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Prescott, Arizona · A.R.S. § 13-911

Seal a Criminal Record in Prescott, AZ

Arizona's record-sealing law (A.R.S. § 13-911) lets eligible Prescott residents petition the Yavapai County Superior Court to hide their criminal record from public view. Once sealed, the record is removed from public access and most employer background checks; you can legally state on most applications that it never happened. Prescott is the Yavapai County seat and home to the historic county courthouse on Cortez Street, in the heart of downtown Prescott. The courthouse plaza is a frequent filming location and central to the city's identity.

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 Prescott — local details

Where to file

Yavapai County Superior Court

Yavapai County Courthouse, 120 S. Cortez St., Prescott, AZ 86303

Phone: (928) 771-3312
Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday – Friday

E-filing

Yavapai offers eFiling in civil, criminal, family law, probate, and juvenile delinquency cases via the AZ statewide eFileAZ portal. Mandatory for attorneys in family law cases (since 2022); optional for self-represented filers in other case types.

Required for: Attorneys for family law (mandatory). Optional for criminal and self-represented filers.

Payment methods

Cash, cashier's checks, personal checks, credit cards, money orders, traveler's checks, Western Union.

Court filing fee for this service is $0 — no payment is required at the clerk's window.

Prosecutor service

Yavapai County Attorney's Office

255 E. Gurley St., Prescott, AZ 86301

Phone: (928) 771-3344

Alternate filing locations

Yavapai County also operates a branch courthouse in Camp Verde at 2840 N. Commonwealth Dr. — closer for filers in the Sedona/Verde Valley area. For Prescott, Prescott Valley, and Chino Valley residents, the main Prescott courthouse on Cortez Street is the closer option.

Parking & access

The Granite Street Parking Garage and street parking around the courthouse provide free public parking. Spots can be limited during peak court hours.

Processing time

Yavapai County processing times are typically 60-120 days for uncontested petitions. The county has been paperless on civil/criminal/family-law cases since 2022, which has streamlined record retrieval.

Judge assignment

Yavapai has multiple Superior Court divisions in Prescott and one in Camp Verde. Sealing petitions go to the original sentencing judge when possible; otherwise to whichever criminal-bench judge handles that calendar.

After-hours filing

In-person and mail filings only. Yavapai operates two physical filing locations — Prescott (main) and Camp Verde (branch).

What seal a criminal record does

Does

  • Hides the record from public view
  • Removes from most employer background checks
  • You can legally answer "no" to "have you ever been convicted" on most applications
  • Civil rights stay restored (if already restored under § 13-907)

Doesn't

  • Does not affect law-enforcement, AZPOST, or court access to the record
  • Does not seal records used in subsequent criminal cases (priors still apply)
  • Does not seal child-related employment background checks (DCS, DDD, schools)
  • Does not affect immigration consequences of the conviction

The statute, in plain terms

Section 13-911 establishes waiting periods based on offense classification: 2 years for misdemeanors (with a 3-year period for certain offenses), 5 years for Class 4-6 felonies, and 10 years for Class 2-3 felonies. The waiting clock starts from absolute discharge (probation discharge or release from custody, whichever is later). Offenses excluded under subsection (O) — including certain sex offenses, offenses against victims under 15, and select dangerous-offense classifications — cannot be sealed at all.

Note for Prescott filers: Sealing took on its current form in September 2024 (SB 1639), which removed the prior-felony 5-year extension and increased the prosecutor-response window from 30 to 60 days.

Prescott Seal a Criminal Record FAQ

Where do Prescott residents file a § 13-911 sealing petition?

Petitions are filed with the Yavapai County Superior Court. The criminal filing counter is at 120 S. Cortez St., Prescott, AZ 86303. Hours are 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday – Friday. Yavapai County also operates a branch courthouse in Camp Verde at 2840 N. Commonwealth Dr. — closer for filers in the Sedona/Verde Valley area. For Prescott, Prescott Valley, and Chino Valley residents, the main Prescott courthouse on Cortez Street is the closer option.

Is there a court filing fee in Yavapai County?

No. Arizona courts charge $0 to file a § 13-911 sealing petition. The legislature deliberately removed filing fees so that record-clearing remedies remain accessible. Some attorneys quote "filing fees" but there are none — it's only the service fee for petition preparation.

Can I e-file my petition in Yavapai County?

Yavapai offers eFiling in civil, criminal, family law, probate, and juvenile delinquency cases via the AZ statewide eFileAZ portal. Mandatory for attorneys in family law cases (since 2022); optional for self-represented filers in other case types. Attorneys for family law (mandatory). Optional for criminal and self-represented filers.

How long does sealing take in Prescott?

Yavapai County processing times are typically 60-120 days for uncontested petitions. The county has been paperless on civil/criminal/family-law cases since 2022, which has streamlined record retrieval. The 60-day waiting period is required by statute — the court cannot rule sooner. Sealed orders typically issue within 7-14 days of the 60-day mark if uncontested.

What if the prosecutor objects to my petition?

Yavapai County Attorney's Office has 60 days from filing to object. If they object, the court schedules a hearing. Most petitions in Prescott are decided on the papers without a hearing — objections are uncommon when the petition is properly prepared and the petitioner is statutorily eligible. The prosecutor's office can be reached at (928) 771-3344.

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