Which Arizona court hears your civil case
Civil jurisdiction thresholds with statutory authority. Source: 1Court Directory, verified 2026-08-20 (official source).
| Tier | Court | Amount in controversy | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small claims | Justice Court: Small Claims Division | Up to $3,500 | A.R.S. § 22-503 |
| Limited civil | Justice Court Exclusive civil jurisdiction to $10,000. | Up to $10,000 | A.R.S. § 22-201 |
| General civil | Superior Court Over $10,000. | No limit | Ariz. Const. art. VI, § 14 |
Answer deadline after service
A defendant generally has 20 days after service of the summons and complaint to file an answer (Ariz. R. Civ. P. 12(a)).
11 Arizona forms SimpleCase prepares
Generated from your uploaded complaint, with captions and terminology matched to Arizona practice. Every document is a draft for attorney review.
- SummonsARCP Rule 4: 20/30-day answer, 90-day service deadline
- Civil Cover SheetRequired in Maricopa, Pima, and most AZ counties
- Affidavit of ServiceARCP Rule 4.2: process server's sworn return
- Fee Waiver / Deferral ApplicationACJA § 5-206
- Voluntary DismissalARCP Rule 41(a)
- Application for Entry of DefaultARCP 55(a): Step 1, clerk enters default, 10 biz day wait
- Sum Certain AffidavitRequired with default packet: damages computation
- Affidavit of Non-Military ServiceSCRA: 50 U.S.C. § 3931
- Default JudgmentARCP 55(b): Step 2, judge/commissioner signs after 10-day wait
- Writ of Garnishment: EarningsA.R.S. § 12-1570: wage garnishment (25% / 30x min wage)
- Writ of Garnishment: Non-EarningsA.R.S. § 12-1570: bank accounts & third-party property
Filing packages
One click assembles the forms a Arizona matter typically needs at each stage.
General Civil
Summons · Civil Cover Sheet · Affidavit of Service
Collections: File & Serve
Summons · Civil Cover Sheet · Affidavit of Service
Collections: Default Judgment
Application for Entry of Default · Sum Certain Affidavit · Affidavit of Non-Military Service · Default Judgment
Collections: Enforce Judgment
Writ of Garnishment: Earnings · Writ of Garnishment: Non-Earnings
Fee Waiver / Deferral
Fee Waiver / Deferral Application
Voluntary Dismissal
Voluntary Dismissal
County-level court details
Filing fees, clerk contacts, e-filing portals, and courthouse addresses for every Arizona county are in the 1Court Directory: Arizona.
How it works
Upload your case document
PDF, Word, image, or text. SimpleCase extracts parties, claims, amounts, and dates.
Confirm venue and court
For unfiled cases, SimpleCase suggests the county, court level, and courthouse, with the statutory basis shown.
Generate the package
Every required form, filled and assembled as a ZIP, ready for attorney review and filing.
Turn a complaint into a filing-ready case
Your first 3 cases are free. No card required.
Try SimpleCase freeSimpleCase prepares document drafts for attorney review; it is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by using it. Court data on this page is sourced from the 1Court Directory with the verification date shown, and statutes and court rules change: always confirm current requirements, deadlines, and fees with the clerk of the court before filing.