How to Answer a Summons for Debt Collection in Arizona (2024 Guide)

George Simons | June 21, 2024

Edited by Hannah Locklear

Fact-checked by Patrick Austin, J.D.

Not sure how to Answer a Summons for debt collection in Arizona? Or if you should even Answer at all? Once a debt hits the point where a creditor is filing papers with the courts, it's essential to formally respond, or you risk having a default judgment entered against you. This can have serious financial consequences like wage garnishment, seizure of property, etc.

When answering a debt lawsuit, it's important to know and follow Arizona debt collection laws to give yourself the best footing possible with the courts.

On this page, you'll find FAQs and details on:

• What a Summons and Complaint are
• What an Answer is
• Filing deadlines
• The Arizona debt collection statute of limitations
• Where to find Answer forms
• Steps to file a written Answer
• The Arizona Fair Debt Collection Practices Act; § 32-1001
• Filing fees
• Settle debt in Arizona
• Arizona FDCPA guidelines
• Arizona debt relief
• Check the status of your Arizona court case
• Stop wage garnishment in Arizona
• Arizona legal aid organizations
• File an Answer in your local court
• Arizona debt collection FAQs
• How to file in other states

What are a Summons and Complaint?

When a creditor sues you for debt, you'll generally receive two documents: a Summons and a Complaint. These are typically given to you by a process server, though sometimes a sheriff may deliver the documents or they may come via certified mail. This is referred to as “service of process” or “being served”. Without proper service, the person or business suing you does not have a valid lawsuit.

However, dodging the process server won't help your case, as servers are often allowed some leniency in regards to service. For example, if the server has made several, unsuccessful attempts to serve you the court documents, the court may accept notice in a publication in lieu of personal serving.

The Summons is an official document that explains you're being sued in civil claims court. The Complaint outlines what the other party says you've done and what they want in return. It does not necessarily mean you have done these things, only that they're alleging you have.

What's an Answer?

Just as the creditor who is suing you, or the plaintiff, must provide you with written information about the lawsuit, you, the defendant, are expected to provide a written response. This is referred to as an Answer. The Answer is a brief summary of whether or not you agree with the plaintiff on each allegation listed in the Complaint. It is not detailed narrative of events or explanation of financial hardship.

Do you have to Answer a Complaint and Summons?

Technically speaking, you aren't required to Answer an Arizona Summons or Complaint. However, ignoring one means a judgement can be made against you without the judge receiving your input or hearing your response. Oftentimes, the plaintiff receives everything they ask for when the defendant doesn't respond. The big debt collection agencies count on you taking no action because it lets them collect with minimal effort on their part. The allegations don't even need to be true.

Here's a video on how to respond to a summons in Arizona for debt collection:

Can You Answer a Summons for Debt Collection in Arizona without an Attorney?

You aren't forced to to hire a lawyer to respond to a debt collection Summons. While you may prefer to work with an attorney if you have a more complicated case or believe the creditor behaved unethically, you can also complete the Answer on your own or use a tool like SoloSuit to walk you through the paperwork and submission process quickly. See the SoloSuit FAQ for details.

What if my Arizona Summons and Complaint list a Jane Doe?

The inclusion of “John Doe” or “Jane Doe” as a defendant on court paperwork generally means the plaintiff believes the defendant is married and is suing the spouse as well. In these cases, the spouse should file alongside the named defendant and sign the paperwork too.

What's the Arizona deadline for answering a debt collection Summons?

In most cases, you have 20 days from the date of service to respond. That means 20 days from the time you received the documents, not 20 days from the date stamped on the papers or the date they were filed with the court. However, the deadline for Answering a debt collection Summons in Arizona depends on how you were served.

For example, if you were served an Arizona Summons while you were in another state, the deadline is 30 days, not 20 days. If the creditor published a notice of your Summons in a publication rather than serving you personally, you have a 50-day window in state or a 60-day window out-of-state.

What's the statute of limitations on debt in Arizona?

Per the AZ statute of limitations, debt typically cannot be collected after six years. For example, A.R.S. § 12-548 addresses contracts in writing and credit cards. it allows the plaintiff to sue for up to six years “after the cause of action accrues.” On the other hand, the AZ statute of limitations on debt is reduced to three years if there was only an oral agreement, per A.R.S. § 12-543.

Statute of Limitations on Debt in Arizona

Debt Type	Deadline
Oral Contract	3 years
Open Account	3 years
Credit Card	6 years
Medical	6 years
Student Loan	6 years
Auto Loan	6 years
Mortgage	6 years
Personal Loan	6 years
Judgment	10 years
Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 12-543, § 12-548, and§ 12-1551

See SoloSuit's Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection by State for additional limitations and a state-by-state comparison.

Where can I get Answer to Summons forms in Arizona?

Generic Arizona Answer to Summons forms are available through county court websites as well as through the official Arizona Judicial Branch website.

• Answer (for lawsuits under $10k)
• Answer (for lawsuits over $10k)
• E-filing (civil)
• E-filing (small claims)
• SoloSuit (all)

What are the steps to respond to a debt collection case in Arizona?

There are four primary steps involved in Answering or responding to a debt collection case in Arizona.

Step 1: Create the Answer Document

Use an Answer form as provided above and include the unique details of your case including:

• Your personal contact information such as name, address, and phone number
• The plaintiff's contact information
• The court's information
• Case details such as the case number

Step 2: Answer Each Item in the Complaint

As you'll see in the Answer forms, you should respond to each allegation/paragraph in the Complaint. There are three ways to respond:

• Admit the allegation
• Deny the allegation
• State that you do not have enough information to know whether the allegation is true or false

It's important to note that the plaintiff has the burden of proof in the beginning stages of a lawsuit. This means that, if you deny the allegations, the plaintiff must prove otherwise. This usually requires more work and time on the plaintiff's part. Because of this, attorneys generally recommend not to admit anything is true that you're not wholly certain of.

For example, if you don't know your account number, don't admit that you owe a certain amount of money on that account. If you're not sure that the plaintiff has jurisdiction or the right to sue, don't admit it's true. Some attorneys even advise defendants to deny every allegation in their Answer.

Step 3: List Affirmative Defenses if Applicable

The standardized Arizona Answer form contains roughly 20 potential affirmative defenses in the “Defenses and Denials” section as well as the opportunity to write in your own Answer. These assert that the plaintiff does not have a case because they've done something wrong. Some of the most commonly used affirmative defenses include:

• Statute of Limitations: It's been more than six years since you broke your written agreement or three years since you broke a verbal agreement to pay the debt.
• Insufficient Service of Process: You weren't given the Summons and/or Complaint or some part of the process was not handled properly.
• Estoppel: The plaintiff led you to believe they would not enforce the contract.
• Payment: You've paid some or all the debt.
• Statute of Frauds (SOF): The agreement between plaintiff and defendant was not in writing but it needed to be in writing for it to be legally enforceable. This only applies in certain situations, such as when the value of goods being sold exceeds a certain amount or when the agreement cannot be fulfilled within a year.

In most cases, the only time you can bring certain defenses forth is when you provide your written Answer. In other words, if you fail to mention an affirmative defense at the onset, the court may not recognize it later. For this reason, it's important to consider every avenue you might take before submitting your Answer and check every box that's applicable. Also bear in mind that this is not the time to tell your side of the story, since the burden of proof is on the plaintiff and not you. Keep your Answers as brief as possible to avoid potentially weakening your case.

Step 4: File with the Court and Serve the Plaintiff

Once your paperwork is completed and signed, you should file the original copy with the court. Provided you've allowed enough time for processing, you can send the documents to the court through the U.S. mail. However, you can also deliver the papers to the court clerk or SoloSuit can file for you and can even handle overnight delivery.

You must also send a copy of the Answer to the plaintiff or, if they have a lawyer, to their attorney. Despite being referred to as “service,” you do not need to hire a process server. It can be sent via regular mail to the address included in the paperwork you received.

The Answer should include a Proof of Service, which declares that you have submitted the Answer to the court and plaintiff's attorney and includes the mailing addresses.

Remember to keep a copy of the Answer for yourself as well.

