Chandler Genealogy Lookup

Genealogy records for Chandler residents are maintained by Maricopa County rather than the city. Chandler sits in the southeast valley of the Phoenix metro area and has grown rapidly over the past few decades. Birth certificates, death records, and marriage licenses all go through county offices. The closest vital records office for Chandler residents is in nearby Mesa. Chandler does offer some useful services for genealogy researchers including free notary services and passport processing at the city clerk office.

Maricopa County Handles Chandler Genealogy Records

All vital records for Chandler residents go through Maricopa County. Arizona law puts vital records at the county level, not city level. This means Chandler genealogy researchers use the same offices that serve Phoenix, Mesa, and other Maricopa County cities. The closest vital records office for Chandler residents is the East Valley location at 331 E. Coury Avenue in Mesa.

The Maricopa County vital records phone number is 602-506-6805. Office hours run Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday hours start at 9 a.m. Same day service is often possible when you visit in person. Each certified copy of a birth or death certificate costs $20. Non-certified copies for genealogy purposes cost $5.

The county accepts cash, money orders, cashier's checks, and credit or debit cards. Personal checks are not accepted at any location. Make sure to bring valid photo ID when you visit.

Chandler City Clerk Office Services

The Chandler City Clerk does not handle birth, death, or marriage records. However, the office provides some services useful for genealogy researchers. The city clerk offers free notary services and passport processing. They also handle archived records searches for historical city documents.

The Chandler City Clerk webpage shown above lists services including free notary and passport processing for local residents.

The Chandler City Clerk office sits at 175 S. Arizona Avenue on the first floor of City Hall. Phone number is 480-782-2181. The free notary service can be helpful when you need documents notarized for vital record requests. Passport services cost $35 per applicant if you need a passport for international genealogy research travel.

For genealogy researchers looking into Chandler city history, the clerk office can help locate old council minutes and archived municipal records. The city was incorporated in 1920, so records go back over a century.

Chandler Marriage Records

Marriage licenses for Chandler couples come from the Maricopa County Clerk of the Superior Court. Under ARS 25-121, couples must apply in person at a county clerk office. The closest location for Chandler residents is the southeast clerk office at 222 E. Javelina in Mesa.

The marriage license fee is $98. Certified copies of existing marriage records cost $43.50, or $35.50 with a self-addressed stamped envelope. Phone number for marriage license info is 602-372-5375. Maricopa County offers an online marriage license program where you can start the application from home before visiting an office to finish it.

Marriage records show full names of both parties, ages, and addresses. Some include parents' names. These details help genealogy researchers connect family members. Historical marriage records in Maricopa County span many decades and can be valuable for tracing Chandler family lines.

Chandler Property and Land Records

The Maricopa County Recorder maintains property deeds, land records, military discharges, and other historical documents. The recorder has over 50 million documents going back to 1871. Many can be searched online for free. These records help show where your Chandler ancestors owned property and when.

Property deeds list buyer and seller names, legal descriptions of land, and sale dates. They can reveal family relationships when property passed between generations. Military discharge records show veteran status and service details. Old maps and plat records show how Chandler developed from a small farming community to a major city.

The main recorder office is at 111 S. Third Avenue in Phoenix. You do not need to visit in person for most searches since the online database is comprehensive. Phone number is 602-506-1511.

Chandler FamilySearch Center

Chandler has a FamilySearch Center that provides free access to genealogy databases. These centers are run by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and offer free access to subscription sites like Ancestry, FindMyPast, and Newspapers.com. You do not need to be a church member to use these resources.

The FamilySearch Arizona guide lists what free records are available online. Visiting a center in person gives you access to additional resources and help from volunteers who know genealogy research techniques. FamilySearch has digitized millions of Arizona records including county courthouse documents.

State Genealogy Resources for Chandler

Arizona maintains a free genealogy database at genealogy.az.gov. You can search birth and death certificate images at no cost. Birth records older than 75 years and death records older than 50 years are open for research without proving a family relationship. This database covers the entire state including Chandler.

The Arizona State Archives in Phoenix holds additional genealogy materials including court records, naturalization papers, prison records, and probate files. The state archives guide explains available collections. Arizona residents get free access to Ancestry records from the state archives. The facility is at 1901 W Madison Street in Phoenix. Visits require an appointment by calling 602-926-3720.

The Arizona Memory Project has nearly 280,000 digital items including historical photos and documents. You might find images of your Chandler ancestors or the places they lived and worked.

Chandler Court Records for Genealogy

Court records go beyond vital statistics and can reveal family relationships. The Arizona eAccess portal provides 24/7 online access to court records from most Arizona counties. For Maricopa County, you can search civil cases, criminal records, probate files, and family court matters.

Probate records are especially valuable. When someone died, probate court handled their estate. Files list heirs and family members. Divorce records list children and property. The clerk of court charges $35 per document for certification and $35 per year for research.

Nearby Cities for Genealogy Research

Chandler sits in the southeast valley surrounded by other Maricopa County cities. All use the same county offices for vital records. If your ancestors moved around the valley, the same county system helps you track them.

Neighboring cities include Gilbert to the east, Mesa to the north, and Tempe to the northwest. Phoenix is to the north and west. Scottsdale sits to the north. Glendale is in the West Valley but still in Maricopa County.

For ancestors in southern Arizona, check Tucson in Pima County. That area uses different county offices.

Note: The East Valley vital records office in Mesa is the closest location for most Chandler residents.