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Maricopa County, Arizona · A.R.S. § 13-911

Seal a Criminal Record in Maricopa County, AZ

If you were convicted of a crime in Maricopa County, Arizona's record-sealing statute (A.R.S. § 13-911) lets you petition the Maricopa County Superior Court to hide your record from public view. Sealing is available for most non-excluded offenses after a 2-10 year waiting period, with $0 court filing fees. Maricopa County handles the highest volume of criminal cases in Arizona — tens of thousands per year — and a correspondingly high volume of post-conviction relief petitions.

Check eligibility → Call (480) 923-7570
Arizona record sealing eligibility flowchart A decision tree showing who qualifies to seal a criminal record under A.R.S. § 13-911. The flowchart starts with whether the offense was a serious felony, then asks about waiting period, prior denial status, and outstanding obligations to determine if the petitioner is eligible, must wait, or is barred. Sealing Eligibility (§ 13-911) Arizona Revised Statutes — record sealing pathway Conviction in Arizona court Excluded under § 13-911(O)? Sex offenses, victim under 15 YES → BARRED Not eligible NO ↓ Waiting period elapsed? Class 4-6: 5 yr · Class 2-3: 10 yr · Misd: 2-3 yr measured from absolute discharge NO → WAIT Come back later YES ↓ Probation discharged + restitution paid? No active warrants or pending charges prior denials trigger 3-year wait NO → CURE FIRST Pay, discharge YES ↓ ELIGIBLE TO FILE Petition the original court $0 court filing fee · 60-day window What sealing does • Hides record from public • Hides from most employers • You can legally state on most applications it never happened Exceptions: law enforcement, AZPOST, child / vulnerable adult work

Filing in Maricopa County

Where to file

Maricopa County Superior Court

201 W. Jefferson St., Phoenix, AZ 85003 (Central Court Complex, Criminal File Counter)

Phone: (602) 372-5375
Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday – Friday

Branch offices

Southeast Regional Court — 222 E. Javelina Ave., Mesa, AZ 85210 (East Valley filers)

Northeast Regional Court — 18380 N. 40th St., Suite 120, Phoenix, AZ 85032

Northwest Regional Court — 14264 W. Tierra Buena Ln., Surprise, AZ 85374

E-filing

Available — Maricopa criminal cases use the Clerk's Office Online eFiling Portal (separate from AZTurboCourt). Required for attorneys per administrative order; optional for self-represented filers.

Payment methods

Visa, MasterCard, American Express, money orders, or law-firm/business checks. NO personal checks accepted at any Maricopa County clerk location.

Court filing fee for this service is $0.

Prosecutor service

Maricopa County Attorney's Office

301 W. Jefferson St., 8th Floor, Phoenix, AZ 85003

Phone: (602) 506-3411

After-hours filing

Four exterior 24/7 depository boxes at the Central Court Complex (201 W. Jefferson)

Cities covered

Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler, Glendale, Scottsdale, Gilbert, Tempe, Peoria, Surprise, Avondale, Goodyear, Buckeye

All Maricopa County cities file at the same Superior Court.

The statute, in plain terms

Section 13-911 (effective September 13, 2024 in its current form) covers most criminal convictions. Waiting periods range from 2 years (Class 2-3 misdemeanors) to 10 years (Class 2-3 felonies), measured from absolute discharge. Subsection (O) excludes certain sex offenses and crimes against young victims. Subsection (L) imposes a 3-year refile bar after any denial.

Maricopa County Seal a Criminal Record FAQ

Where do Maricopa County residents file a seal a criminal record petition?

Petitions are filed with the Maricopa County Superior Court. The primary filing location is 201 W. Jefferson St., Phoenix, AZ 85003 (Central Court Complex, Criminal File Counter). Hours are 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday – Friday. Branch offices in Southeast Regional Court and Northeast Regional Court and Northwest Regional Court may also accept filings depending on the matter.

What is the court filing fee for this in Maricopa County?

$0. Arizona courts charge no filing fee for record-relief petitions, including those filed in Maricopa County. The legislature deliberately removed filing fees to make these remedies accessible to all qualified petitioners.

Can I e-file in Maricopa County?

Available — Maricopa criminal cases use the Clerk's Office Online eFiling Portal (separate from AZTurboCourt). Required for attorneys per administrative order; optional for self-represented filers.

How long does this process take in Maricopa County?

Uncontested petitions typically resolve within 60-90 days. Contested petitions where the prosecutor objects can take 4-6 months. Maricopa's judicial bench has the most criminal-bench judges in Arizona, which keeps wait times relatively predictable despite the volume.

What happens if the prosecutor objects?

Maricopa County Attorney's Office reviews petitions and may object within the statutory window (typically 30-60 days depending on the relief type). If they object, the court schedules a hearing. Most properly-prepared petitions in Maricopa County are decided on the papers without a hearing — objections are uncommon when the petitioner clearly meets statutory eligibility. The prosecutor's office can be reached at (602) 506-3411.

Which cities does this cover in Maricopa County?

Petitions filed at the Maricopa County Superior Court cover felonies committed anywhere in Maricopa County, including Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler, Glendale, Scottsdale, Gilbert, Tempe, Peoria, Surprise, Avondale, Goodyear, Buckeye. Maricopa County Superior Court has jurisdiction over felonies committed anywhere in the county, including Phoenix and the East Valley (Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Tempe, Scottsdale) and the West Valley (Glendale, Peoria, Avondale, Surprise, Goodyear).

Ready to seal a criminal record in Maricopa County?

Free 3-minute screening tells you whether you qualify under A.R.S. § 13-911.

Check eligibility →