Possible routes you can take in a debt lawsuit

There are several routes you can take if you've been sued for debt. Each debt collection lawsuit is unique, but this flowchart can give you an idea of the possible actions you can take in your case:

Your Arizona court may charge you a filing fee

Unfortunately, some state courts charge an Answer filing fee. And Arizona is one of those states.

In Arizona, you must pay anywhere from $40 to $245 to file an Answer to your debt lawsuit. It all depends on which court your case is in.

We know what you're thinking. And we agree! The practice of courts charging an Answer filing fee is absurd. We think it's one of the biggest impediments to justice in the United States.

If you have SoloSuit file your response and your court charges a filing fee, we'll let you know. We automatically calculate your filing fee, make it easy for you to pay it, and make sure that payment gets to your court on time.

>>Read the FastCompany article: Debt Lawsuits Are Complicated: This Website Makes Them Simpler To Navigate

>>Read the NPR story on SoloSuit: A Student Solution To Give Utah Debtors A Fighting Chance

>>Read the NPR story on SoloSuit. (We can help you in all 50 states.)

Settle your debt in Arizona

After you've taken the proper steps necessary to respond to your debt lawsuit, consider reaching out to your creditor or debt collector to negotiate a debt settlement.

As part of a debt settlement, you will make an agreement with the plaintiff to pay off your a portion of your debt in order to clear your name of it. If you are experiencing financial hardship, many creditors and collectors will work with you. Whether it's setting up a payment plan or paying a lump-sum percentage of the debt, settling is better than waiting for your wages to be garnished in the event that you lose the case.

Check out our guide on How to Settle a Debt in Arizona and watch the following video to learn more.

Do the Arizona Fair Debt Collection Practices Act guidelines apply when filing?

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) creates federal guidelines that protect consumers from companies that harass or behave unethically. The FDCPA outlines several things creditors cannot do and others that they must do when attetmpting to collect a debt. A few examples are listed below.

A creditor cannot:

• Call you before 8am or 9pm
• Make threats of any kind (including threats of wage garnishment, property seizure, or arrest)
• Contact you if you've said debt is not yours
• Make false statements

A creditor must:

• Send you a written Validation Notice within five days of their first contact to you
• Include in the Validation Notice who you owe money to, the total amount owed, and what to do if you think the debt isn't yours
• Communicate only with the lawyer if you've found an attorney to represent you

Here are some further restrictions directly listed in the FDCPA:

FDCPA §805 and 806 place some restrictions on how debt collectors may contact you:

Without the prior consent of the consumer given directly to the debt collector or the express permission of a court of competent jurisdiction, a debt collector may not communicate with a consumer in connection with the collection of any debt --

(1) at any unusual time or place or a time or place known or which should be known to be inconvenient to the consumer. In the absence of knowledge of circumstances to the contrary, a debt collector shall assume that the convenient time for communicating with a consumer is after 8 o'clock antemeridian and before 9 o'clock postmeridian, local time at the consumer's location;

(2) if the debt collector knows the consumer is represented by an attorney with respect to such debt and has knowledge of, or can readily ascertain, such attorney's name and address, unless the attorney fails to respond within a reasonable period of time to a communication from the debt collector or unless the attorney consents to direct communication with the consumer; or

(3) at the consumer's place of employment if the debt collector knows or has reason to know that the consumer's employer prohibits the consumer from receiving such communication.

A debt collector may not engage in any conduct the natural consequence of which is to harass, oppress, or abuse any person in connection with the collection of a debt. Without limiting the general application of the foregoing, the following conduct is a violation of this section:

(1) The use or threat of use of violence or other criminal means to harm the physical person, reputation, or property of any person.

(2) The use of obscene or profane language or language the natural consequence of which is to abuse the hearer or reader.

(3) The publication of a list of consumers who allegedly refuse to pay debts, except to a consumer reporting agency or to persons meeting the requirements of section 1681a(f) or 1681b(3)1 of this title.

(4) The advertisement for sale of any debt to coerce payment of the debt.

