Arizona · Small Claims Division of the Justice Court
How to file a small-claims case in Arizona
You can sue for up to $5,000 in Arizona (exclusive of interest and costs). Here is where to file, what the deadlines are, and how to keep your case organized.
Good to know: Arizona small claims are not a separate court but a small claims division within each justice court, decided by a hearing officer or a justice of the peace. A small-claims decision is final: there is no right to appeal. A party who wants to keep appeal rights must have the case moved to the regular civil division of the justice court before the hearing.
Filing your Small Claims Complaint (form LJSC00001F) in Arizona
- Confirm your claim qualifies. Your claim must be for $5,000 or less and a type small claims can hear (not eviction, defamation, or injunctive relief). File in the justice court precinct where the defendant lives (A.R.S. 22-202).
- Complete and file the Complaint and Summons. Fill out the Small Claims Complaint (LJSC00001F) and Summons (LJSC00002F) from the azcourts.gov forms hub and file them with the small claims division clerk. Pay the filing fee or request a fee waiver.
- Serve the defendant. Serve the summons and complaint by registered or certified mail; if mail service fails, use personal service. File proof of service with the court (A.R.S. 22-513).
- The defendant answers within 20 days. The defendant must answer within 20 days of service (A.R.S. 22-514). If they do not answer, you may seek a default judgment.
- Attend the hearing. A hearing officer or justice of the peace hears the case. You represent yourself; lawyers may take part only if both sides agree in writing. The decision is final.
Filing fees: Filing fees are set by each justice court and vary by precinct; confirm the amount with the court. A fee waiver or deferral is available if you cannot afford the costs.
Key Arizona deadlines
| Case type | Deadline to file |
|---|---|
| Written contract or debt (A.R.S. § 12-548) | 6 years |
| Oral contract or debt (A.R.S. § 12-543) | 3 years |
| Property damage (A.R.S. § 12-542) | 2 years |
| Personal injury (A.R.S. § 12-542) | 2 years |
Answering a lawsuit: The defendant must file an answer within 20 days after being served (A.R.S. 22-514). If they do not answer, you may seek a default judgment.
Serving the defendant: The plaintiff serves the summons and complaint by registered or certified mail; if that fails, personal service by a process server or authorized officer may be used, with an affidavit of service filed (A.R.S. 22-513).
Appeals: There is no appeal: a small-claims decision is final and binding (A.R.S. 22-519). To preserve appeal rights, a party must have the case transferred to the regular civil division of the justice court before the hearing.
Arizona small-claims forms
Official Arizona forms, free from the court.
- Arizona Small Claims Forms (Complaint, Summons, Answer, Proof of Service): Official Arizona forms hub for the small-claims complaint, summons, answer, and proof of service.
- Fee Waiver and Deferral: Request to waive or defer court filing fees if you cannot afford them.
This page is general information, not legal advice, and CaseBySelf is not a law firm. Rules, fees, and deadlines change and vary by court: verify with the specific court where you file. Source: Arizona Judicial Branch: Small Claims Self-Service Center. Last reviewed 2026-06-23.