COURTS

No. Arizona’s courts are not closed. In March 2020, the Arizona Supreme Court issued Administrative Orders 2020-48 and 2020-51 in response to COVID-19, allowing Arizona’s courts to change their operations to respond to COVID-19. Not all courts have implemented the same changes to operations.

It is recommended that you contact your court to see how filings are being accepted at this time. Here are some current filing methods that may or may not be used by your court:

• Placing documents in an external drop box
• Emailing documents
• E-filing
• Filing with the Clerk.

If you have a filing deadline, a hearing scheduled, filing or documents due, or you must complete court ordered requirements, it is important to contact the court where your case was filed to ask what schedules or deadlines might have changed and how to proceed. To find contact information for every court in Arizona visit: https://azcourthelp.org/home/find-my-court

A person who needs a protective order—an Order of Protection, Injunction Against Harassment, or Injunction Against Workplace Harassment—should fill out the documents on the internet at AZPOINT. There is no fee to use AZPOINT. After completing the documents in AZPOINT, the person must call the court for further instructions. A person can file the petition with any superior, justice, or city court; but if the person has a pending family court case, the person must file with the same superior court where the family court case was filed. Click FindMyCourt for court locations and contact information. Most courts are conducting protective order hearings by telephone or video.

Generally, no. If you do encounter an e-filing issue, contact the AOC Support Center at (602) 452-3519 or Toll Free: 1 (800) 720-7743.

If your courthouse location has a drop box, you may be able to use it for filings or payments.  First contact the courthouse to find out:

• Is the drop box available for the public?
• Are they accepting initial filings in the drop box? Or, just motions and subsequent documents?
• Do they accept payments in the drop box?
• How often is the drop box checked?

You will want to place your files and/or payment in an envelope.  If the box has a timestamp function, ensure you have the envelope stamped so the filing date can be entered properly. Do not place cash payments in the box.  Be sure to place your name and case number (if you have one) on the payment and on the envelope.

If your courthouse is not accepting in-person filings at this time and you need a document notarized, contact the courthouse to see if you can schedule a time to meet with a Clerk or if they have a different protocol they would like you to follow.

Policies and operations may be different for each court or type of case.  Currently, courts are holding very few in-person hearings.  Courts may conduct some hearings by telephone or video conferencing.  It is important to contact your courthouse directly for information.  To find your court’s contact information, visit: https://azcourthelp.org/home/find-my-court

If an extension has not been automatically granted in your case and you still need to file, see if your courthouse offers a motion form online where an extension can be requested.

Some cases have been postponed without requiring the parties to file an extension.  If you are unsure if whether or not you need to file an extension, either contact the Court Clerk or the office of the judge to see if an extension has been granted.

Marriage licenses can still be obtained at Superior Courts and many Justice Courts in Arizona.  Some courthouses are issuing licenses by appointment only, so make sure to call before going to the courthouse in person.  Courthouse weddings may or may not be conducted at this time; the policy decision is up to each Justice of the Peace with no more than ten people attending maintaining proper social distancing.  Contact the courthouse to find out how they are handling marriage licenses and ceremonies at this time.  For further information on marriage licenses in Arizona, visit: https://azcourthelp.org/topics/marriage/marriage-license

Policies and operations may be different for each court or type of case.  Currently, courts are holding very few in-person hearings.  Courts may conduct some hearings by telephone or video conferencing.  It is important to contact your courthouse directly for information.  To find your court’s contact information, visit: https://azcourthelp.org/home/find-my-court

Currently, courts are holding very few in-person hearings.  Courts may conduct some hearings by telephone or video conferencing. Contact your courthouse to see if you can teleconference into the hearing or appear via video conference.  Find your courthouse information at, https://azcourthelp.org/home/find-my-court

Due to the COVID-19 response, only “essential personnel” involved in a hearing or other court business are being allowed into court facilities. Currently, courts are holding very few in-person hearings. Courts may conduct some hearings by telephone or video conferencing. Contact your courthouse to see if you can teleconference into the hearing or appear via video conference using a smartphone, tablet, or laptop computer. 

https://azcourthelp.org/home/find-my-court

Not at this time.  In the response to COVID-19, in-person proceedings are being limited to essential personnel inside the courtroom.  The following are defined as essential personnel according to A.O. 2020-48:

• Attorneys
• Parties
• Victims
• Witnesses
• Jurors
• Court personnel
• Other necessary persons (ie. interpreters) 

Family members and those attending for moral support, most likely will not be allowed to enter the courthouse.  If you have children, please make arrangements for their care prior to going to the courthouse.

