Arizona Eviction Document Preparation
Court-ready eviction paperwork, prepared correctly the first time.
When a tenant stops paying or breaks the lease, Arizona gives landlords a fast path to possession through the Justice Court, but only if every document is prepared and served correctly. As an Arizona Certified Legal Document Preparer, QuickDocsAZ prepares your eviction documents at your direction, using the exact statutory language and current Justice Court forms.
You provide the lease, ledger, and facts. We prepare the paperwork. The court decides your case.
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How an eviction works in Arizona
In Arizona, a landlord who wants a tenant to leave has to go through the court process. Arizona law does not allow a landlord to change the locks, remove a tenant's belongings, or shut off utilities to force a tenant out. The court action is called a special detainer (also called a forcible detainer) and is heard in the Justice Court for the precinct where the rental property is located.
The process moves quickly, but it is strict. Eviction cases are often decided on procedure, such as whether the notice was accurate and properly served, as much as on the underlying debt. This page explains the general process for a non-payment eviction. It is general information, not legal advice.
The eviction process, step by step
- 1
Serve a proper written notice
For unpaid rent, a Five-Day Notice to Pay or Quit (A.R.S. § 33-1368) tells the tenant they have five days to pay or the landlord may end the tenancy. Other lease violations use different notices with different timelines. The notice must be accurate, served in a way the law allows, and the notice period has to run in full before anything is filed.
- 2
File the complaint and summons
If the tenant does not pay or move out, the landlord files a Complaint with the Justice Court in the precinct where the rental is located, and the court issues a Summons. Justice Court can hear an eviction only when the amount claimed does not exceed $10,000.
- 3
Serve the tenant
The complaint and summons must be served on the tenant, usually by a constable or a private process server, and the service has to be documented for the court. The court sets a hearing a few days after service, so the timeline is short.
- 4
Attend the hearing
The landlord, or an authorized representative, attends. The lease and a six-month rent ledger are typical exhibits. The tenant can admit the claim, contest it, or raise defenses, and the judge decides.
- 5
Obtain a judgment
If the landlord prevails, the court enters a judgment for possession of the property and, where applicable, unpaid rent, late fees, and costs.
- 6
Request a writ of restitution if needed
If the tenant still does not leave after judgment, the landlord can request a Writ of Restitution. A constable carries it out to restore possession to the landlord. Constable fees are separate.
The documents involved
Which documents you need depends on the service you choose. Here is what each one is for.
- Five-Day Notice to Pay or Quit
- The statutory written notice for unpaid rent. It must contain specific language and be served correctly before a case can be filed.
- Notice to Cure or Terminate
- The notice for lease violations other than non-payment, such as unauthorized occupants, damage, or health and safety issues.
- Complaint and Summons
- The documents filed in Justice Court to start the eviction case and notify the tenant of the hearing.
- Six-month rent ledger
- A court-ready itemization of rent charged and paid. Arizona court rules require it in non-payment cases.
- Judgment Worksheet and Form of Judgment
- Used after the hearing to state the amounts and relief the landlord is asking the court to enter.
- Writ of Restitution
- The court order a constable uses to restore possession of the property when a tenant has not left after judgment.
- Certificate or Affidavit of Service
- Documents how and when notices or court papers were served, which the court relies on.
Key Arizona rules at a glance
- Notice comes first
- A compliant written notice must be served and its period must run before a complaint can be filed.
- Five days for unpaid rent
- A Five-Day Notice to Pay or Quit is the notice for non-payment under A.R.S. § 33-1368.
- Justice Court limit
- Justice Court hears eviction cases only when the total amount claimed is $10,000 or less. Above that, the matter belongs in Superior Court.
- Right precinct
- The complaint is filed in the Justice Court precinct where the rental property is located.
- No self-help
- A landlord may not change locks, remove belongings, or cut off utilities to force a tenant out. The court process is the lawful route.
- Six-month ledger
- Non-payment cases require an accounting ledger covering the past six months.
- Court filing fee
- The Justice Court filing fee varies by county. See the county-by-county table on our Rates page.
Is document preparation the right fit?
Often a good fit when
- You are a landlord or property manager handling the case yourself.
- Rent is unpaid and you need a compliant notice before filing anything.
- Your notice period has fully run and you are ready to file in Justice Court.
- You have had your hearing and need the judgment or writ paperwork.
People often talk with an attorney when
- The amount you are claiming exceeds $10,000.
- The tenant has raised defenses, such as habitability complaints, or has filed for bankruptcy.
- The rental is a mobile home park, subsidized housing, or a commercial lease, which can follow different rules.
- You are unsure whether your notice was served correctly.
A legal document preparer is not a lawyer and cannot give legal advice. Communications with a legal document preparer are not privileged. This page is general information about how this Arizona process works, not advice about your situation.
Our eviction services
Pay only for what you need right now: a single document, or the complete bundle at a discount.
