Small Claims Complaint

IMPORTANT: THIS IS A PREPARATION GUIDE — NOT THE OFFICIAL COURT FORM

Arizona requires the use of official Justice Court small claims forms (Complaint, Summons and Notice)
for small claims complaints. This template provides the substantive legal content to help you prepare —
but you must transfer your content to the official form before filing. The official forms
are available at https://www.azcourts.gov/selfservicecenter/Small-Claims.
Do not file this document directly with the court.

Arizona Small-Claims Division – Complaint for Monetary Damages

(A.R.S. § 22-501 et seq.; Justice Court Small Claims Division)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Document Header
2. Parties
3. Jurisdiction & Venue
4. Statement of Claim
5. Amount in Controversy & Compliance with Monetary Limits
6. Relief Requested
7. Certification of Compliance with Small Claims Requirements
8. Verification & Signature
9. Certificate of Service

1. DOCUMENT HEADER

Court:
IN THE JUSTICE COURT OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA
IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF [COUNTY]
SMALL CLAIMS DIVISION

Case No.: [Leave blank – to be assigned by Clerk]

Plaintiff(s):
[PLAINTIFF FULL LEGAL NAME], an individual
Address: [ADDRESS]
Telephone: [PHONE]
Email (optional): [EMAIL]

Defendant(s):
[DEFENDANT FULL LEGAL NAME], an individual
Address: [ADDRESS]
Telephone (if known): [PHONE]
Email (if known): [EMAIL]

Title of Pleading:
COMPLAINT FOR MONEY DAMAGES (SMALL CLAIMS)

Filing Date: [DATE]

2. PARTIES

2.1 Plaintiff. [PLAINTIFF NAME] (“Plaintiff”) is a resident of the State of Arizona, County of [COUNTY], and is competent to bring this action in his/her own right.

2.2 Defendant. [DEFENDANT NAME] (“Defendant”) is believed to reside or conduct business in the County of [COUNTY], State of Arizona, and is subject to the jurisdiction of this Court.

3. JURISDICTION & VENUE

3.1 Monetary Jurisdiction. Pursuant to A.R.S. § 22-505(A), the Small Claims Division has jurisdiction over civil actions in which the amount in controversy does not exceed $5,000, exclusive of interest and allowable costs. The total amount sought herein does not exceed that limit.

3.2 Subject-Matter Jurisdiction. This action seeks purely monetary relief and does not request injunctive, equitable, or other non-monetary remedies that are barred in small-claims proceedings under A.R.S. § 22-505(C).

3.3 Venue. Venue is proper in this Court because the Defendant resides, transacts business, or the events giving rise to this claim occurred within this precinct. (A.R.S. § 22-503).

4. STATEMENT OF CLAIM

4.1 Factual Allegations.
a. On or about [DATE], Plaintiff and Defendant entered into [brief description of transaction, e.g., “a written agreement for the sale of personal property”] under which Defendant agreed to pay Plaintiff $[AMOUNT].
b. Plaintiff fully performed all obligations by [describe performance].
c. Despite due demand, Defendant has failed to pay the agreed amount.

4.2 Cause(s) of Action.
a. Breach of Contract. Defendant’s failure to pay constitutes a breach of contract.
b. [OPTIONAL] Unjust Enrichment. In the alternative, Defendant has been unjustly enriched at Plaintiff’s expense.

4.3 Damages. As a direct and proximate result of Defendant’s conduct, Plaintiff has suffered monetary damages in the amount of $[PRINCIPAL], plus pre-judgment interest at the statutory rate from [DATE], and court costs.

5. AMOUNT IN CONTROVERSY & COMPLIANCE WITH MONETARY LIMITS

The total amount demanded, inclusive of principal, pre-judgment interest, and allowable court costs, is $[TOTAL ≤ $5,000], thereby satisfying the jurisdictional limitation prescribed by A.R.S. § 22-505(A).

6. RELIEF REQUESTED

Plaintiff respectfully requests that the Court enter judgment in favor of Plaintiff and against Defendant as follows:

1. Principal damages in the amount of $[PRINCIPAL];
2. Pre-judgment interest at the statutory rate from [DATE] until judgment;
3. Post-judgment interest at the statutory rate until paid in full;
4. Court costs as allowed by law; and
5. Such other and further relief as the Court deems just and proper.

7. CERTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE WITH SMALL CLAIMS REQUIREMENTS

I hereby certify under penalty of perjury that:
a. The amount in controversy does not exceed $5,000, exclusive of interest and costs;
b. The claim is for money damages only and does not include libel, slander, forcible entry, unlawful detainer, or request for injunctive relief;
c. No party is requesting or represented by an attorney at trial, except as allowed under A.R.S. § 22-512(C);
d. I am aware that judgments of the Small Claims Division are not appealable except as provided by A.R.S. § 22-519, and I voluntarily elect to proceed in this forum.

8. VERIFICATION & SIGNATURE

I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of Arizona that the foregoing is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Date: [DATE]

_____________________________________
[PLAINTIFF NAME]
Plaintiff, Pro Se
Address: [ADDRESS]
Phone: [PHONE]
Email: [EMAIL] (optional)

9. CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I certify that a copy of this Complaint (and any accompanying documents) was served on Defendant by:
☐ Certified U.S. Mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid
☐ Personal service by a registered process server
☐ Constable/Sheriff

on the _____ day of ___________, 20____, addressed to:

[DEFENDANT NAME]
[DEFENDANT ADDRESS]

_____________________________________
[PLAINTIFF NAME]

IMPORTANT STATUTORY REFERENCES

• Monetary Limit – A.R.S. § 22-505(A)
• Bar on Injunctive Relief – A.R.S. § 22-505(C)
• Attorney Representation – A.R.S. § 22-512
• No Appeal – A.R.S. § 22-519