(5) Causing a telephone to ring or engaging any person in telephone conversation repeatedly or continuously with intent to annoy, abuse, or harass any person at the called number.

(6) Except as provided in section 1692b of this title, the placement of telephone calls without meaningful disclosure of the caller's identity.

You still need to respond to a Complaint even if the creditor violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. However, the FDCPA offers recourse if a debt collector is behaving unethically or harassing you. The Arizona Attorney General's website offers a consumer reporting portal that may result in criminal charges against the creditor in violation of the act. In a separate case, you may be entitled to statutory and actual damages which cover everything from emotional distress through lost wages.

View How to File an FDCPA Complaint Against Your Debt Collector for additional information on the process, see some of the shady practices debt collection companies use, or explore how debt collectors use the FDCPA to their benefit on the SoloSuit blog. Note that, as of 2021, debt collectors may contact debtors via social media channels.

Additional protections under Arizona law

Arizona requires debt collections agencies to register and be licensed with the state. In addition to compliance with the FDCPA, Arizona has further regulations regarding debt collection.

Arizona 32-1055 describes the following unlawful acts:

Arizona debt collection laws prohibit unfair collection practices

Like all other states, Arizona uses the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) to protect its residents from unfair collection practices. Most debt collectors use any means possible to get their money and often violate consumer rights. The Act states that Arizona debt collectors should not:

• Call you countless times a day.
• Call late at night or very early in the morning (before ).
• Use intimidating or threatening language to force you to pay.
• Talk about your debt with friends, coworkers, or family.
• Use social media to shame you that you have a debt with them.
• Contact you after sending a cease and desist letter.
• Fail to verify your debt after sending a Debt Validation Letter.
• Take you to court after the debt has expired.

In addition to these guidelines, Arizona’s revised statutes § 32-1055 require debt collection agencies to be licensed. They should obtain a license from the Arizona Department of Insurance before they start collecting debt. The statute also states that it is unlawful for a debt collector to threaten to sell a debt so that the consumer pays.

This section of Arizona debt collection laws also requires debt collectors to notify the department before ten days are over when they want to change the company’s name. These agencies regularly change their names to shield themselves from negative consumer reviews and reporting incidences that may harm their business. If you encounter a new debt collector you haven't interacted with, research their history to ensure they comply with the law. If they haven't, use the unlawful business practice as your affirmative defense in a lawsuit.

Some debt collectors may also engage in unfair business practices by suing you for a debt whose statute of limitation has been reached. In Arizona, the deadline for debt varies depending on the type of debt. For instance, credit cards, medical, auto loans, student loans, mortgages, and personal loans expire after six years. Judgments last for ten years. Any debt collector who sues you after this timeline will have violated your rights. Use the violation as an affirmative defense in the Answer document, and the court will likely dismiss the case.

Another way Arizona protects its residents from unfair collection practices is by using the Arizona Predatory Debt Collection Act (Prop 209), which limits how far debt collectors can go in collecting medical debt. The provisions accomplished the following:

• Increased homestead exemption to $400,000
• Protected personal assets increased to $5,000 for bank accounts, $15,000 and $25,000 (for disabled drivers) for vehicle value, and $15,000 for household goods. These figures were also adjustable depending on the inflation rate.
• Put a limit for medical debt interest rate at 3%
• Decreased wage garnishment by 10%

These new adjustments were meant to prevent Arizona residents from undergoing devastating financial situations that could leave them hopeless and homeless due to emergency medical debt.

If a debt collector in Arizona has violated the FDCPA or Predatory Debt Collection Act, report them at the attorney general's office using the following numbers, Phoenix: 602-542-5763,

Tucson: 520-626-6504, and outside Phoenix or Tucson: 800-352-8431. You can escalate the matter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on their website or call 877-382-4357 and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) online or call 855-411-2372.

Find debt relief in Arizona

If you have an outstanding debt weighing you down in Arizona, you are not alone. According to Experian consumer debt statistics for 2023-2024, the average resident has a debt of $115,963. Consumers have difficulty paying their account balances, and debt relief could be a viable option to help manage their debt situation. The following are three main strategies to get debt relief in Arizona, each of which have proven to help borrowers bring down their debt to a manageable level and eventually pay it off.

• Snowball method: The snowball strategy entails paying off your smallest debt first as you make minimum payments on your other higher debts. Making the minimum payments ensures you are not flagged as having defaulted. After you clear the smallest debt, you go to the next smallest debt as you work upwards.


• Avalanche method: The avalanche strategy requires you to pay off the debt with the highest balance or interest rate. Like the Snowball method, you still make minimum payments on the other debts. After clearing the first balance, you go to the next highest debt, and so on.


• Consolidation: If you have multiple debts that seem overwhelming to manage, consolidate them into a single debt. In this case, you take a new credit card with favorable terms and transfer your debts to it. Or take a personal loan with a better interest rate to pay off all the other debts and remain with this single loan to pay.

If you feel like you cannot do it for yourself using the above methods, sign up for a debt consolidation program where you receive guidance from professionals. Choose a reputable company that specializes in offering these services at a fee, or look for a non-profit credit counseling company.

In the program, you will be assigned a credit counselor to help you assess your financial situation and how to budget and save money to pay off your debts. Afterward, they will contact the creditor to negotiate for a lowered debt amount, reduced interest rate, or waive the late fee charges. Once they get a reasonable deal, the company will make the debt payments on your behalf until you clear the debt.

Another debt relief option is debt settlement. In this method, you approach the creditors and ask for a settlement offer that will permit you to settle the debt for less than you owe. However, some debt settlement companies ask you to stop making payments and enter into default.

After you default for a while, they will reach out to the creditor, stating that you have difficulty paying the debt and that they should consider reducing your payable debt amount. While this method works for some consumers, others have reported being in a worse situation than before. Their credit score plummeted, and their debt increased due to penalties.

Be careful when choosing which debt settlement company to work with. For instance, SoloSuit doesn't ask you to stop making payments. In fact, you control the negotiation process but under the watchful eye of our debt specialists. Learn more about it in the following video.

Check the status of your Arizona court case

Arizona allows you to check the status of your case in the Arizona Public Record Law Court. Certain cases, such as mental health, juvenile delinquency, and probate proceedings, are confidential. Information on victims and witnesses to cases is also not available to the public. Before you access your court case, you must know the three court levels and where your case falls.

• Limited Jurisdiction at Level 1: The courts included here are the municipal or city courts and the Justice of Peace Courts (debt collection cases belong here).
• General Jurisdiction at Level 2: The Superior Court of Arizona, which is a Trial Court, falls under this level. It has statewide jurisdiction, unlike level one, which has limited local jurisdiction.
• Jurisdiction on appeal at Level 3: The highest courts at this level are the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court. Small claims cases rarely get to this level.

To find your court case in Arizona, you must know which courthouse (under the Justice of Peace Courts) the debt collector filed your case. You will find the name at the top end of your Summons letter. If not, use the case number to find the exact case file and status.

The case number indicates the year of filing, the Judicial office, and the Judicial officer assigned to it. An example of a case number is CV 2:17cv00010. The CV denotes the overall case type. The small CV further shows it is a civil case, 17 is the year, and 00010 is the number of cases so far in that court for that period.

Access your Arizona court case online

To access your case, go to the Arizona Judicial Branch website. It has a Public Access to Court Information tool that connects you to the court records for Municipal and Justice courts. If your case is in Maricopa County, you will access it using the Maricopa County case search tool that holds the county's court cases separate from the Arizona Judicial Branch platform. Search using your full name or case number.

Cases in the Superior Court are accessed through a web-based portal called eAccess. You must register and pay a monthly subscription fee to get the records. The cost you pay is determined by the number of documents you want to access monthly. For example, you can have one-time access to documents at $10 per document with no monthly fee. If not, you must pay $80 to access up to 20 documents or $200 to access 50 documents. The amount keeps increasing at every level up to $10,000 to access 5,000 documents.

Lastly, you can access court records in the Court of Appeal via the Arizona Court of Appeal website. However, public access is limited. If you want to view it without making a copy, you will do so physically at the Clerk’s office viewing room. But if you require a copy, you can make the request physically at the courthouse, via email (inform@appeals.az.gov), and by mail (Send a money order or check to cover the cost).

