Search Maricopa County Genealogy

Maricopa County genealogy records span from 1871 to present day, covering the entire history of this Arizona region. As the most populous county in Arizona with over 4 million residents, Maricopa offers the most extensive online record systems in the state. The County Recorder provides access to more than 50 million documents through their digital portal. Vital records offices at five locations across the Phoenix valley offer same-day service for birth and death certificates. Genealogy researchers find Maricopa County especially valuable because its records predate Arizona statehood.

Maricopa County Recorder for Genealogy

The Maricopa County Recorder maintains one of the largest local document collections in Arizona. Their main office sits at 111 South Third Avenue in Phoenix, AZ 85003. Call (602) 506-1511 for general questions. The recorder has digitized over 50 million documents going back to 1871, making this an exceptional resource for genealogy research. Property deeds, mortgages, mining claims, and other recorded documents are searchable online.

The Maricopa County Recorder website gives you direct access to search these historical records from home. You can look up documents by name, date, or document type. Many records include scanned images of the original documents. This means you can see your ancestor's actual signature on a deed from over a century ago.

The recorder website shown above offers free searches of Maricopa County genealogy documents dating to 1871.

Land records reveal much about your ancestors' lives. Deeds show when they bought property and from whom. Mortgages indicate financial circumstances. Homestead claims document early settlers who worked to improve land. Mining claims were common in Arizona's territorial days. All these documents help paint a fuller picture of your family history in Maricopa County.

Maricopa County Vital Records Offices

Maricopa County offers same-day vital records service at five convenient locations across the Phoenix metropolitan area. The Maricopa County Vital Records office can be reached at 602-506-6805. Mailing address is PO Box 2111, Phoenix, AZ 85001. Hours run Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday hours start at 9 a.m.

The five Maricopa County vital records locations are:

• Phoenix: 1645 E. Roosevelt St., Phoenix, AZ 85006
• East Valley: 331 E. Coury Ave., Mesa, AZ 85210
• Northwest Valley: 8088 W. Whitney Dr., Suite 2A, Peoria, AZ 85345
• Glendale: 5141 W. Lamar Rd., Glendale, AZ 85301
• Goodyear: 14130 W. McDowell Rd., Goodyear, AZ 85395

Arizona is a closed record state. Under ARS 36-302, only eligible applicants can obtain certified vital records. Eligible persons include the registrant, parents listed on the certificate, spouse with notarized permission, grandparents, adult children, adult grandchildren, adult siblings, and legal guardians. The Maricopa County eligibility guide explains requirements in detail.

Certified copies of birth and death certificates cost $20 each. Additional copies also cost $20. For genealogy research, you may request non-certified copies for $5 if you can document your family relationship. Non-certified copies contain the same information but cannot be used for legal purposes like passport applications.

Maricopa County Marriage Records

Marriage licenses and records come from the Maricopa County Clerk of Superior Court. Their main office is at 620 West Jackson Street in Phoenix, AZ 85003. Phone (602) 372-5375 for marriage record questions. A marriage license costs $98 in Maricopa County. Certified copies of existing marriage records cost $43.50 or $35.50 if you include a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Maricopa County offers an online marriage license program for Arizona residents. This lets couples start the application process from home before visiting a clerk location. The Clerk of Court marriage page provides details about requirements and fees.

Under ARS 25-121, couples must apply for marriage licenses in person at a county clerk office. The license application requires each person's full legal name, age, residential address, and social security number. Marriage records are valuable for genealogy because they document the union of two family lines and often include parents' names.

Clerk of Court locations in Maricopa County include:

• Downtown: 601 W. Jackson St., Phoenix
• Northeast: 18380 N. 40th St., Phoenix
• Northwest: 14264 W. Tierra Buena Ln., Surprise
• Southeast: 222 E Javelina, Mesa

Maricopa County Court Records

The Maricopa County Superior Court handles civil cases, criminal cases, probate, and family law matters. These court records add depth to genealogy research. Probate files list heirs and describe assets when someone died. Divorce records document the end of marriages with details about property and children. Civil cases may involve disputes between family members. Even criminal records can help identify ancestors and their circumstances.

The Arizona eAccess portal provides 24/7 online access to search Maricopa County court records. You can look up cases by party name, case number, or other criteria. Basic case information appears online. For full documents, you may need to visit the clerk office or submit a formal records request.

Under ARS 39-121.01, most court records in Arizona are public. You have the right to inspect and copy these documents. The clerk can charge fees for copies but cannot deny access to public records. Some sensitive records involving minors or sealed cases have restrictions.

Historical Maricopa County Genealogy

Maricopa County records predate Arizona statehood in 1912. The county was created in 1871 as part of Arizona Territory. This long history means genealogy researchers can find documents spanning over 150 years. Early records include territorial land claims, mining documents, and court cases from pioneer days.

The free Arizona genealogy database contains searchable birth and death records with actual certificate images. Birth records become available 75 years after the date of birth. Death records open up 50 years after the date of death. This database covers historical records from across Arizona including Maricopa County.

The Arizona State Archives at 1901 W Madison Street in Phoenix holds additional historical materials. Call 602-926-3720 to schedule a research appointment. Arizona residents get free access to Ancestry records through the state archives. The archives genealogy guide lists available collections including court records, naturalization papers, and census data.

Note: The state Bureau of Vital Records started keeping birth and death records in July 1909. For births and deaths before that date, check county records and cemetery registers.

More Maricopa County Genealogy Resources

The Arizona Memory Project contains nearly 280,000 digital items including historical photographs and documents. Many items relate to Phoenix and Maricopa County history. You can search by place name, time period, or topic to find relevant materials for your family research.

FamilySearch offers extensive free genealogy records. Multiple FamilySearch Centers operate in the Phoenix metro area including locations in Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, and Scottsdale. These centers provide free access to subscription databases that can help with Maricopa County research.

The Arizona Historical Society has a research library in Tempe that covers central Arizona history. Their collections include manuscripts, photographs, diaries, and oral histories. Cemetery records on Find A Grave help locate burial sites throughout Maricopa County.

Nearby Arizona Counties

Maricopa County borders several other Arizona counties. Family members sometimes moved between these areas. Check nearby county records for related genealogy information:

Cities in Maricopa County

Maricopa County contains many large cities in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Residents of these cities access vital records through Maricopa County offices. City clerks handle administrative records but not vital records like birth, death, and marriage certificates. Select a city below for local genealogy information: