The Brief - March 2017

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The Brief

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.