Maricopa County Small Claims Court (Arizona): How to File, Fees, Forms & Precincts

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This independent guide covers small claims cases that belong in a Maricopa County justice court, in places such as Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler, Scottsdale, Glendale, Tempe, Gilbert, Peoria, Surprise and Avondale. Small Claims Coach is not the court; we link to the court's official pages throughout.

Checked on 2026-10-26 against the Maricopa County Justice Courts and Arizona Courts websites. Sources are listed below. Jump to court addresses and phones ↓ For the statewide rules, see our Arizona small claims guide.

Which court hears small claims in Maricopa County?

• Court: the small claims division of the Maricopa County Justice Courts, organized by justice precinct. There are 26 justice court precincts.
• Limit: $5,000 or less, not counting interest and costs.
• Lawyers: not allowed unless both sides agree.
• Appeal: there is no appeal and no jury. See Can I appeal? below.

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.

Maricopa County: file "Request to Transfer Small Claims Case to the Civil Division" (SC 8150-303), send a copy to the other side, and pay the fee ($56 for the plaintiff, $29 for the defendant). Still show up on your original hearing date unless the court tells you it moved. Other counties: ask your court for the form and fee.

Coach's Tip: decide early. Once the hearing is close, this choice is gone.

How to choose the right justice court precinct

• File in the justice court precinct where the defendant lives. That is the default rule under Arizona law (A.R.S. 22-202, which applies to small claims through A.R.S. 22-505(A)). The law allows some exceptions. If the defendant lives out of state or can't be found, you can file in your own precinct. If the defendant took on the debt in one precinct and then moved, you can file in either precinct. If a written contract says the obligation is to be performed in a certain precinct, you can file there. If there are several defendants, you can file in any of their precincts. If you're not sure, call the precinct before you file.
• City names don't decide the precinct. Whether the defendant is in Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler, Scottsdale, Glendale, Tempe, Gilbert, Peoria, Surprise or Avondale, the precinct depends on the defendant's address, not the city name. A building's city is just where the courthouse is.
• To find the precinct for an address, use the county's map. See Find the justice court precinct for an address below. Follow the court's instructions on the map, then call the justice court to confirm before you file.
• Several precincts share one building. Filing at the right building but in the wrong precinct can still lead to a venue fight, so confirm the precinct name before you file.
• Not filing locations: the Justice Court Administration office (222 N. Central Ave. #210, Phoenix) and the Inmate Video Appearance Center.

Small claims courts by city

Approximate guide. This list shows which justice court precincts serve parts of each city. It isn't an address lookup, it may leave out precincts that cover only small parts of a city, and boundaries are changing as the court adds the Canyon Trails precinct (the court lists it as opening January 2027). The defendant's address decides the precinct, not the city name.

Look up the exact address on the county's map (see how to find the precinct for an address). If the result is unclear, call the justice court listed for that precinct, or Justice Courts Administration at (602) 506-8530 (8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday), to confirm before you file.

Checked 2026-10-27. Courthouse addresses and phone numbers are from the court's locations page.

Addresses, phone numbers and hours

Hours: all Maricopa County justice courts are open 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. Addresses and phone numbers are from the court's locations page.

How much does small claims cost in Maricopa County?

The Maricopa County Justice Courts publish all-inclusive fees. They already include local add-ons, so they are higher than Arizona's $30 state base fee.

• Small claims complaint (to file): $58.00
• Small claims answer: $46.00
• Transfer to the civil division, by plaintiff: $56.00
• Transfer to the civil division, by defendant: $29.00

Fees can change. Check the county's justice court fees page before you pay.

Can I e-file in Maricopa County?

Not yet. Maricopa County justice courts say eFiling through eFileAZ is coming soon. Until it launches, file in person or by mail, and check the court's eFiling page for the launch date.

• Arizona's statewide eFiling page says small claims eFiling is live in all justice courts except Pima Consolidated and the Maricopa County justice courts.
• When it launches, the court says eFiling will be optional for people representing themselves. The court lists these eFileAZ charges on top of filing fees: $6.50 per new case, $6.50 per lead document, $3.80 per e-service, plus a 3% processing fee.

Maricopa County small claims forms

The court's court forms page has small claims forms in English and Spanish, including:

• Complaint and summons
• Proof of service
• Answer and counterclaim
• Request for a continuance or a virtual hearing
• Default

Want to see what a finished complaint looks like? See our filled-in sample Arizona small claims complaint.

How to look up a Maricopa County small claims case

Look up a case

• Use the court's official case search. The court's website calls it "Look Up Case Information".
• You can search by name (last name and first name, with an optional date of birth), business name or case number.
• The court says the information on its website is not the official court record. Contact the court for the official record.
• The same page links to other courts' case searches, including Maricopa County Superior Court and the Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Scottsdale and Tempe municipal courts. Use those for city court or superior court cases, not justice court cases.

Find the justice court precinct for an address

The court says to enter an address on the Maricopa County Interactive Elections Map, which lists the government bodies that serve that location. To use the county's map:

1. Go to Maricopa County's Find a Justice Precinct page and open its map link. It opens the Maricopa County Elections District Viewer.
2. A disclaimer pop-up appears first. Click OK.
3. Type the defendant's address in the search bar and pick the matching result.
4. The results list two justice precinct layers: first "2026 Election Justice Precincts" (effective for elections Jan. 2, 2026), then "Justice Precincts '22 - '25" (effective Jan. 1, 2023).
5. The results may not show the precinct name right away. Follow the court's instructions on the map, then call the justice court to confirm before you file.

