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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, First Regular Session
small claims court; jurisdictional limit
Purpose
Background
The Arizona judicial department is an integrated judicial department divided into the Supreme Court, intermediate appellate courts, superior courts and courts inferior to the superior court such as municipal and justice courts. Justices of the peace have jurisdiction only as conferred upon the justice of the peace by law and exclusive original jurisdiction in all civil actions in which the amount involved is $10,000 or less, exclusive of interest, costs and awarded attorney fees when authorized by law (Ariz. Const. art. 6 § 1; A.R.S. § 22-201).
The small claims division is a forum within the justice courts that allows for the inexpensive, speedy and informal resolution of small claims. The small claims division has concurrent, original jurisdiction with the justice court in all civil actions in which the debt, damage, tort, injury or value of the personal property claims either by the plaintiff or defendant does not exceed $3,500, exclusive of interest and costs, and in actions in which a party seeks to disaffirm, avoid or rescind a contract, or seeks equitable relief, and the amount at issue does not exceed $3,500 (A.R.S. §§ 22-501 and 22-503).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Increases, from $3,500 to $7,500, the jurisdictional limit for the small claims division of the justice court.
2. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
January 24, 2025
ZD/KS/ci