Santa Cruz County Court Dockets

Court dockets in Santa Cruz County are maintained by the Clerk of Superior Court at the courthouse in Nogales, which sits along the border with Mexico. The Superior Court at 2160 N. Congress Drive, Nogales, AZ 85621 handles all felony criminal cases, civil lawsuits over $10,000, family law proceedings such as divorce and child custody, and probate matters. Complete docket records are kept for all cases and made available to the public through online searches or visits to the clerk's office during regular business hours Monday through Friday.

Accessing Court Docket Information

The Clerk of Superior Court provides access to all court dockets and case files. Call 520-375-7700 to reach the clerk's office. For public records inquiries, you can email publicrecords@santacruzcountyaz.gov. The staff can search for cases by party name or case number and tell you what documents are available in the file. Office hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on weekdays. The courthouse is at 2160 N. Congress Drive in Nogales.

Free online searches are available through the statewide portal at apps.azcourts.gov/publicaccess. This system covers 177 Arizona courts including Santa Cruz County courts. Enter a party name or case number to search. Results show case type, charges or claims, important dates, and current status. Viewing docket summaries is free and requires no account or registration.

The Clerk of Superior Court main page at santacruzcountyaz.gov provides information about the clerk's duties and eFiling, as shown below.

This page explains the clerk's role in maintaining court files, processing electronic filings, and providing public access to court dockets and records.

What Court Dockets Show

Criminal court dockets in Santa Cruz County list all felony cases. Drug offenses, theft over $1,000, burglary, assault, fraud, weapons violations, and serious DUI charges all appear on criminal dockets. The docket shows the defendant's name, the specific charges filed by the prosecutor, the defense attorney, all court appearance dates, plea agreements if any, trial dates, and sentencing outcomes. Each docket entry is dated so you can track the case from initial arraignment through final judgment.

Civil dockets cover lawsuits between parties over money or property. Personal injury claims from accidents, contract disputes between businesses or individuals, real estate disagreements, and business litigation all appear in civil court dockets. The docket identifies the plaintiff who filed the lawsuit, the defendant being sued, the amount claimed, when the complaint was served, the defendant's response, all motions filed by both sides, hearing results, and the final judgment or settlement. You can follow a civil case through the docket to see what actions each party took and how the court ruled on disputes.

Family law dockets include divorce petitions, legal separation, child custody modifications, child support enforcement, paternity cases, and protective orders. The docket lists both parties, shows the filing date, records temporary order hearings, notes mediation sessions, documents trial dates for contested matters, and shows final decrees or orders. Some family law information may be sealed to protect children's privacy, but basic docket entries showing case status and hearing schedules are generally available to the public.

Probate court dockets show estates of deceased persons, guardianships for minors or incapacitated adults, and conservatorships for managing finances. The docket identifies the decedent or protected person, the personal representative or guardian appointed by the court, creditor claims filed, asset inventories, and distribution orders. These cases can last many months as estates are settled and guardianships are supervised. The docket provides a complete record of all court actions throughout the process.

Superior Court Information

The Superior Court page at santacruzcountyaz.gov provides information about court divisions and forms.

This page offers downloadable forms for various case types and provides guidance for people handling cases in Superior Court.

Not all cases are public. Juvenile delinquency matters are confidential under Arizona law. Mental health proceedings are sealed. Adoption records are restricted. These cases will not appear in any public docket search even if you know they exist.

Public Records Request Process

The Public Records Request page at santacruzcountyaz.gov explains how to request court records.

This page provides instructions for submitting public records requests, including what information you need to provide and how long requests take to process.

Requesting Document Copies

In-person requests are handled at the Clerk of Superior Court office in Nogales. Walk in during business hours. Provide the case number or party names. Tell the clerk which documents you need copied. Standard copies cost 50 cents per page. Certified copies are $35 per document plus the per-page copy fee. Certification adds an official seal and signature from the clerk to verify authenticity. Pay at the counter with cash, check, or credit card.

For mail requests, write to Clerk of Superior Court, 2160 N. Congress Drive, Nogales, AZ 85621. Include the case number, names of all parties, a list of documents you want, and your mailing address. Send payment by check or money order for the copy fees. Add $8 for postage and handling so the clerk can mail the documents to you. Processing usually takes two to three weeks depending on how busy the office is.

Email public records requests can be sent to publicrecords@santacruzcountyaz.gov. The staff can answer questions about what documents are available and how to request them, but they cannot send court records by email for security reasons. You still need to submit a formal request and pay the required fees.

The eAccess system at eaccess.azcourts.gov allows you to purchase court documents online for $10 per document. Create an account with your email and credit card. Search for your case. Select which documents to download. Pay and receive PDF copies immediately. This option costs more than getting copies from the clerk but provides instant access if you need documents right away.

Nearby Counties

Santa Cruz County borders several other Arizona counties and Mexico. If your case was filed in a neighboring jurisdiction, check these court systems:

• Pima County to the north and east
• Cochise County to the east

Santa Cruz County also shares a border with Mexico at Nogales. Cases filed in Mexican courts are in a separate legal system and will not appear in Arizona court searches. Each country and jurisdiction maintains its own separate court dockets.