How to answer a debt lawsuit in Arizona

Deadlines by court, filing, fees and defenses, with a calculator.

Checked against official sources: Oct 24, 2026.

Short answer

Served in Arizona: 20 days. Served outside Arizona: 30 days. File a written Answer with the justice court named on the summons and pay the answer fee (or ask for a fee waiver or deferral).

Time to answer
20 days
Official answer form
Civil Answer (Maricopa County Justice Courts form CV 8150-102); other counties have their own answer forms
Fee to answer
$75 to file an Answer to a Civil Complaint in Maricopa County Justice Courts.

The answer deadline in Arizona, court by court

  • Served in Arizona: 20 days.
  • Served outside Arizona: 30 days.

20 calendar days after you are served in Arizona; 30 days if you were served outside Arizona. Do not count the day you were served. If the last day is a weekend or holiday, you have until the next business day.

Law: Justice Court Rules of Civil Procedure (JCRCP) Rule 112 (summons); Maricopa County Justice Courts civil summons and answer instructions

In nearby states

Count your exact deadline

The date is counted in your browser.

The court's name is at the top of your summons.

An estimate from our state data, not legal advice. Court holidays and local rules can change a deadline. File early, and ask the court clerk if you are not sure.

Defenses you can raise in Arizona

Every lawsuit must be brought in the name of the real party in interest, so a debt buyer must sue in its own name. Arizona's time limit to sue is 6 years for a written contract or credit card and 3 years for an open account or a debt not based on a written contract. Interest on medical debt, and on medical debt judgments, is capped at 3% a year or the 1-year Treasury rate, whichever is lower.

Law: JCRCP Rule 104(c); A.R.S. § 12-548; A.R.S. § 12-543; A.R.S. § 44-1201(A)(1)

In Arizona, the time limit to sue on a written contract is 6 years. A debt older than that can be a defense, but you must raise it in your answer.

What an answer is and how to file it in Arizona

File a written Answer with the justice court named on the summons and pay the answer fee (or ask for a fee waiver or deferral). Your answer must state your defenses. You must also send a copy to the plaintiff or its lawyer. You can use the court's answer form or plain paper with the court name, case number and party names. Within 40 days after the answer is filed, both sides must exchange disclosure statements.

Fill in Arizona's official answer form: a helper

Start with the official form: Civil Answer (Maricopa County Justice Courts form CV 8150-102); other counties have their own answer forms

This helper is not a court form and does not file anything. It lists what to copy onto the official form, in plain words.

Which of these are true? (optional)
What to put on the official form

What answering costs in Arizona

Fee to answer

$75 to file an Answer to a Civil Complaint in Maricopa County Justice Courts. Fees can differ in other courts.

If you can't pay the fees

Application for Deferral or Waiver of Court Fees and Costs (Form No. AOCDFGF1F). You must still file your answer on time.

Service of the court papers in Arizona

Service means officially getting the court papers. Your deadline usually starts that day.

The plaintiff must have the summons and complaint formally delivered to you, usually by a private process server. The case is dismissed if you are not served within 90 days after it was filed.

Law: Justice Court Rules of Civil Procedure; Maricopa County Justice Courts, Civil Suits (Serving the Complaint)

What to do now in Arizona

  1. Read the papers

    Write down the court, the case number and who is suing you.

  2. Count the days

    Arizona's rule: Served in Arizona: 20 days; Served outside Arizona: 30 days.

  4. Ask for the documents

    A documents request letter asks for the contract and proof of ownership.

Federal rules in every state

  • Where a collector must sue. A debt collector that sues you over a consumer debt must file where you signed the contract or where you live when the suit starts. Law: 15 U.S.C. 1692i(a)(2)
  • Old debts. A debt collector must not sue you, or threaten to sue you, on a debt that is too old to sue on. Law: 12 CFR 1006.26(b)

Free legal help in Arizona

Questions about answering in Arizona

What is the deadline to answer a debt suit in Arizona?

20 calendar days after you are served in Arizona; 30 days if you were served outside Arizona. Do not count the day you were served. If the last day is a weekend or holiday, you have until the next business day.

How do I file an answer in Arizona?

File a written Answer with the justice court named on the summons and pay the answer fee (or ask for a fee waiver or deferral). Your answer must state your defenses. You must also send a copy to the plaintiff or its lawyer. You can use the court's answer form or plain paper with the court name, case number and party names. Within 40 days after the answer is filed, both sides must exchange disclosure statements.

Is there an official answer form in Arizona?

Civil Answer (Maricopa County Justice Courts form CV 8150-102); other counties have their own answer forms: https://justicecourts.maricopa.gov/media/lndo3rn0/cv-answer-8150-102.pdf

What does it cost to answer in Arizona?

$75 to file an Answer to a Civil Complaint in Maricopa County Justice Courts. Fees can differ in other courts.

What if I can't afford the court fees in Arizona?

Application for Deferral or Waiver of Court Fees and Costs (Form No. AOCDFGF1F). You must still file your answer on time.

Related Arizona pages

Sources

Sources

Last checked: Oct 24, 2026.

Federal sources
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