Making the most of Arizona public records will require you to have a guide or referral. You can conduct Internet searches of many government agencies for free but you will spend a lot of time looking at irrelevant links and websites if you have no idea where to start.

You will first need to obtain some basic information on the individual or property for which you are seeking Arizona public access records. For example, if you are seeking information about an individual, it will be helpful to know some addresses where that person has previously lived.

There are three general types of AZ public access records:

1. Arizona criminal records that include files on registered sex offenders, past convictions or information on current inmates in a particular prison. These records can help you perform a Arizona background check on prospective employees.
2. Arizona vital records such as census records, consumer protection information or legislation minutes. You may find these records helpful when researching a product or political candidate.
3. Real estate records like property appraisals, ownership and taxes. These types of records can be useful when buying or selling a home.

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Find Arizona court records from local government agencies

City and county clerks in Arizona can frequently provide a great deal of current information on an individual when you know their name and address.

I recommend: Arizona Association of Counties has a clickable map of Arizona that will take you to the website of each county. The Arizona Secretary of State has a list of links by county including the county recorder website.

Learn more about the laws regarding Arizona public court records

The records that are publicly available vary widely by state. You will want to have at least a general idea of what information you can expect to find before conducting your search.

I recommend: The Arizona Ombudsman Office provides an overview of Arizona’s public records law. The Records Management Division of the Arizona State Library has links to information regarding Arizona’s public records law.

Perform a specific Arizona public records search

Many cities and counties in Arizona maintain a variety of records on individuals and property that are freely available to the general public.

I recommend: You can obtain public records from the City Clerk of Tempe by submitting a public records request form. The Clerk of the Board of Maricopa County provides access to a variety of public records upon submission of the appropriate request form.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Exhaust free sources of information before you consider paying for Arizona divorce records. Sites that charge a fee may only provide information you could obtain elsewhere for free. Fortunately, libraries frequently subscribe to services that you would normally need to pay a fee to access. You should also bear in mind that many public records are simply not available online.

Whether you're looking for information about a potential employee or researching facts on a property, take advantage of Arizona public access to records. Public records are documents that have been filed or recorded by public agencies or private individuals. Such records include birth and death records, marriage and divorce papers, criminal records, real estate documents, licenses, and so on.

Arizona access to public records is determined records by the federal, state and local governments that store them. Although Arizona public records are accessible to the public, you may be expected to pay for some information; the fees will vary depending on the department and state. You can always visit state departments and offices for public records, though there's a breadth of information online.

When researching AZ public records, remember the following:

1. When doing a background check on an individual, you may want to consider a nationwide search. This will cover information not just in your state, but in the country as a whole.

2. Make sure the Arizona official records you get are up to date.

3. Use credible sources when searching through AZ public access online. You may be liable for turning someone down if you base a hiring decision on incorrect facts.

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Search Arizona public records to get information on real estate

Information on real estate is always available to the public. If you're looking for specific data on a particular property, such as zoning information, assessments or building requirements, you can find those on government sites, such as county offices. Additionally, you can research title and deed information, find out who owns a property and get tax information.

I recommend: Real Marketing is an online resource that provides links to Arizona county assessor's offices, county recorder's offices and county treasurer's offices. You can find comprehensive property information by visiting these online government resources.

Consider checking Arizona court records before you hire an employee

As a business owner, it's smart to run background checks on potential employees, especially if you're hiring childcare providers and teachers. Background checks can range from verifying a person's Social Security number, to a detailed account of the person's history and acquaintances. Before doing a background check, you must get permission from the individual.

I recommend: The Arizona Department of Public Safety can help you obtain Arizona criminal records. Additionally, public access to court records is available through the Arizona Judicial Branch.

Track down anyone with an Arizona public records search

With the assistance of the Internet and the right data, you can track down any individual, living or deceased. If you already know the person's social security number, date of birth, or last known address, you can use these to research vital records. Less information than that makes your search a little more difficult, but still possible.

I recommend: You can find records of marriage, divorce, birth and death at the Arizona Office of Vital Records. USA People Search can help you track someone down using a variety of information, but they do require a fee.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  The state and federal Fair Credit Reporting Act regulates how consumer credit information, such as Arizona bankruptcy records, are collected and used by outside companies-- not employers. The act also restricts reporting on records of arrest and other negative information after seven years, with the exception of criminal convictions.

