Santa Cruz County clerk outlines court services, passport processing and free help for self‑represented litigants

Santa Cruz County Clerk of the Superior Court and jury commissioner Juan Pablo Guzman described the clerk’s office duties, passport services and a Board of Supervisors–funded self‑represented litigant program in a Gov101 podcast interview.

Guzman said the clerk’s office is “the official record keeper and fiduciary agent of the Superior Court,” and that the office handles jury administration and a wide range of case intake for the county’s general‑jurisdiction court.

The self‑represented litigant program, Guzman said, is paid for through authorization and funding by the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors and provides no‑cost assistance to people preparing filings for family law matters. “We have two staff members that assist members of the public in completing the forms and getting them prepared to file,” he said. The staff currently focus on divorce, child custody, child support and guardianship petitions.

On passport services, Guzman said residents must schedule an appointment by phone at (520) 375‑7700 or by email at santacruzclerk@courts.az.gov and bring the documents required by the U.S. Department of State. He said the clerk’s office charges an execution fee of $35; he said that for a child the Department of State fee for a passport book and card is $115, and that an adult passport book and card was described in the interview as $160 in addition to the $35 execution fee.

Guzman listed other day‑to‑day responsibilities of the clerk’s office: processing criminal, civil, family law, protective‑order, juvenile dependency and adoption cases; registering probates; issuing marriage licenses; and coordinating with the Department of State on passport applications.

On access, Guzman said the office avoids automated phone menus and answers calls personally. He said staff help visitors at the window but do not provide legal advice, and they refer people to the self‑represented litigant program when appropriate. “We explain the situation as much as we can without providing any legal advice,” he said. “We assist them in getting an appointment with our self‑represented litigant program.”

Guzman identified funding and staffing as the primary challenges: the office must submit an annual budget for Board of Supervisors approval, and he said higher salaries would help recruit additional staff to reduce processing times.

Guzman also described his background: he is a graduate of the University of Arizona, served more than 20 years in local government in Nogales, including about seven years as public information officer and constituent outreach director for the city, and said he has served as clerk since February 2008.

For more information or to schedule a passport appointment, Guzman asked residents to call (520) 375‑7700 or email santacruzclerk@courts.az.gov.