(18) of Rules of the Supreme Court of Arizona).

Graham County court records include orders, judgments, minutes, indexes, calendars, dockets, or registers of actions generated about civil cases, criminal cases, probate matters, and every other court proceeding held within the county.

Graham court records offer researchers, legal professionals, and the general public an exhaustive history of legal cases within the county, offering them insights into historical events, property ownership, and individual legal histories.

Are Court Records Public in Graham County?

Yes. Graham County court records are available for public access as provided by Arizona Public Records Law. This law permits public access in the spirit of transparency and accountability. However, there are specific limitations in place to protect sensitive information and individual privacy when it relates to the information listed below:

• Juvenile Records: Records from dependency, termination of parental rights, adoption, and similar proceedings are confidential.
• Adult Criminal Records: Criminal history, diagnostic evaluations, medical and psychological reports, and probation records are generally closed to public access.
• Protective Orders: Information about protective orders, including their filing and contents, is not public until proof of service is filed.
• Judicial Work Product and Drafts: Notes, memoranda, or drafts created by judges or court personnel in preparing decisions are closed to public inspection.
• Unofficial Verbatim Recordings: Verbatim recordings made by clerks to assist in minute entry preparation are not available for public viewing.
• Psychiatric Case Records: Records from mental health cases are not available to the public, with the exception of certain individuals, including the individual in question, their legal representative, guardians, or approved investigators.
• Sexually Violent or Dangerous and Incompetent Person Records: Records of cases involving sexually violent or dangerous and incompetent individuals are confidential unless shared with specific parties like lawyers, doctors, or court-approved individuals.

Graham County Court Records Search

Graham County offers several options for searching court records. These options include the following:

• Graham County Clerk of the Superior Court
• Graham County Assessor’s office
• Graham County Recorder
• Arizona Judicial Branch Case Search
• Arizona Department of Public Safety
• Arizona Bureau of Vital Records

Graham County Courts

The Superior Courts, Justice Courts, and Municipal Courts make up the Graham County judicial system. Except in situations when authority is restricted by law or specifically delegated to another court, the Graham County Superior Courts have universal jurisdiction over all civil and criminal issues. On the other hand, the Graham County Justice Court's authority to hear civil and criminal cases is restricted.

Criminal traffic cases and infractions of city regulations and rules are among the minor infractions and misdemeanor crimes that fall under the restricted jurisdiction of Graham County Municipal Courts. Along with issuing search warrants, protective orders, and anti-harassment injunctions, they may also handle civil traffic complaints. The courthouses in Graham County where these matters are heard are as follows:

Graham County Courthouse
800 West Main Street
Safford, AZ 85546
Phone: (928) 428-3100
Fax: (928) 428-0061

Pima Justice Court - Precinct 2
136 West Center Street
P.O. Box 1159
Pima, AZ 85543
Phone: (928) 485-2771
Fax: (928) 485-9961

Graham County Courthouse
800 West Main Street
Safford, AZ 85546
Phone: (928) 428-1210
Fax: (928) 428-3523

Gila Valley Consolidated (GVC) Municipal Court
702 South 8th Avenue
Safford, AZ 85546
Phone: (928) 432-4090
Fax: (928) 348-3180

Graham County Criminal and Civil Records

The Graham County Clerk of the Superior Court primarily maintains Graham County criminal and civil court records. Criminal court records in Graham County encompass records about felonies, misdemeanors, ordinance violations, juvenile offenses, and traffic infractions, while civil court records include general civil cases, small claims, civil equity, foreclosures and liens, real estate title and boundary, landlord/tenant, ordinance violations, protection, no contact, and restraining orders, and administrative agency appeals.

To access criminal and civil court records, interested individuals may contact the custodian of the records in the county using the details below:

Graham County Superior Court
Graham County Courthouse
800 West Main Street
Safford, AZ 85546
Phone: (928) 428-3100
Fax: (928) 428-0061

Also, the Arizona Superior Court eAccess portal provides access to criminal and civil court records filed within the state, including Graham County. This online portal maintains criminal and civil court records filed in Graham County from July 1, 2010, till date. The first page of the records on this portal may be viewed free of charge, but to view and download all pages of a document attracts a $10 fee. A monthly recurring subscription option is also available, and this gives requesters access to view or download several documents per month.

Graham County Marriage Records

Marriage records in Graham County are primarily detachable marriage licenses issued by the Graham County Superior Court at $83 to any couple not below 16 years who desire to be legally joined in marriage. This license serves as a legal document that authorizes officiators to perform marriages anywhere in Arizona.

