Maricopa County Clerk of Superior Court
Home MenueFiling FAQs
The Basics
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Register and eFile with an authorized Electronic Filing Service Provider (EFSP):
- For Civil/Tax and Family Law, register here: https://www.azcourts.gov/efilinginformation
- Criminal and Juvenile eFiling is available here
- Civil
- Tax
- Family
- Mental Health (effective April 26, 2024)
- Criminal cases
- Juvenile adoption certification, adoption, delinquency, emancipation, guardianship, dependency and severance cases
- No need to come to the courthouse to file your documents
- 24/7 access to submit your case documents and view documents filed in your case after your first submission in the case has been accepted
- Documents must be in a text-searchable .pdf, .odt, or .docx format. A text-searchable .pdf format is preferred. A proposed order must be in a form that permits it to be modified, such as .odt or .docx format or other format permitted by the court.
- Document size may be no larger than 9 MB.
- Submission’s total size may be no larger than 100MB.
- The application runs a virus checker when the submission of a document is taking place. All documents must be virus-free. The application will automatically reject a submission containing a virus.
- No password protection or other security devices may be associated with a document.
- ARIZONA CODE OF JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION – Section 1-901: Electronic Filing (“E-filing”)
- Maricopa County eFile Guidelines
eFile allows for the electronic submission/filing of court documents into the court record. Currently, in Maricopa County there are two approved eFile vendors, Arizona Turbo Court (AZTC) and eFile AZ, both are governed by the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC).
- The AOC customer support team provides user support for both vendors.
- Online training and tutorials are provided for both vendors.
The eFile portals are available 24hrs a day and 7 days a week without time restrictions as to when documents can be eFiled.
• Attorneys
• Out of State attorneys who are pro hac vice in an existing case
• Self-Represented Litigants
Document Filing Information
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Yes, documents excluded from eFiling are listed here: For a full listing please review ARIZONA CODE OF JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION – Section 1-901: Electronic Filing (“E-filing”)
- Examples of excluded documents include:
- Documents and any portion of a document filed under seal, or a motion to file documents under seal. This does not include the sensitive data sheet filed at case initiation in a family law case.
- Any document initiating an order of protection, injunction against harassment, or injunction against workplace harassment.
- Requests for a hearing, modification, dismissal, or any other documents relating to an order of protection proceeding.
- Documents that require issuance (e.g., writs, summons, and subpoenas).
- Examples of excluded documents include:
No. The default judgment packets must be submitted in paper directly to the judicial officer’s division. Documents contained in the packet such as the Application for Default must be efiled and a copy of the eFiled document is to be placed in the packet that you are providing to the judicial officer. These must be submitted to Superior Court’s Family Department Administration. The locations for submittal are listed below:
Downtown Facility
Family Court Administration
201 W Jefferson 3rd Floor
Phoenix AZ 85003Southeast Regional Facility
Family Court Administration
222 E Javelina Ave 1st Floor
Mesa AZ 85210Northwest Regional Facility
Leave in Judge’s In-box
14264 W Tierra Buena Ln
Surprise AZ 85374Northeast Regional Facility
Leave in Judge’s In-box
18380 N 40th St
Phoenix AZ 85032For information on how to e-file Consent Decrees, please see our e-filing Family Court Consent Decrees page: eFiling Family Court Consent Decrees | Maricopa County Clerk of Superior Court
- No, the judicial officers assigned to consider exception requests are at the downtown Superior Court facility. Please fill out an Exception Request form and proceed to the downtown Civil Court Administration Customer Service, East Court Building (101 W. Jefferson, 3rd Floor Lobby, Phoenix, AZ 85003) to present your exception request.
- Yes. For information on how to e-file Consent Decrees, please see our e-filing Family Court Consent Decrees page: eFiling Family Court Consent Decrees | Maricopa County Clerk of Superior Court.
- No, the eFiling System will automatically route a copy of the filing to the assigned judicial officer once your filing has been accepted.
• Single Standalone document - When accepted the Main Document (known as lead documents in AZTC/ eFile AZ/) receives a file stamp with time and date of submission.
• Main Document with attachments/supporting documents - When accepted, the main document receives a file stamp. However, attachments/supporting documents do not receive a file stamp and appear in the court record in the same docket entry as the main document.
• Motion/Stipulation with Proposed Order - When accepted, the Motion/Stipulation receives a file stamp and goes on record without the Proposed Order.
• Proposed Order goes to Judicial Review (eFile separate application for review/ruling). When submitting, it must be added as an attachment, not as part of a single document. The proposed orders will be separated from any other attachments. They also cannot have attachments added to them.NOTE: Proposed Orders should be submitted as a supporting document with the same filing transaction as the respective Motion whenever possible. Do not submit the main document and the Proposed Order together as one integral document, as this restricts the judicial officer's ability to electronically sign and process the Proposed Order. The eFiling System does not separate documents that are scanned together as one document.
Incorrectly filing a Proposed Order may result in the filing being rejected, or the Proposed Order may not route to the judicial officer for ruling. If this occurs, you may have to resubmit the Proposed Order. It is highly recommended that Proposed Orders be submitted in an editable format, preferably in .pdf, .doc or .docx format. This allows the judicial officer to modify Proposed Orders prior to granting them. The system will only allow one Proposed Order to be submitted within each filing transaction. If you are submitting more than one Proposed Order, submit one in the same transaction as the respective Motion. Each additional Proposed Order will need to be submitted in a separate transaction.
The first document in each filing is considered the Main Document and will receive the "FILED" stamp (if accepted) and determines how the document will be recorded on the court's docket. Only one Main Document is permitted per filing transaction.