Stop wage garnishment in Arizona

Wage Garnishment can cause your financial situation to worsen and stall your plan of becoming financially free. But do not despair yet if you are a resident of Arizona. The Arizona wage garnishment laws still protect you from experiencing a severe blow to your income.

The garnishment process starts after a creditor wins a debt collection case. Even after they win, they cannot begin garnishing your wages without notifying you and your employer. The Arizona Revised Statutes § 33-1131 states that a debt collector can only garnish the lesser of the following two amounts:

• Your disposable income exceeds 60 times the federal minimum wage ($7.25 per hour)
• 10% of your weekly disposable income

Disposable income includes earnings from your job, bonuses, commissions, and retirement plans or pensions. Fortunately, Arizona protects the income of those enrolled in a debt counseling organization recognized by the state. Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 12-1598.10(B) outlines that no creditor can garnish your wages if you are on a debt settlement or consolidation program.

Suppose you receive a wage garnishment notification and you are in this program. In that case, you can stop it by filing an objection within ten days after you receive the garnishment notice (Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 12-1598.07) and attend the hearing. It is not automatic to receive the exemption, but the judge will review your case to determine if your debt meets the requirements for being in the program and if the company is legitimate.

Stop wage garnishment before it happens

If your debt does not qualify and the garnishment order still stands, you have other options for preventing the debt collector from accessing your wages. For example, one of the best ways to prevent wage garnishment in Arizona is by offering to settle the debt.

Make sure the offer you make is relatively low because they will usually respond with a counteroffer, and you must leave yourself room to let the offer grow. SoloSettle is a tech-based tool that helps you approach the creditor with a settlement offer, ensures you use the correct language, and assists you with the legal paperwork needed after you reach a settlement deal.

Another option is to consolidate the debt (as earlier discussed), where you transfer the credit card debt to a new one or take a loan to pay off the debt and remain with a new loan with a better repayment plan and without the risk of garnishment. But you must keep up with the payments on this new debt to avoid being sued again.

If a debt collector sues you, prevent them from winning the case by responding to the lawsuit with a Debt Answer document. Sending an Answer blocks the creditor from receiving a default judgment and reduces their chances of getting a wage garnishment order. Further, the template you use to respond can make or break your case. Use a template that directs you on how to answer the allegations and also guides you on which affirmative defenses to include. A powerful Answer may force the creditor to propose a settlement deal or withdraw the case.

Are there any legal aid organizations in Arizona?

There are several organizations in the state of Arizona that offer low-cost or free legal services to those who can demonstrate financial need. If you need legal assistance and cannot afford to hire a lawyer at their standard rates, you may wish to contact one of the organizations listed below.

Community Legal Services, Inc.
https://www.clsaz.org/
(800) 852-9075
305 South 2^nd Avenue, P.O. Box 21538, Phoenix, AZ 85036-1538
Counties Served: La Paz, Maricopa, Mojave, Yavapai, Yuma

DNA-Peoples Legal Services, Inc. https://dnalegalservices.org/
(800) 789-7287
Route 12, Highway 264, P.O. Box 306, Window Rock, AZ 86515
Counties Served: Coconino and reservation areas in Apache and Navajo

Southern Arizona Legal Aid, Inc.
https://www.sazlegalaid.org/
(520) 623-9461
2343 E Broadway Blvd #200, Tucson AZ
Counties Served: Pima, Santa Cruz, Pinal, Navajo, Apache, Gila, Cochise, Graham, Greenlee

It's also worth noting that personal finance courses are available online for those who want to get their finances back on track after a debt lawsuit and there are alternatives for people facing issues like zombie debt too.

