Arizona Small Claims Court: Limits, Fees, Forms, and Where to File
How small claims works in Arizona: the limit, filing fee, forms, where to file, and the basic steps. Checked 2026-10-10.
Quick answer: Arizona small claims go to the Small Claims Division of the Justice Court, for claims of $5,000 or less, not counting interest and costs. The state base filing fee is $30, and courts may add local fees. Lawyers can't take part unless every side agrees in writing, and there is no appeal. Check your court's rules.
Filing in Arizona? See a filled-in sample first.
Everything on this page is free. The Small Claims Playbook adds a filled-in sample of the Maricopa County Justice Courts' Small Claims Complaint (SC 8150-300), using a made-up case, with a box-by-box guide. Other Arizona courts may use the statewide Complaint (LJSC00001F) or their own form. One membership covers every state. $149 for your first year (introductory offer), then $199 a year. Join now.
How small claims works in Arizona
One statute and one set of Arizona Rules of Small Claims Procedure apply statewide, but you file in a specific justice court precinct, and counties add local fees on top of the state base fee.
Court name: Justice Court, Small Claims Division.
Checked on 2026-10-10. Official sources are listed under Sources below.
Does small claims work the same everywhere in Arizona?
- Which courthouse: precinct-based venue; each county has several justice precincts.
- Rules, limit, no-lawyer rule and no-appeal rule are the same statewide.
What is the small claims limit in Arizona?
- $5,000, exclusive of interest and costs; also covers rescission/equitable relief up to $5,000.
- No claim splitting.
- Excluded: defamation, eviction (forcible/unlawful detainer), specific performance, class actions, prejudgment remedies, injunctions, traffic/criminal, suits against the state/political subdivisions/officials in official capacity, and anything excluded from justice court by 22-201.
How much does it cost to file small claims in Arizona?
Small claims filing: $30.00; Small claims answer: $18.00; Small claims service by mail: $8.00; Issuance of writs: $33.00.
| Item | State base |
|---|---|
| Small claims filing | $30.00 |
| Small claims answer | $18.00 |
| Small claims service by mail | $8.00 |
| Issuance of writs | $33.00 |
- Fee waiver/deferral available.
Where do I file a small claim in Arizona?
- Justice court precinct where the defendant resides. Exceptions: defendants out of state/unknown: plaintiff's precinct; debt contracted in one precinct then moved: either; written contract to perform in a precinct: there or residence; several defendants: any defendant's precinct; transient: where found.
- Wrong precinct: defendant may move to change venue.
How to file in Arizona: the basic steps
- Find the justice court precinct where the defendant lives (exceptions are listed under Where to file).
- Get the small claims complaint from the court or the AZ Courts small claims page. Form numbers: check your court's rules.
- File it and pay the fee: $30 state base plus any local fees, or ask for a fee waiver or deferral.
- Serve the summons, complaint and Notice to Plaintiff and Defendant by certified or registered mail (return receipt), process server, constable or sheriff, and file proof of service within 45 days of filing.
- The defendant has 20 days after service to file a written answer (and any counterclaim).
- The court holds the hearing within 60 days of the answer. There is no jury.
- The decision is final; there is no appeal. To keep the right to appeal, either side can ask to move the case to the justice court's civil division at least 10 business days before the hearing (see Can I appeal?).
Can I appeal?
In Arizona small claims, the decision is final for both sides, whether a judge or a hearing officer hears your case. There is no appeal and no jury. You can sometimes ask the court to set aside (vacate) a decision, but that isn't an appeal.
If keeping the right to appeal matters to you, either side can ask to move the case to the justice court's civil division. File the request at least 10 business days before the hearing. The trade-off: the civil division is more formal, and lawyers are allowed. A judgment there can be appealed to superior court, but only on the record from the first hearing, so you can't bring new evidence.
Other counties: ask your court for the form and fee.
Coach's Tip: decide early. Once the hearing is close, this choice is gone.
Ready to do these steps yourself?
One choice has a deadline: there's no appeal from a small claims decision, and to keep the right to appeal, either side has to ask to move the case at least 10 business days before the hearing. The steps above are free. The Playbook helps you do each one, with a filled-in sample of the Maricopa County Justice Courts' complaint (SC 8150-300) and every box explained, plus your Arizona Playbook section: how to serve the other side, what to expect at your hearing, appeals, and collecting a judgment.
You also get prep guides that work in any state: a document checklist, exhibit labels, a prep timeline and a hearing-day outline. $149 for your first year (introductory offer), then $199 a year. Join now.
Can a business sue in Arizona small claims?
- Can a company file? Yes.
- Who appears: corporation: full-time officer or authorized employee; partnership: active general partner or authorized full-time employee; association: active member or authorized full-time employee; other entity (for example LLC): active member or authorized full-time employee.
- Lawyer? Not allowed unless both sides agree in writing.
- HOA/condo associations: check your court's rules.
- Assigned claims: barred.
Small claims court by Arizona county
In every Arizona county, you file at the justice court precinct where the defendant lives. The ten largest counties, largest first (U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 estimates):
- Maricopa County
- Pima County
- Pinal County
- Yavapai County
- Mohave County
- Yuma County
- Coconino County
- Cochise County
- Navajo County
- Apache County
Know your precinct? Next, get your proof in order.
You can present your own case. The Playbook's exhibit-label guide and hearing-day outline help you put your documents in order and explain them clearly, step by step. General legal information, not advice about your case.
Arizona small claims FAQ
What is the small claims limit in Arizona?
$5,000 or less, not counting interest and costs (A.R.S. 22-503). You can't split a claim to fit the limit.
How much does it cost to file small claims in Arizona?
The state base filing fee is $30, and the answer fee is $18. Courts may add local fees, so check your court's rules. You can ask for a fee waiver or deferral.
Where do I file a small claim in Arizona?
In the justice court precinct where the defendant lives, with some exceptions, such as out-of-state defendants or a written contract to be performed in a precinct.
How long does the defendant have to answer in Arizona small claims?
20 days after service. The court then holds the hearing within 60 days of the answer.
Can I appeal an Arizona small claims decision?
No. In Arizona small claims, the decision is final for both sides, whether a judge or a hearing officer hears your case. There is no appeal and no jury. If keeping the right to appeal matters to you, either side can ask to move the case to the justice court's civil division. File the request at least 10 business days before the hearing.
Do I need a lawyer for small claims in Arizona?
No. Lawyers can't take part unless all parties agree in writing before the hearing.
Can a collection agency file in Arizona small claims?
Not on an assigned claim. Assignees can't start a small claims case, except a duly appointed personal representative.
Sources
- Small Claims
- Legal Info FAQs - Small Claims
- AOC overview of the Rules of Small Claims Procedure, Jan. 2020
- Small Claims Process flowchart, AOC SCGN2H
- AZCourts.gov > Court Filing Fees
- ACJA § 4-303, eff. 12/28/2024
- 22-503 - Jurisdiction; exceptions
- 22-504 - Transfer to justice court
- 22-512 - Parties; representation
- 22-517 - Counterclaims exceeding jurisdiction; procedures; sanctions for improper assertion
- 22-519 - Appeals
- 22-202 - Venue of civil actions
- Justice Court Fees
All checked 2026-10-10.
Related guides: Ready to sue · Just got sued · Small claims court basics · 10 things to do before you sue · How to save text messages as evidence · Sued in small claims? What to do next
Free: the Small Claims Starter Kit (basic timeline and checklists).
What's in the Arizona Playbook section
- How to serve the other side in Arizona
- What to expect at your Arizona small claims hearing
- Appeals in Arizona small claims
- Collecting after you win in Arizona
- Common mistakes and a printable checklist
You do the work. The Playbook hands you the plays.
This page covers the Arizona rules. The Playbook coaches you from filing to hearing day: a filled-in sample of the Maricopa County Justice Courts' complaint (SC 8150-300), your Arizona Playbook section, and step-by-step prep guides. Every state and DC has a filled-in sample claim (for Mississippi, Oklahoma and Wyoming it's a sample layout we made, so you'd get the real form from the court clerk). One membership covers every state.
Small Claims Coach is built to help you handle your case yourself, without a lawyer — but if your situation is complicated, does not fit our samples, or a deadline is close, you may want to call a lawyer.
Small Claims Coach uses public information to build the Playbook, which coaches you as you organize and present your own case. We are not your lawyer, there is no attorney-client relationship, and we don't want the details of your case.
This information is for educational purposes only. It is not legal advice.