Arizona Small Claims Court: $5,000 Limit, Fees and How to File

In Arizona, you can sue for up to $5,000 in small claims, not counting interest and costs. A.R.S. 22-503(A) sets the limit for the small claims division that every Arizona justice court has, and S.B. 1022 (2025 Ariz. Sess. Laws ch. 94), approved by the Governor on May 2, 2025, raised it from $3,500.

The trade-off is speed for finality: no lawyers unless both sides agree, no jury, and no appeal. This guide walks through an Arizona small claims case from filing to collecting; for other states, see our guide to small claims court by state.

Information last verified on 2026-10-07. This article has not been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.

Jurisdiction scope: This article covers the small claims division of Arizona justice courts under A.R.S. 22-501 through 22-525, with notes on the Arizona Supreme Court's small claims information sheets, forms and justice court fee schedule. It does not cover evictions (forcible or unlawful detainer), cases on the justice court's regular civil docket or in superior court, or small claims in other states.

Arizona small claims limit: $5,000

Under A.R.S. 22-503(A), a small claims case can go forward when the amount involved "does not exceed $5,000, exclusive of interest and costs." The same cap applies whether you are an individual or a business.

Watch out for old figures. Before S.B. 1022, the cap was $3,500, and some materials still say so, including the Maricopa County Justice Courts filing handout revised in April 2023. The current statute and the Arizona Supreme Court's small claims information sheet both say $5,000.

You cannot split a claim. The court's information sheet says: "The amount of all claims in the complaint cannot exceed $5,000. This cannot be avoided by splitting one claim into several smaller claim amounts." Amended complaints are not allowed either, so get the amount right the first time.

Bigger claims. If your claim is over $5,000, you can file it in the justice court's regular civil division instead. Justices of the peace have exclusive original jurisdiction of civil actions of $10,000 or less, exclusive of interest, costs and awarded attorney fees (A.R.S. 22-201(B)).

What you can and cannot sue for

Arizona small claims is mainly for money. A.R.S. 22-503(A) also covers cases to disaffirm, avoid or rescind a contract, or for other equitable relief, when $5,000 or less is at issue, but not specific performance or injunctive relief (A.R.S. 22-503(B)). A.R.S. 22-503(B) excludes these cases from small claims:

• Matters outside the justice court's jurisdiction under A.R.S. 22-201.
• Defamation claims (libel or slander).
• Evictions: "forcible entry, forcible detainer or unlawful detainer" cases.
• Specific performance, injunctions, prejudgment remedies and class actions.
• Traffic and criminal matters.
• Claims against the State, its political subdivisions, or their officers or employees in their official capacity.

A deposit or repair dispute with a landlord can still be a small claim for money, even though the eviction itself cannot. For the underlying rules, see Arizona landlord-tenant laws.

Who can sue. Natural persons, corporations, partnerships, associations, marital communities and other organizations may sue or be sued in small claims (A.R.S. 22-512(A)). But the claim must belong to you: "an assignee or other person not a real party to the original transaction giving rise to the action may not commence an action except as a personal representative duly appointed" (A.R.S. 22-512(A)). That keeps debt buyers and other assignees out of small claims as plaintiffs.

Every claim also has a filing deadline. Check the Arizona statute of limitations for your type of claim, or estimate it with our statute of limitations calculator.

How much it costs

The Arizona Supreme Court sets justice court base fees. The schedule effective December 28, 2024 lists:

These are base fees only. The fee page tells filers to check with the specific court for additional local fees, so your total may be higher. The fee statute on the legislature's website, A.R.S. 22-281, still prints an older $25 small claims filing fee; the Supreme Court schedule is the current figure.

Fee waivers and deferrals. The court's information sheet says: "If the plaintiff cannot afford the filing fee, the plaintiff can ask the clerk for a fee waiver/deferral application." A defendant who cannot afford the answer fee can apply too.

Can you have a lawyer?

Usually not. A.R.S. 22-512 says: "An attorney-at-law shall not appear or take any part in the filing or prosecution or defense of any matter designated as a small claim." There are exceptions:

• Both sides agree in writing. The parties can stipulate in writing, at any time before the hearing, to allow attorneys.
• Transfer. Either party can move the case to the justice court's civil division, where lawyers are allowed (see below).
• Attorneys representing themselves can appear in their own cases.
• After judgment. You can hire a lawyer to collect, and an attorney may represent a party on a motion to vacate. A winning party can also assign the judgment to a licensed collector for enforcement.

Who appears for a business. Under A.R.S. 22-512, individuals represent themselves; spouses appear for a marital community; an active general partner or authorized full-time employee appears for a partnership; a full-time officer or authorized employee appears for a corporation; and an active member or authorized full-time employee appears for an association or other organization. An employee of a homeowners association or its management company can appear for the association if authorized in writing and the association is an original party.