File an Answer in your local court in Arizona

Each court has special filing requirements. We've done the work to know the requirements in your local court. File an Answer into your Arizona court case. Find your local court below to get started:

• In the Parker Justice Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of La Paz
• In the South County Justice Court Precinct 2 of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Yuma
• In the West Mesa Justice Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Maricopa
• In the Superior Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Pima
• In the North Mesa Justice Court of the State of Arizona In and for Maricopa County
• In the Salome Justice Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of La Paz
• In the Superior Court of the State of Arizona In and for Cochise County
• In the Prescott Justice Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Yavapai
• In the Verde Valley Justice Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Yavapai
• In the Payson Superior Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Gila
• In the Manistee Justice Court County of Maricopa, State of Arizona
• In the Arcadia Biltmore Justice Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Maricopa
• In the Yarnell Justice Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Yavapai
• In the Superior Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Yuma
• In the San Marcos Justice Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Maricopa
• In the Santa Cruz Justice Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Santa Cruz
• In the El Centro Justice Court of the State of Arizonain and for Maricopa County
• In the Encanto Justice Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Maricopa
• In the Country Meadows Justice Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Maricopa
• In the San Tan Justice Court of the State of Arizona in and for the County of Maricopa
• In the Lake Havasu City Justice Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Mohave
• In the South Mountain Justice Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Maricopa
• In the Chinle Justice Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Apache
• In the Superior Court of the State of Arizona In and for Cochise County Division Iv, Honorable Timothy Dickerson
• In the Sierra Vista Justice Court Precinct #5 of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Cochise
• In the Payson Regional Justice Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Gila
• In the Superior Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Grahama
• In the Superior Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Mohave
• In the Kayenta Justice Court, Precinct Four of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Navajo
• In the Seligman Justice Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Yavapai
• In the Mohave County Justice Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Mohave
• In the Kingman Municipal Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Mohave
• In the Dreamy Draw Justice Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Maricopa
• In the Superior Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Apache
• In the Willcox Justice Court Precinct #4 of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Cochise
• In the Globe Regional Justice Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Gila
• In the Casa Grande Justice Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Pinal
• In the Maryvale Justice Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Maricopa
• In the Superior Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Maricopa
• In the North Valley Justice Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Maricopa
• In the West Mcdowell Justice Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Maricopa
• In the Superior Court of the State of Arizona In and for Cochise County Division I, Honorable Laura Cardinal
• In the Superior Court of the State of Arizona In and for Cochise County Division Ii, Honorable John F. Kelliher Jr.
• In the Superior Court of the State of Arizona In and for Cochise County Division Iii, Honorable David Thorn
• In the Superior Court of the State of Arizona In and for Cochise County Division V, Honorable James Conlogue
• In the Superior Court of the State of Arizona In and for Cochise County Division Vi, Honorable Terry Bannon
• In the Sierra Vista Justice Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Cochise
• In the Bowie Justice Court Precinct #6 of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Cochise
• In the Superior Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Coconino
• In the Globe Superior Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Gila
• In the Justice of the Peace #1 of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Graham
• In the Justice of the Peace #2 of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Graham
• In the Superior Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Greenlee
• In the Superior Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of La Paz
• In the Superior Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Navajo
• In the Superior Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Pinal
• In the Copper Corridor Justice Court Precinct 5 of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Pinal
• In the Superior Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Santa Cruz
• In the Bagdad Justice Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Yavapai
• In the Mayer Justice Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Yavapai
• In the Wellton Justice Court Precinct 3 of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Yuma
• In the Justice of the Peace #1 of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Yuma
• In the East Mesa Justice Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Maricopa
• In the White Tank Justice Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Maricopa
• In the Kyrene Justice Court of Arizona In and for the County of Maricopa
• In the University Lakes Justice Court Maricopa County, State of Arizona
• In the Mcdowell Mountain Justice Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Maricopa
• In the Highland Regional Justice Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Maricopa
• In the Arrowhead Justice Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Maricopa
• Hassayampa Justice Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Maricopa
• In the Desert Ridge Justice Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Maricopa
• In the Moon Valley Justice Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Maricopa
• In the Pima County Justice Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Pima
• In the Puerco (Sanders) Justice Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Apache
• In the Round Valley Justice Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Apache
• In the St. Johns Justice Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Apache
• In the Bisbee Justice Court Precinct #1 of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Cochise
• In the Douglas Justice Court Precinct #2 of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Cochise
• In the Benson Justice Court Precinct #3 of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Cochise
• In the Flagstaff Justice Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Coconino
• In the Fredonia Justice Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Coconino
• In the Page Justice Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Coconino
• In the Williams Justice Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Coconino
• In the Justice of the Peace #1 of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Greenlee
• In the Justice of the Peace #2 of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Greenlee
• In the Quartzsite Justice Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of La Paz
• In the Agua Fria Justice Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Maricopa
• In the Holbrook Justice Court, Precinct One of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Navajo
• In the Winslow Justice Court, Precinct Two of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Navajo
• In the Snowflake Justice Court, Precinct Three of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Navajo
• In the Show Low Justice Court, Precinct Five of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Navajo
• In the Pinetop Lakeside Justice Court, Precinct Six of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Navajo
• In the Pioneer Justice Court Precinct 1 of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Pinal
• In the Central Pinal Justice Court Precinct 3 of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Pinal
• In the Apache Junction Justice Court Precinct 6 of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Pinal
• In the Green Valley Justice Court Pima County, State of Arizona
• In the Ironwood Justice Court, Maricopa County, State of Arizona
• In the Superior Court of the State of Arizonia In and for the County of Yavapai
• In the Superior Court of the State of Arizona in and for the County of Maricopa
• In the Superior Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Yavapai
• In the Kingman/cerbat Justice Court Of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Mohave
• In the Bullhead City Justice Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Mohave
• In the Superior Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Mohave Lake Havasu
• In the Superior Court of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Mohave Bullhead City
• In the Western Pinal Justice Court Precinct 4 of the State of Arizona In and for the County of Pinal
• In the Highland Justice Court County of Maricopa, State of Arizona
• In the Highland Justice Court County of Maricopa, State of Arizona
• In the West Mesa Justice Court Maricopa County State of Arizona

