Everything from the first letter to getting paid, in the order you'll do it. Tick each step as you go; your progress is saved in this browser.
1–3 weeks before filing
Arizona doesn't require a demand letter, but courts urge you to try settling before you sue.
Use the free demand letter generator, give them 10–14 days, and keep a copy with proof of the date you sent it.
In Arizona you can sue for up to $5,000 in the Justice Court, Small Claims Division.
Run the 60-second case check to see the last day you can file.
Find the exact legal name and statutory agent, then serve the agent.
1–2 evenings
LJSC00001F: Small Claims Complaint (statewide form; some courts use their own packet). Get the form.
Sign and date the complaint; no notary is needed. Filing for a business requires a signed authorization to appear.
Bring the original plus copies: 3 in total for one defendant, 4 for two, and one more for each extra defendant, plus one summons per defendant.
Filing day
Choose how you'll file:
The Justice Court precinct where the defendant lives or does business, or where the problem happened. Maricopa County has 26 precincts; use the county's precinct map.
Fees differ by county. Maricopa County: $58 to file and $46 for the defendant to answer. Pima County: $60 to file and $38 to answer. Service by a constable or process server costs extra. Can't afford it? Ask for a fee waiver: Fee waiver or deferral application, from the clerk.
The clerk issues a summons. You serve each defendant and file proof of service within 45 days; after the defendant answers, the court mails a hearing notice.
Right after filing
Serve each defendant with the complaint and summons by certified or registered mail with a return receipt, or through a constable, sheriff or private process server. Serve a company through its statutory agent.
File proof of service within 45 days of filing, or the case can be dismissed.
LJSC00003F Proof of Service by Registered or Certified Mail
For mail service, file this form with the signed green receipt attached; if a constable or process server served, file their return.
Don't wait until the hearing. Ask the clerk right away for a new hearing date and try another method, such as personal delivery instead of mail, or a different address.
1–4 weeks before
The defendant has 20 days after service (30 if out of state) to file an answer and pay a fee, and can add a counterclaim.
Before the answer, file a Notice of Voluntary Dismissal; after it, file a settlement notice or stipulated judgment.
Get any settlement in writing, signed by both sides, with the amount and payment date.
A witness who saw what happened is stronger than a written statement; some judges won't accept letters.
Use the statewide subpoena form LJSC00013F; the clerk issues it and you have it served.
Hearing day
Speak to the judge, not the other side. Stay calm, answer the question asked, and don't interrupt.
If the defendant doesn't answer, apply for a default and then a default judgment. If you miss the hearing, your case can be dismissed.
Weeks to months
There's no appeal from a small claims decision. To keep the right to appeal, either side must transfer the case to the Justice Court civil division at least 10 days before the hearing.
If they don't pay, use a judgment debtor exam, wage or bank garnishment, or a writ of execution. Judgments last 10 years; file a satisfaction of judgment within 30 days once you're paid.
Keep proof of every payment. When you're paid in full, tell the court; some courts require a satisfaction-of-judgment form.