Where to file

"The rules governing venue of civil actions in the justice courts govern small claims actions" (A.R.S. 22-505(A)). In practice, the court's information sheet says that, with few exceptions, you file in the justice court precinct where the defendant lives. Ask the clerk if you are unsure which precinct is right.

A defendant who thinks the case was filed in the wrong place can move to change venue before answering, and the plaintiff has 10 calendar days to respond. A motion to change venue and a motion to vacate are the only two motions allowed in Arizona small claims (A.R.S. 22-505).

Serving the defendant

You can serve the defendant by registered or certified mail with a return receipt requested; in some courts, the clerk serves by certified restricted mail (the base fee for clerk service by mail is $8). If mail service does not work, use personal service by a process server, sheriff or constable, or another method the court rules allow, and file an affidavit of service (A.R.S. 22-513). Service by mail is complete on the delivery date shown on the filed return receipt.

The deadline is firm. The court's information sheet warns: "Failure to file proof of service within 45 days will result in dismissal of the case." The 45 days run from the date you filed the complaint.

If you are the defendant

File a written answer within 20 days. The court's information sheet says: "The defendant must file a written answer within 20 days of service and mail it to the plaintiff." The answer fee is $18 in the base schedule. If you do not answer within 20 days of service, the plaintiff must start the default process under Justice Court Rule of Civil Procedure 140. The court information sheet also warns that the case must be concluded within 65 days of service or it will be dismissed, so a plaintiff should not wait for the court to act. As the Federal Trade Commission warns, "Don't ignore a lawsuit, or you might lose the chance to fight a court order." Before a default judgment, the federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act requires the plaintiff to file an affidavit stating whether the defendant is in military service (50 U.S.C. § 3931).

Counterclaims. You can file a counterclaim within the same 20 days, about the same event or a different one. If it exceeds the $5,000 cap, the court "shall at once terminate the designation as a small claim action" and the case moves to the justice court's civil division (A.R.S. 22-517); the information sheet adds that a counterclaim over $10,000 moves the case to superior court. A.R.S. 22-517(C) allows sanctions for a counterclaim inflated to push a case out of small claims. Amended counterclaims are not allowed.

Transfer to the civil division. There is no jury in small claims. Either party can transfer the case to the justice court's civil division, which keeps the right to a lawyer and to appeal. A.R.S. 22-504 requires the request at least ten days before the hearing; the court's information sheet says no later than 10 business days before, so act early. If the defendant asks for a transfer before answering, the plaintiff has 15 days to dismiss the case voluntarily.

The hearing

The clerk sets the hearing after the answer is filed. "The hearing shall be set for a date within sixty days of the filing of the defendant's answer" (A.R.S. 22-515). Requests to reschedule must be made at least 15 days before the hearing.

A justice of the peace or a volunteer hearing officer appointed by the court hears the case. Any party can object to a hearing officer before the hearing, and the case then goes to the justice of the peace; the statute says the objection must come before the hearing date, and the court's information sheet says at least 15 days before.

The hearing is informal. The court is not bound by formal rules of procedure, pleading or evidence, except for privileged communications, and any material, relevant and competent evidence may be admitted. There is no discovery and no jury. Bring your contract, receipts, estimates, photos, texts and emails.

If the defendant does not appear, the court may award judgment on the plaintiff's evidence. If the plaintiff does not appear, the court may dismiss the case or award judgment for the defendant. If neither appears, the case is dismissed without prejudice. The judge decides at the end of the hearing or within 10 days, and a copy of the judgment is mailed to the parties within 5 days.

No appeal from small claims

This is the biggest difference from most states. A.R.S. 22-519 says: "There shall be no appeal in a small claims procedure and the decision of the hearing officer or justice of the peace shall be final and binding on both parties." The complaint form must carry a warning about this.

If you want to keep the right to appeal, transfer the case to the justice court civil division at least ten days before the hearing (A.R.S. 22-504).

Missed the hearing? Motion to vacate

The one way to reopen a small claims judgment is a motion to vacate, heard only by a justice of the peace (A.R.S. 22-505(B)). According to the Arizona courts' About the Judgment information sheet, the grounds include:

1. Mistake, inadvertence, surprise or excusable neglect.
2. Fraud, misrepresentation or other misconduct of an opposing party.
3. The judgment is void.
4. The judgment has been satisfied.
5. Any other reason justifying relief.

The motion must be filed within a reasonable time, and "For reasons (1) and (2), the motion must be filed no more than 6 months after the entry of the judgment or the date of the proceeding, whichever is later." The other side has 15 days to respond. Filing the motion does not suspend the judgment, so collection can continue while it is pending.

Collecting your judgment

Winning does not guarantee payment, and the court does not collect for you. An Arizona small claims judgment is due and payable immediately when rendered (A.R.S. 22-520(D)).