• Use the address where the defendant lives, unless one of the exceptions in the precinct section above applies.
• If the county map doesn't work, call Justice Courts Administration at (602) 506-8530 (8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday) or the court for the address.

Checked 2026-10-27.

How to file in Maricopa County, step by step

See all our county small claims guides

1. Find the justice court precinct where the defendant lives, or the precinct an exception allows (see the precinct section above).
2. Get the small claims complaint and summons from the court forms page (English or Spanish).
3. File in person at your precinct's building, or by mail, and pay the $58.00 filing fee, or ask a clerk about a fee deferral or waiver.
4. Serve the other side and file proof of service. Arizona's statewide rules on how and when to serve are in our Arizona guide.
5. If you are the defendant, file your answer ($46.00), plus any counterclaim. If you think the case is in the wrong precinct, move to change venue before you file the answer.
6. Go to your hearing with your evidence. There is no appeal from the decision.

What does it cost to collect a judgment?

Winning doesn't mean you get paid automatically. If the other side doesn't pay, these are the county's listed collection fees:

• Writ of execution: $123.00
• Writ of garnishment: $107.00
• Judgment debtor exam: $33.00

Each writ fee includes 6 constable miles. Each mile over 6 costs $2.40.

Fee waivers and venue changes

• Fee deferral or waiver: available under ACJA 5-206. The court says to speak with a clerk first.
• Payment plan: the application costs $20.00.
• Change of venue: a motion to change venue must be filed before the Small Claims Answer. If the case is transferred, the plaintiff pays extra fees.

Coach's Tips for Maricopa County

• Start with the defendant's precinct, and confirm the precinct, not just the building. Several precincts share one building. Filing at the right building but in the wrong precinct can still mean a venue fight.
• Don't pick the courthouse nearest you. Use the defendant's address to find the precinct, and call the justice court to confirm before you file.
• Call the precinct's number before you go. Several buildings list a separate phone number for each precinct.
• Don't count on eFiling yet. Plan to file in person or by mail until the court says eFileAZ is live for Maricopa.
• Budget for collection. If you win and aren't paid, a writ or a debtor exam adds more fees.
• Defendants: watch the order of filings. A venue change motion has to come before your answer.

Maricopa County small claims checklist

• My claim is $5,000 or less (not counting interest and costs).
• I know the defendant's justice court precinct (or the exception that lets me file elsewhere) and which building it's in.
• I have the right form from the court forms page (English or Spanish).
• I have the $58.00 filing fee, or I've asked a clerk about a deferral or waiver.
• I'm filing in person or by mail during court hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mon to Fri).
• I have a plan to serve the other side and file proof of service.
• My evidence is organized: receipts, photos, texts, contracts.
• I know there's no appeal from the decision.

Maricopa County small claims FAQ

What is the small claims limit in Maricopa County?

$5,000 or less, not counting interest and costs. The limit is set by Arizona law, so it is the same in every justice court precinct in the county.

How much does it cost to file small claims in Maricopa County?

The Maricopa County Justice Courts list $58.00 to file a small claims complaint and $46.00 to file an answer. These county-published amounts already include local add-ons, so they are higher than Arizona's $30 state base fee. You can ask about a fee deferral or waiver.

Which justice court precinct do I file in?

At the justice court precinct where the defendant lives, which is the default under A.R.S. 22-202. The law has exceptions, such as a precinct named in a written contract for performance, or your own precinct if the defendant lives out of state or the address is unknown. Maricopa has 26 justice court precincts, and several share one building, so confirm your precinct before you go.

Where is small claims court in Phoenix?

In the Maricopa County Justice Courts. Two of the county's justice court buildings have Phoenix addresses: 620 W. Jackson St. (Downtown Phoenix) and 18380 N. 40th St. (North Phoenix). Your precinct depends on the defendant's address, not the city name, so check the precinct before you go.

How do I look up a small claims case in Maricopa County?

Use the Maricopa County Justice Courts' official case search, called "Look Up Case Information" on the court's website. You can search by name, business name or case number. The court says its website is not the official court record, so contact the court for the official record.

Where do I get Maricopa County small claims forms?

On the Maricopa County Justice Courts' court forms page, in English and Spanish. It has the complaint and summons, proof of service, answer and counterclaim, request for a continuance or virtual hearing, and default forms.

Do I need a lawyer for small claims in Maricopa County?

No. Lawyers can't take part unless both sides agree, and there is no appeal from a small claims decision.

Sources

• Maricopa County Justice Courts: Small Claims
• Maricopa County Justice Courts: Locations
• Maricopa County Justice Courts: Justice Court Fees
• Maricopa County Justice Courts: Court Forms
• Maricopa County Justice Courts: Learn about eFiling
• Maricopa County Justice Courts: Look Up Case Information
• Maricopa County: Find a Justice Precinct
• Maricopa County Interactive Elections Map
• Arizona Courts: eFiling availability, limited jurisdiction courts
• A.R.S. 22-202: Venue of civil actions

Checked 2026-10-26; the case search, precinct map and city list were checked 2026-10-27.

More for Arizona: Arizona small claims guide · Ready to sue · Just got sued · How to serve small claims papers · What to say on hearing day

Free: the Small Claims Starter Kit (basic timeline and checklists).

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.