Complete Non-Payment Eviction Packet
$650Who this is for: A landlord who wants every document for a standard non-payment case prepared as one bundle.
- Five-Day Notice, Complaint, Summons, six-month ledger
- Judgment Worksheet, Form of Judgment, Writ of Restitution
- Prepared stage by stage as your case progresses
Prepared individually, these stages total $825. The bundle saves $175.
Five-Day Notice to Pay or Quit
$150Who this is for: A landlord whose tenant hasn't paid rent and who needs a compliant statutory notice prepared before filing anything.
- Exact statutory language (A.R.S. § 33-1368)
- Service instructions so the notice period starts correctly
Notice to Cure or Terminate
$175Who this is for: A lease breach other than non-payment, such as unauthorized occupants, damage, health and safety issues, or a material lease violation.
- The appropriate notice for the type of violation
- Correct notice period and statutory language
Eviction Complaint & Summons Packet
$350Who this is for: A landlord whose notice period has fully run and who is ready to file in Justice Court.
- Current Maricopa County Justice Court forms
- Complaint, Summons, and supporting ledger/itemization
- Ready for filing in the correct precinct
Judgment Package
$200Who this is for: A landlord who has had their hearing and needs the judgment paperwork prepared.
- Judgment Worksheet
- Form of Judgment reflecting the amounts and relief from your case
Writ of Restitution
$125Who this is for: A landlord with a judgment for possession whose tenant has not vacated.
- Prepared so the constable can restore possession
Supporting Documents
- Six-Month Rent Ledger / Itemization
- Court-ready exhibit
- $100
- Certificate / Affidavit of Service
- $50
- Additional defendant
- Per tenant beyond the first
- $50
What’s included and what’s not
Preparation of the documents you select, on the correct current court forms, using the facts, lease, and ledger you provide.
- Court filing feeSet by county, not by precinct. See the full breakdown by county on our Rates page. We'll confirm the current amount for the court where you'll file.$41 to $71
- Service of processA process server or constable must serve the notice and/or summons.$150+
- Constable lockout feeCharged when a Writ of Restitution is executed.Separate
- Court appearanceAs a document preparer, we don't appear at your hearing. The landlord (or an authorized representative) attends.N/A
We’ll give you a clear, itemized breakdown up front so there are no surprises.
Frequently asked questions
How long does an eviction take in Arizona?+
It depends on the notice period, how quickly the tenant is served, the court's calendar, and whether the tenant contests. The notice period has to run first, the court generally sets a hearing a few days after service, and a writ of restitution comes after judgment. Contested cases take longer.
What is a five-day notice in Arizona?+
A Five-Day Notice to Pay or Quit is the written notice a landlord serves when rent is unpaid (A.R.S. § 33-1368). It tells the tenant they have five days to pay or the landlord may end the tenancy. It must contain specific statutory language and be served correctly before a case can be filed.
Can a landlord change the locks or shut off utilities in Arizona?+
No. Arizona law does not allow a landlord to lock a tenant out, remove belongings, or cut off utilities to force a tenant to leave. A landlord has to use the court process.
Which court handles evictions in Arizona?+
The Justice Court for the precinct where the rental property is located, as long as the amount claimed is $10,000 or less. Above that, the matter belongs in Superior Court.
How much does it cost to file an eviction in Arizona?+
Our document preparation fees are flat and listed on the Rates page. The Justice Court filing fee is separate and varies by county; our Rates page has a county-by-county table. Service by a constable or process server and constable fees for a writ are also separate.
What is a writ of restitution?+
It is the court order a constable uses to restore possession of the property to the landlord when a tenant has not left after the court enters judgment for possession.
Do I need a lawyer to evict a tenant in Arizona?+
Arizona allows landlords to handle an eviction themselves, and a certified legal document preparer can prepare the forms from the information you provide. We cannot give legal advice or appear at your hearing.
What if the property isn't in the court's precinct, or the amount owed is over $10,000?+
An eviction may be filed in Justice Court only when the total amount claimed does not exceed $10,000. Above that, the matter belongs in Superior Court. We'll flag it during intake rather than prepare a filing that court would reject.
Why does precision matter so much in an eviction?+
Arizona eviction cases are decided on procedure as much as the underlying debt. The notice must contain specific statutory language, the notice period must be counted correctly, and service must be properly documented. Getting any of these wrong is the most common reason a case gets dismissed.
Do I need a six-month ledger?+
Yes. Arizona court rules require a six-month accounting ledger for non-payment cases. It's available as a supporting document below, prepared as a court-ready exhibit.
Will you appear at my hearing?+
No. As a document preparer, we don't appear at your hearing or represent you in court. The landlord (or an authorized representative) attends.
Are you attorneys?+
No. QuickDocsAZ is a certified legal document preparation service, not a law firm. We prepare your forms accurately, but we do not provide legal advice.