• Debtor's examination. At judgment, on request or on the judge's own initiative, the judge shall order the judgment debtor to a debtor's examination, held immediately or within 10 days (A.R.S. 22-524).
• Writ of execution. The sheriff or a constable can seize the debtor's property under a writ of execution, which is returnable in 60 days (A.R.S. 22-244). To levy on real property, you must first file a certified transcript of the judgment with the superior court clerk (A.R.S. 22-246).
• Garnishment. As the Federal Trade Commission explains, a creditor "must first sue you to get a court order," called a garnishment, to take money from a paycheck, and "also can get a court order to take money from your bank account." Ask the justice court clerk about garnishment forms. Federal law caps wage garnishment for ordinary debts at the lesser of 25% of disposable earnings or the amount above 30 times the federal minimum wage per week (15 U.S.C. § 1673(a)); our wage garnishment calculator gives an estimate.
• Interest. Unless a statute or written contract says otherwise, judgment interest is the lesser of 10% a year or the prime rate plus 1%, stated in the judgment and fixed after entry (A.R.S. 44-1201(B)). Judgments on medical debt are capped at the lesser of the one-year Treasury yield or 3% (A.R.S. 44-1201(A)(1)). We did not look up the current prime-based figure; the judgment itself states the rate.
• How long it lasts. A writ of execution may issue within ten years after the judgment is entered, and judgments can be renewed by affidavit or action (A.R.S. 12-1551). Renewal by action means filing a lawsuit on the judgment within ten years (A.R.S. 12-1611). The simpler renewal affidavit applies to a money judgment docketed in superior court, including one entered there on a transcript from another court, or recorded with the county recorder, and it must be filed within the 90 days before the ten years expire (A.R.S. 12-1612). Ask the clerk early which route fits your judgment.
• Marking it paid. The winner must file a satisfaction of judgment within 30 days after being paid in full. If they do not, the debtor can ask the court to compel it.

Some income is protected. Social Security benefits are not subject to "execution, levy, attachment, garnishment, or other legal process" (42 U.S.C. § 407(a)), and VA benefits are exempt from creditors' claims (38 U.S.C. § 5301(a)(1)). Arizona law protects other property too; see Arizona debt collection laws before you plan a levy or if a judgment is being collected from you.

Forms and court help

The Arizona courts publish statewide small claims forms, including the complaint (LJSC00001F), summons (LJSC00002F), proof of service (LJSC00003F), answer (LJSC00004F), counterclaim (LJSC00005F) and motion to vacate (LJSC00015F).

• Arizona courts Self-Service Center: Small Claims Forms
• Arizona Supreme Court small claims information sheets
• About the Judgment information sheet
• Justice Court Filing Fees (effective December 28, 2024)
• A.R.S. 22-503, small claims jurisdiction, on the Arizona Legislature's website.

Related

• Small claims court by state
• Arizona statute of limitations
• Arizona debt collection laws
• Arizona landlord-tenant laws
• California small claims court
• Nevada small claims court

Disclaimer: This article provides general legal information about the small claims division of Arizona justice courts under A.R.S. 22-501 through 22-525 and related Arizona statutes and court materials, verified on 2026-10-07. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. For help with your situation, contact your justice court, the Arizona courts' self-service resources, a legal aid office, or a lawyer licensed in Arizona.

Last updated: 2026-10-07.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the small claims limit in Arizona?

$5,000, exclusive of interest and costs (A.R.S. 22-503(A)). The limit was $3,500 until S.B. 1022, approved by the Governor on May 2, 2025, raised it.

Can I sue for more than $5,000 in Arizona small claims?

No, and you cannot split one claim into smaller claims to get under the cap. Claims of $10,000 or less can be filed in the justice court civil division instead (A.R.S. 22-201(B)).

How much does it cost to file small claims in Arizona?

The base justice court fee is $30 to file and $18 to answer, under the schedule effective December 28, 2024. Courts may add local fees, and a fee waiver or deferral application is available.

Can I appeal a small claims judgment in Arizona?

No. A.R.S. 22-519 makes the decision final and binding on both parties. To keep appeal rights, a party must transfer the case to the justice court civil division at least ten days before the hearing (A.R.S. 22-504).

Can a lawyer represent me in Arizona small claims court?

Only if both parties agree in writing before the hearing, or the case is transferred to the civil division (A.R.S. 22-512). Lawyers can help collect after judgment and can appear on a motion to vacate.

How long does a defendant have to answer an Arizona small claims case?

20 days from service. The answer must be filed in writing with the $18 base answer fee and mailed to the plaintiff, according to the Arizona courts' small claims information sheet.

Can a debt buyer sue me in Arizona small claims court?

Not as an assignee. A.R.S. 22-512(A) bars an assignee or anyone who was not a real party to the original transaction from starting a small claims case, except a duly appointed personal representative.

What if I missed my Arizona small claims hearing?

You can file a motion to vacate. For mistake, inadvertence, surprise or excusable neglect, or for fraud, misrepresentation or other misconduct of the other party, it must be filed within a reasonable time and no more than 6 months after the judgment or the date of the proceeding, whichever is later.