The Brief - February 2016

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The Brief

Vol. 12, No. 2                                                                            February 2016

Mandatory Filing Coversheet Updated

The civil filing coversheet is now available online and is the version that must be submitted with civil filings. Space for the plaintiff’s contact information has been added to the sheet and a line for the attorney/plaintiff signature was removed. The latest form is available now at http://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/sscDocs/pdf/cv10fz.pdf.

 

Parent Information Program Certificates Must be eFiled

Attorneys who historically used runners to file their clients’ parenting information program certificates with the Clerk will need to update their practice. The Superior Court entered Administrative Order 2016-006 directing the Clerk’s Office to reject these documents at the filing counters effective January 15, 2016.

The Superior Court contracts with three vendors who provide the statutorily-required parenting information program classes. The Clerk’s Office and Court Administration worked with the vendors to promote electronically filing the certificates through the Clerk’s eFiling Online website. The administrative order requires the vendors to electronically file the certificates of completion within five business days of the parent completing the class.

eFiling the certificates benefits the parties, the Clerk’s Office, the Family Court bench and the vendors. The steady transition from paper to electronic filings increases customer satisfaction and improves the timeliness and accuracy of documents maintained in the court record. The new process saves the parties and vendors the time and expense of delivering paper to a filing counter. The Clerk’s Office estimates at least 300 certificates of completion will be eFiled each month under the new process.

 

Saturday Hours for Valentine’s Day Marriage Licenses and Passports

The Clerk’s Customer Service Center will open from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 13, 2016 at 601 W. Jackson St. in downtown Phoenix to issue marriage licenses and process passport applications. Valentine’s Day, or the Friday before when it falls on a weekend, is the busiest day of the year for marriage licenses and passports, often doubling the number of marriage licenses issued on other days.

The marriage license fee is $76, payable by cash, debit card, money order, Visa, MasterCard or American Express only and the license must be used within one year of the date issued. There are additional fees for a certified copy of the recorded license. For information on other requirements, see the Clerk’s website at http://www.clerkofcourt.maricopa.gov/marlic.asp.

Justices of the Peace will be available to perform marriage ceremonies from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. on Saturday the 13th and on Sunday the 14th. The judges will be available in the Downtown Justice Center, across the street from the Clerk’s Customer Service Center where the licenses will be issued on Saturday the 13th. For more information on ceremonies, contact the Justice Court’s main number at 602-372-6300.

The Clerk’s Office is an acceptance agency for processing passport applications for passport books and cards for children and adults. The U.S. Department of State and Clerk of Court fees are paid separately. The Clerk’s $25 fee applies to each application and is payable by cash, debit card, money order, Visa, MasterCard or American Express only. The State Department’s fees vary depending on the type of application and the State Department accepts checks and money orders only. Applicants can start their paperwork online, print and bring their forms to the Clerk’s Office to save time. See http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports/apply.html. For more information, see the Clerk’s website at http://www.clerkofcourt.maricopa.gov/passport.asp.

This event is to assist customers with marriage licenses and passports during non-traditional hours, is open to all and is taking place at the Clerk’s downtown Phoenix location only.

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