Question 1 of 8. The fee above is the court's; ours is $49 for the paperwork.
- Filing fee
- $58
- Claim limit
- $5,000
- Service per defendant
- Set by the server
- Pay online
- At the counter
What Maricopa County charges to file
Source: Maricopa County Justice Courts, Small Claims Division fee schedule
| Your claim | You pay |
|---|---|
| Up to $5,000 | $58 |
Fees change — confirm the current amount with the clerk at 602-372-6300 before you file.
The costs that are not the filing fee
Filing is the first charge, not the only one. Maricopa County also charges:
- Answer to small claims complaint: $46
- Plaintiff request to transfer to civil: $56
- Defendant request to transfer to civil: $29
- Judgment debtors exam: $33
- Certification of document: $33
- Copies per page: $0.50
- Writ of execution: $123
- Writ of garnishment: $107
- Writ of restitution: $125
- Writ of replevin: $261
None of these are optional once the case is moving, and all of them are recoverable in the judgment if you win. They are simply not quoted at the counter when you ask what it costs to file.
Fees change — confirm the current amount with the clerk at 602-372-6300 before you file.
How this clerk takes payment
Maricopa County Justice Courts, Small Claims Division accepts:
- Cash (coin payments limited to $5 per day per customer)
- Personal check
- Money order
- VISA, MasterCard, American Express, Discover
Common questions
How much does it cost to file a small claims case in Maricopa County?
$58 to file. Fees change — confirm the current amount with the clerk at 602-372-6300 before you file.
Can I get the filing fee back if I win?
Court costs, including the filing fee and service, are normally included in the judgment you ask for. Getting them back still depends on collecting the judgment.
What if I cannot afford the filing fee in Maricopa County?
Courts have a fee-waiver application for filers below an income threshold. Maricopa County's self-help center can point you at it. We cannot tell you whether you qualify.
How do I pay the Maricopa County filing fee?
Maricopa County Justice Courts, Small Claims Division takes 4 forms of payment, listed above.
The Maricopa County filing packet — $49
Everything above, assembled and filled in with your facts:
- Your Maricopa County filing forms, completed with your claim in the language the court expects
- A demand letter built from the same facts
- A filing checklist with Maricopa County Justice Courts, Small Claims Division's address, hours, and the current fee
- What to bring to your hearing
Answer a few questions first. See your claim written out before you pay anything.
Reviewed by Small Claims Desk · Last reviewed 2026-08-20 · Sourced from justicecourts.maricopa.gov (Maricopa County Justice Courts) and azleg.gov (A.R.S. Title 22, Small Claims) and A.R.S. Title 22, Ch. 5, Art. 2 — Small Claims (§§ 22-501 to 22-524); §22-503 sets the $5,000 limit exclusive of interest and costs. See how we verify.