Marriage licenses, like every other court record, are public records in Graham County. The detachable part of the license, completed and signed by the marriage officiator and returned to the Clerk’s office for recording purposes, is available to the public like every other court record. Interested persons may access this record by contacting the Clerk using the information given in the “Graham County Criminal and Civil Records” section above. A certified copy of the marriage license usually costs $30.

Graham County Divorce Records

The Superior Court in Graham County hears and decides a variety of cases, including divorce cases legally termed Dissolution of Marriage. The documents generated and filed with the Clerk of the Court during this case proceedings make up divorce records, and they are open to the general public. To access these records, interested persons may use the Arizona Superior Court eAccess Service or contact the Clerk of the District Court at:

Graham County Superior Court
Graham County Courthouse
800 West Main Street
Safford, AZ 85546
Phone: (928) 428-3100
Fax: (928) 428-0061

Graham County Birth Records

The Graham County Health Department provides birth certificates to eligible applicants. To obtain a birth certificate, individuals are required to provide proof of direct relationship with the registrant through a government-issued photo ID and documentation verifying the connection, along with a completed application form. The cost for each birth certificate is $20.00, payable by cash, check, money order, or by including credit card details in the application. Birth records can be requested in person or via mail at their contact below:

Health Department Annex
826 West Main Street
Safford, AZ 85546.

Additionally, the Arizona Bureau of Vital Records processes vital record requests statewide. As Arizona is a closed record state, certified copies of birth certificates are available only to those who meet the eligibility criteria outlined in the Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.) R9-19-314 and R9-19-315. Applicants must be at least 18 years old to request their own certificate and are required to submit a signed application, valid government-issued ID (or notarized signature), and the appropriate fees.

Birth certificate requests through the state can be made online, in person, or by mail. Online applications incur a $20.00 certificate fee and an additional $12.95 processing charge, which includes shipping where applicable. For mail or in-person requests, applicants are to submit a completed application form, along with a copy of a valid government-issued photo ID (front and back) with a signature or a notarized application, self-addressed stamped envelope, and payment to:

Department of Health Services
Bureau of Vital Records
1818 West Adams
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone: (602) 364-1300

Graham County Death Records

In Graham County, death records are available through the Graham County Recorder and the Arizona Bureau of Vital Records. Arizona law restricts public access to death records to protect confidentiality. Per Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.) R9-19-314 and R9-19-315, access to these records is restricted to individuals with a direct and legal interest, such as their immediate family members, funeral directors, legal representatives, etc.

To obtain a death record from the Recorder’s Office, requesters are to fill out the Death Certificate form provided by the office or contact the Recorder using the details below:

921 Thatcher Boulevard
2nd Floor
Safford, AZ 85546.
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 747
Safford, AZ 85548.

To apply for death records through the Arizona Bureau of Vital Records, the requester should fill out and submit by mail the Application for Certified Copy of Death Certificate, along with a valid state-issued photo ID or a notarized application form, and the required fee. The mailing address of the Arizona Bureau of Vital Records is as given below:

Mailing Address
P.O. Box 6018
Phoenix, AZ 85005.

Graham County Probate Court Records

Graham County reserves the jurisdiction of its probate cases to the Superior Court, as there are no specialized probate courts within the county. The cases that are categorized under probate cases in the county include:

• Probate of wills.
• Administration of estates.
• Name changes.
• Trust proceedings.
• Guardianship and conservatorship.
• Adoption.
• Other related legal matters.

To access probate court records in Graham County, requesters can contact the office of the Superior Court Clerk at:

Graham County Superior Court
Graham County Courthouse
800 West Main Street
Safford, AZ 85546
Phone: (928) 428-3100
Fax: (928) 428-0061

Graham County Property Records

The Graham County Assessor is responsible for keeping property records in Graham County. These elected officials maintain records that detail property valuation, tax assessment, title searches, and real estate transactions.

Requesters may access these records online or contact the County Assessor at:

1st Floor
Graham County General Services Building
921 Thatcher Boulevard
Safford, AZ 85546
Phone: (928) 428-2828
Fax: (928) 428-5849

Graham County Court Records Online

Third-party websites like Arizonacourtrecords.us provide requesters with easy online access to Court records. These platforms save requesters the time and money that could have gone into in-person visits to the office of record custodians to obtain these records.

However, some drawbacks necessitate requesters to be cautious when using this option. This is because these websites run independently of governmental organizations, so the information they offer may vary in correctness and accuracy.