Access Mesa Genealogy Records

Genealogy research for Mesa families requires working with Maricopa County offices. Mesa is the third largest city in Arizona and sits in the East Valley of the Phoenix metro area. Birth certificates, death records, and marriage licenses are all handled at the county level rather than by the city. Mesa has a convenient Maricopa County vital records office right in town. You can also use state archives and free online databases to find your Mesa ancestors in historical documents going back to the territorial era.

Maricopa County Handles Mesa Genealogy Records

All vital records for Mesa residents go through Maricopa County. Arizona does not let cities keep birth, death, or marriage records. Everything flows through the county system. This means Mesa genealogy researchers work with the same offices that serve Phoenix, Tempe, and other Maricopa County cities.

The good news is that Maricopa County operates an East Valley vital records office right in Mesa. The office sits at 331 E. Coury Avenue. This location handles birth and death certificate requests just like the main Phoenix office. You can often get same day service when you visit in person. Phone number for all Maricopa County vital records locations is 602-506-6805. Hours run Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday hours start at 9 a.m.

Each certified copy 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. Bring valid photo ID when you visit.

Mesa City Clerk Office

The Mesa City Clerk handles city administrative matters but not vital records. The clerk manages elections, public records requests for city business, boards and commissions, and city council agendas. For birth certificates, death records, or marriage licenses, you need to contact Maricopa County offices instead.

The Mesa City Clerk office is at 20 E. Main Street, Suite 150. Phone number is 480-644-2099. Hours run Monday through Thursday from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. For genealogy researchers, this office might help with historical city records or archived municipal documents. But actual vital records come from the county.

The Maricopa County vital records page above shows office locations including the East Valley office in Mesa that serves local genealogy researchers.

Mesa Marriage Records

Marriage licenses for Mesa couples are issued by the Maricopa County Clerk of the Superior Court. Under ARS 25-121, couples must apply in person. The closest location for Mesa residents is the southeast clerk office at 222 E. Javelina in Mesa. The fee is $98 for a new marriage license.

Certified copies of existing marriage records cost $43.50, or $35.50 if you provide a self-addressed stamped envelope. Phone number for marriage license information is 602-372-5375. Maricopa County also offers an online marriage license program where Arizona residents can start the application process from home before visiting an office to complete it.

Marriage records contain valuable genealogy information. The documents list full names of both parties, their ages, residential addresses, and sometimes parents' names. These details help researchers trace family connections across generations. Historical marriage records in Maricopa County go back many decades.

Mesa FamilySearch Center

Mesa has a FamilySearch Center that provides free access to genealogy databases. FamilySearch is run by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and offers free access to subscription sites like Ancestry, FindMyPast, and Newspapers.com. Mesa has a significant LDS population, and the local center is well equipped for genealogy research.

The center can help you find microfilm records, digitized documents, and guidance for your family history research. Staff and volunteers can assist with searching techniques and understanding Arizona records. The FamilySearch Arizona guide explains what free records are available online, but visiting a center in person gives you access to even more resources.

FamilySearch has digitized millions of Arizona records including county courthouse documents, naturalization papers, and military discharges. Many of these records can be searched at familysearch.org for free from any computer.

Mesa Property and Land Records

The Maricopa County Recorder maintains property deeds, land records, and other historical documents that help with genealogy research. The recorder has over 50 million documents going back to 1871. You can search many records online for free through their website.

Property records show where your Mesa ancestors lived. Deeds list buyer and seller names, property descriptions, and dates. Military discharge records filed with the recorder can prove veteran status. Historical maps and plat records show how Mesa developed over time. All of these can add context to your family history research.

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

State Archives for Mesa Genealogy

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 available for research. This database covers the entire state including Mesa and all of Maricopa County.

The Arizona State Archives in Phoenix holds additional genealogy materials. The state archives guide lists court records, naturalization papers, prison records, voter registration lists, and probate files. Arizona residents get free access to Ancestry records from the state archives. The facility is about 20 miles from Mesa at 1901 W Madison Street in Phoenix. Visits require an appointment.

Mesa Court Records for Genealogy

Court records provide information beyond vital statistics. The Arizona eAccess portal lets you search court records online 24 hours a day. For Maricopa County, you can find civil cases, criminal records, probate files, and family court matters. These records often contain family relationship details that vital records miss.

Probate records are especially useful for genealogy. When someone died, probate court handled their estate. Files list heirs, family members, and property distributions. Divorce records list children and property divisions. Civil cases might mention family members as parties or witnesses. The clerk of court charges $35 per document for certified copies and $35 per year for record searches.

Nearby Cities for Genealogy Research

Mesa sits in the East Valley of the Phoenix metro area. Several other large cities nearby use the same Maricopa County offices for vital records. If your ancestors moved around the valley, the same county system can help you track them down.

Neighboring cities include Gilbert to the south and Chandler to the southwest. Tempe borders Mesa to the west. Scottsdale is to the northwest. Phoenix sits to the west of Tempe. All these cities fall within Maricopa County, so the same vital records offices serve everyone.

Glendale is in the West Valley but still uses Maricopa County offices. For ancestors who lived in southern Arizona, check Tucson in Pima County, which uses different offices.

Note: The East Valley vital records office in Mesa also serves Gilbert, Chandler, and other nearby communities.