Supporting documents are exhibits or attachments to the Main Document (documents you would staple to the Main Document if you were filing paper). Select Exhibit or Proposed Order as the filing type for supporting documents. See FAQ "How do I eFile a Proposed Order?" for more information. Supporting documents will NOT receive a file stamp and will not generate a separate entry in the court's docket.
EXAMPLE: Motions for Summary Judgment and Statements of Facts are both filed in and docketed as separate documents. eFile the Motion for Summary Judgment, complete that transaction, then start a new transaction with the Statement of Facts as the main document, followed by any exhibits to the Statement of Facts.
After eFiling - What's Next?
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- Filings are reviewed and processed within the order in which they are received. Every effort is made to review documents quickly and efficiently. Documents submitted are generally reviewed and processed within two business days (not including holidays) after confirmation receipt of submission is received.
- The initiating document (Complaint or Petition) should be the first upload. This includes any Emergency Temporary Orders.
- Party captions should match on all documents.
- Review all information entered in eFile prior to submission; the ability to review and edit prior to submission is available.
- If multiple attorneys are listed, the attorney that signed the Complaint or Petition is considered Attorney of Record.
You will need to re-submit the correct document.
Once a document has been submitted for filing, it is reviewed. If it is found to be deficient, it will be rejected. If the document has already been accepted, the clerk cannot return, remove, delete or replace the incorrect document with a corrected document without an Order from the Court.
NOTE: Updated/modified documents must be re-submitted with the current date (back dating a document is not permitted). Additionally, a Motion would need to be filed asking the court to issue an Order directing the Clerk of the Court to remove the original document from the court's record.
Clerks look at the following:
- The filing type (motion/reply, etc.).
- The document description (should match the document title). The eFile clerk may correct to match the title of the document.
- The case number.
- The caption (confirms the parties in the case information window are the same parties on the document).
- If the document is signed or notarized.
Fees & Payment
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- Yes, both eFile vendors offer the accessibility to pay at time of submission. Failure to do so will result in receiving an email indicting a fee is due; this fee must be collected within 24hrs to prevent a rejection. However, when submitting a new case, the fee is collected at the time of submission.
- With the final email received, please review the section called “Clerk Comments,” as it will explain why the filing was rejected/deficient.
- • $6.50 to initiate a case.
• 3% for processing fee.
• Standard case/document filing fees.
- • Once a filing has been submitted a “pending charge” will be placed on your method of payment if the filing is found to be rejected/or deficient an auto refund process begins.
• If you re-submit your filing, you will owe the original amount. The Clerk of Court does not receive funds until a document is accepted.
NOTE: The Clerk of Court has no control on the timeframe on receiving a refund. The application and processing fees are not refunded. For more information, please contact the AOC.
Electronic Court Record (ECR)
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- No. ECR is only accessed virtually. It is recommended that you use a computer/laptop with the Microsoft Edge browser.
- Documents eFiled and accepted into the court record may be reviewed through the Electronic Court Record (ECR) or by visiting a Clerk’s Office facility which provides access to Public Record Access terminals.
Access to Electronic Court Record (ECR) for a case(s) is offered after providing a one-time registration to authenticate user identity (required).
• Log on to: https://ecr.clerkofcourt.maricopa.gov/login.aspx
NOTE: You may be required to submit a copy of your driver’s license (or valid identification) along with the copy of your ECR registration form, both should be sent to efilesupport@cosc.maricopa.gov. You can also review the ECR User Manual.
- No. Copies printed from the ECR website are not considered certified. Certified copies of records must be obtained either in-person or by mail from the Clerk’s office.
ECR is not accessible to:
- Legal support staff
- Pro Hac Vice
- Victims or Victim Advocates
- The ECR is an online system providing remote access to the court record/documents. Access is only provided to cases on which you are a named party and registered to access.
- Adult case types CR, CV, FC, FN, LC, TJ, TX, ST, and SW, from 2002 to present.
- Documents filed from 2005 to present are available in older cases.
- Probate cases from 1997 to present
- Sealed cases or confidential documents, juvenile cases, or mental health cases are not accessible via ECR.
- Named parties to the case.
- Attorney of record.
- Attorneys belonging to the same firm as the attorney of record.
- Arbitrators.
- Court Appointed Guardian Ad Litem.
- Public Defender and Special Masters (A copy of the order appointment must be emailed or faxed. If a party or attorney is related to one of the consolidated cases, access can be granted to all the cases included in the consolidation).
Other Questions
Expand/Contract Questions and Answers
- No. AZTC and eFileAZ do not provide electronic service. The documents must be served as required by the court rules and statutes.
- If the document submitted is accepted by the eFile clerk, the file date will be the date and time the filing was received by the electronic filing system. The date and time for documents with fees paid to PayPal is the date and time after the fee is processed and received by the electronic filing system.
Who can I talk to about getting further clarification about why my documents were rejected/deficient?
If you have reviewed the “clerk comments” noted in your final email that confirmed the final status of your document(s) and you are needing further clarification, you may contact the clerk’s office eFile department at 602-572-5375. If you have questions/concerns on uploading your documents or are running into issues, you will need to contact the AOC as the Clerk of Court is not a method of technical support.
Who can I talk to about my technical or uploading questions regarding eFiling my documents in Superior Court?
The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) has a Support Center to assist customers with questions regarding eFiling documents, regardless of the platform chosen (ATZC or eFile AZ). Their phone number is 602-452-3519 (or 800-720-7743) or you may email: pasupport@courts.az.gov.