Are divorce records public in Arizona?
If you are planning to file for a divorce in Arizona, know that your divorce papers and other related documents will be available to the public. The state maintains this setup to preserve the transparency of the court system. To protect your privacy, consider learning what personal information is and is not publicly available.
Divorce information available to the public
When Arizona citizens file for divorce, the court keeps the following information open to the public:
- Divorce certificates: These contain the full names of the parties involved, the place of divorce and the date and time of the finalization.
- Divorce decrees: These establish the terms agreed upon between the parties.
- Divorce court records: These may include additional documents included in the divorce proceedings.
While anyone can access divorce records, courts protect sensitive data from public view. However, this only happens when the information could potentially be harmful to the concerned parties.
What to do if you want to seal divorce records in Arizona
Privacy is an important matter, especially if your divorce proceeding contains personal information that could harm you and your family. You may file a motion to seal your records, but this does not guarantee approval from the judge. It is up to the courts to determine whether the potential damage to you or your partner matters more than keeping the records public.
Although sealing records is difficult, you may preserve the confidentiality of your records by choosing a divorce settlement over a trial. This option can retain the privacy of your property division, child custody and other decrees. A divorce attorney can provide additional insights on other options you could take in keeping your divorce private.