Before your hearing is scheduled to take place, contact the Court Clerk or the office of the Judge and ask how they would like to proceed with entering evidence or hearing witness testimony for your case.  Depending on your courthouse, you may be able to submit documents via email court and parties.  Find the courthouse contact information at, https://azcourthelp.org/home/find-my-court

"Vacated" means that the court hearing is no longer scheduled on that date and time. There may be a new court hearing at a different date and time, so contact the court so that no appearances are missed.

If your courthouse location has a drop box, you may be able to use it for filings or payments.  First contact the courthouse to find out:

• Is the drop box available for the public?
• Are they accepting initial filings in the drop box? Or, just motions and subsequent documents?
• Do they accept payments in the drop box?
• How often is the drop box checked?

You will want to place your files and/or payment in an envelope.  If the box has a timestamp function, ensure you have the envelope stamped so the filing date can be entered properly. Do not place cash payments in the box.  Be sure to place your name and case number (if you have one) on the payment and on the envelope.

There are multiple ways a person may be able to make a payment with the Court:

• Online
• Drop box
• Mail
• Over the phone
• PayNearMe cash payment program

Types of payments accepted may include:

• Cash
• Credit Card (additional fees may apply)
• Personal Check
• Money Order
• Cashier Check 

Contact the courthouse to see what forms of payment they accept and their current preferred method of accepting a payment. 

For questions about a scheduled payment for FARE program, call (855) 720-7743, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or visit: https://www.azcourts.gov/courtservices/Consolidated-Collections-Unit

For questions about CAP, contact your local municipal court.

The operations of a law library are based on the current orders of the Superior Court in their county.  Law Librarians are still providing the following services, mostly via telephone, online chat, or email:

• Court forms
• Legal help
• Reference guidance

Contact the law library in your county directly for operation information:

• Cochise County:
  • https://cochise.az.gov/court-administration/superior-court-self-help-center
  • (520) 432-8513

• Coconino County:
  • https://www.coconino.az.gov/863/Law-Library
  • (928) 679-7540
  • Email for assistance

• Maricopa County:
  • https://superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/llrc/
  • (602) 506-SELF (7353)
  • Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

• Mohave County:
  • https://www.mohavecourts.com/CourtAdmin/LawLib/lawlib.htm
  • (928) 753-0790 x4044
  • Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  • Live chat offered at https://www.mohavecourts.com/

• Pima County:
  • https://www.sc.pima.gov/?tabid=60
  • (520) 724-8456
  • Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

• Pinal County
  • https://www.pinalcountyaz.gov/Judicial/Library/Pages/home.aspx
  • (520) 866-5466
  • Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

• Yavapai County:
  • http://courts.yavapai.us/superiorcourt/law-library
  • (928) 771-3309
  • Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

• Yuma County:
  • https://www.yumacountyaz.gov/government/courts/superior-court/law-library
  • (928)817-4165
  • Email for assistance

To find information about chatting online with a State Law Librarian check out: https://azcourthelp.org/live-chat

To quash a warrant, call the courthouse that is holding the warrant to see how they are addressing warrants at this time.  They may hold an in-person, telephonic, or video-based hearing depending on current court policies.

To address concerns about COVID-19, probation processes and requirements may have been modified.  For instance, meetings may be conducted via phone or video conferencing.  Contact your probation officer directly for information about possible changes.

For questions about a scheduled payment for FARE program, call (855) 720-7743, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or visit: https://www.azcourts.gov/courtservices/Consolidated-Collections-Unit

For questions about CAP, contact your local municipal court.

In general, jury duty has been suspended until May 1, 2020 (A.O. 2020-48).  If you have received a jury summons for a date after May 1st, contact either the Court Clerk or the Jury Office listed on the summons to find out more information.

Court records can still be requested, but before you travel to the courthouse either: 

• See if you can locate the case on eAccess. You will need to create a login to access records. There is a fee to print records from eAccess.
• Contact the courthouse directly and see if they can be emailed or provided to you via mail. You can find courthouse-specific record request forms at: https://azcourthelp.org/ecr

Many defensive driving schools are available online.  Check this website for information on schools available online: https://www.azcourts.gov/drive/Defensive-Driving-Schools 

For courses that are scheduled to be in-person, contact the school directly to see if they are offering an online alternative.