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Small Claims Court Limits in Arizona

In Arizona, the small claims division of justice court hears claims up to $5,000, the state base filing fee is $30 plus local fees, and lawyers may take part only if both sides agree in writing.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Arizona at a glance

Maximum claim
$5,000
Exclusive of interest and costs.
Filing fee
$30 base fee plus local fees
Base fee set under A.R.S. 22-281 with Supreme Court increases effective December 28, 2024. Maricopa County justice courts charge $58 in total.
Lawyers allowed
Only if both sides agree
The parties may agree in writing before the hearing to let attorneys participate.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Arizona

What is the small claims court limit in Arizona?

Maximum claim in Arizona: $5,000. Exclusive of interest and costs.

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

Filing fee in Arizona: $30 base fee plus local fees. Base fee set under A.R.S. 22-281 with Supreme Court increases effective December 28, 2024. Maricopa County justice courts charge $58 in total.

Can you bring a lawyer to small claims court in Arizona?

Only if both sides agree. Lawyers allowed in Arizona: only if both sides agree. The parties may agree in writing before the hearing to let attorneys participate.

Where do the Arizona small claims court limits come from?

The rules above come from Ariz. Rev. Stat. 22-503, Ariz. Rev. Stat. 22-512 and Ariz. Rev. Stat. 22-281. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

A.R.S. 22-281 lists a $25 small claims filing fee, but the Arizona Supreme Court raised the base fee to $30 effective December 28, 2024, and counties may add local fees.

What this means in practice

Before filing, send the other side a written demand that states what is owed, why, and a deadline to pay. A clear demand letter sometimes settles the dispute without court, and some courts ask whether you tried to resolve the matter first.

Bring organized evidence to the hearing: contracts, receipts, invoices, photos, text messages and any written promise to pay. Prepare a short timeline of what happened. Judges in small claims court decide cases quickly, so a clear, document backed explanation helps.

Winning a judgment does not mean you are paid automatically. If the other side does not pay voluntarily, you may need to use collection tools such as wage garnishment, a bank levy or a lien, and each of those has its own forms, fees and rules.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.