Arizona public records laws and regulations provide access to government records like budget reports and meeting minutes. They also allow public access to records on individuals, such as vital records and criminal records.

AZ public records laws can be classified by the type of public records that they affect. These include the three following categories:

1. Laws on Arizona public records that address the way in which these records can be accessed. These laws control issues such as the requirement for providing a reason for the information, specifying fees that an agency may charge and stating the length of time that the state is allowed to respond to a request for information.
2. Laws that specify an individual's information that may be considered public. These laws affect the way in which individuals may access their own information and how they may allow access by another party.
3. Laws that control the government records that the public may access. These laws may be intended to keep individuals informed on government decisions or allow journalists to report on government activity.
   

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Examine the laws that control Arizona access to public records

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) for Arizona is a law that typically guides access to Arizona court records and is usually handled by the attorney general's office. Arizona criminal records may also be obtained from municipal and county courts.

I recommend: The Arizona State Legislature provides an overview of the public records law in Arizona. The Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records provides the Arizona Revised Statutes that apply to public records in Arizona.

Study the laws that affect an Arizona public record for an individual

Public records laws control access to Arizona bankruptcy records, Arizona divorce records and other vital records on individuals. Some of these records may only be accessible to a designated individual or a party.

I recommend: The Arizona Department of Health Services describes the laws that control the release of vital records in Arizona. Maricopa County provides the legal requirements for obtaining vital records, such as birth certificates.

Review the Arizona public records laws that affect government records

Government records laws allow access to records such as real estate sales, budget reports and meeting minutes. Some government entities may specialize in one particular type of record, while others may provide access to many different types of government records.

I recommend: Mohave County has the procedures for releasing public records generated by government officials. The Arizona Newspapers Association discusses the open meetings laws in Arizona that provide access to government records.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Arizona public records law is generally guided by the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This federal legislation was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson in 1966. The FOIA was amended by the Electronic Freedom of Information Act Amendments in 1996, which controls the electronic access the public has to these records.

Discover the benefits of Arizona public access when it comes to researching and sorting through public records. Whether you need proof of criminal records, marriages, deaths, divorces or some other facet of public record, knowing the basics helps you find what you need in a timely fashion.

Understanding Arizona public records basics helps you locate important documents you might need to fill out legal paperwork. It also helps you find out information on others you research, whether for genealogy or for job employment purposes. When learning Arizona public records basics, you might want to consider the following areas:

1. Sort through Arizona criminal records to determine whether or not an individual has an unsavory past.

2. Use Arizona public records basics to find marriage and divorce records.

3. Browse through Arizona bankruptcy records to determine credibility when working with businesses.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get copies of criminal activity or lack thereof when sorting through Arizona court records

Many employers want to verify a potential employee's background. Sorting through AZ public records is a good way to quickly get some of the information.

I recommend: The Arizona Department of Public Safety website answers many questions related to obtaining documents on criminal history. It answers questions on topics such as obtaining copies of your own criminal history record and checking someone else's criminal record. Criminal Records offers a site dedicated to researching criminal records for individuals. One searches the site by name or by state.

Do an Arizona public records search to determine the marriage and divorce status of an individual

Arizona divorce records and marriage records offer great insight to family lines for genealogists. They also help researchers trying to glean as much information as possible about a specified individual.

I recommend: Go to Office of Vital Records, a comprehensive resource in marriage licenses and divorce records. This site offers researchers helpful information on individuals, and researchers find the individuals easily by typing a name into the site's search engine. Marchex offers a site where one obtains records for an individual after looking for them by name. It offers information on marriages and divorces in addition to offering birth and death records.

Peruse AZ public records for information on the bankruptcy status of an individual

In Arizona, access to public records yields information such as whether or not a person has filed for bankruptcy in the past. It shows how many times an individual has filed for bankruptcy.

I recommend: The US Bankruptcy Court offers information and answers questions regarding bankruptcy records. It covers topics such as federal and Arizona State bankruptcy record-keeping, as well as information on obtaining documentation. Arizona Supreme Court provides court information for the general public in relation to bankruptcy and other cases. Its search engine allows researchers to sort through information based on name, birth date or court name.