Vol. 13, No. 3 March 2017
Milestone Scanning Project
Complete
Since January 1, 2002, all new cases filed with the Clerk have been
scanned into the Electronic Court Record (ECR). Between 2002 and 2005 the
Clerk’s Office had a dual process for filing paper and scanning, based on the underlying
case’s original filing date. Paper documents filed in those between-years were
scanned into the ECR several years ago. The recently completed milestone
project included scanning more than 15.6 million pages of documents in all adult
case types with a file date older than 2002. Except for older sealed
documents still maintained on paper and very old documents already scanned to
microfilm, all adult case type documents are now in electronic format. The
pre-2002 documents are viewable at the Clerk’s facilities around the Valley but
are not linked to individual users’ ECR Online accounts. Having completed
this massive undertaking, the focus now turns to scanning approximately 21
million pages of older juvenile case type documents into the ECR.
Passport Through Time
Time flies and so can you – if you have a valid passport. This year is
the 10th year since the 2007 Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative passport
requirements changed to require a passport not only for international air
travel but for land and sea travel to Mexico and Canada. Because adult
passports are valid for 10 years, the Clerk’s Office expects 2017 to be a big
year for renewals. To meet the demand, the Clerk’s Office will open on
Saturdays once a month during February, March, and April. Saturday office hours
will only be at the Clerk’s Customer Service Center, located at 601 W. Jackson
St. in downtown Phoenix. The office will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on
March 18, March 25, and April 22 and was open on February 25. In addition
to processing passport applications, the office will issue marriage licenses
during Saturday hours.
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.
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