Recap: How to Answer a Summons for debt collection in Arizona

Complete the Arizona Answer form and file it within 20 days of receipt of your Summons and Complaint. Ensure that you:

• Answer each issue/ paragraph on your Complaint
• Assert your affirmative defenses
• File your Answer with the court and send a copy to the plaintiff

You can use SoloSuit to streamline the process and submit your paperwork to the court.

FAQs on Arizona debt collection

What is a Justice of the Peace Court?

A Justice of the Peace Court is a limited-jurisdiction court in Arizona that handles small claims up to $3500, civil lawsuits below $10,000, protective orders, and misdemeanor crimes. These courts are created based on geography and population and named according to location, feature, or historical presence. Civil lawsuits include consumer complaints, collection cases, negligence actions, eviction actions, and breach of contract cases.

Unlike other cases, small claims proceedings are usually informal and do not require an attorney's presence. Unfortunately, there’s a limited option to appeal a small claims decision after a hearing in this court.

The Justice of Peace Court is served by a Constable elected for a four-year term. This individual executes decisions, serves paperwork, and performs other court duties. They are assisted by one or more court clerks who help them organize the court records and perform other clerical work.

How does small claims court work in Arizona?

Small claims court in Arizona is a division in the Justice Court that allows for speedy, inexpensive, and informal ways of settling minor cases. It handles cases where the amount to make amends does not exceed $3,500. The amount does not include filing costs and interest. Creditors often file a case in this court because it has limited expenses, and they give the debtor limited options to appeal. Once the court decides, it is often the final decision without further appeal.

According to A.R.S. § 22-202, a creditor can only file a case against a consumer in their county. During the hearing, the debt collector hopes you will not come with representation, which they believe will make it easy for them to win the case. To beat the orders during the proceedings, you must respond to the lawsuit with a powerful Answer document that clearly outlines your affirmative defenses and why you should not pay the debt.

How do you vacate a default judgment in a debt lawsuit?

Vacating a default judgment requires you to make a formal request to the court asking them to cancel the decision. This request is called a motion to vacate judgment. To get the judgment overturned, you must give a strong reason why you failed to attend the hearing. Some reasons that may be considered are: you did not get proper notice, the debt information is wrong, the lawsuit was given to the wrong person, you did not respond to the lawsuit, and you already made the payment.

How to Answer a Summons for debt collection in all 50 states

Here's a list of guides on how to respond to a debt collection lawsuit in each state:

The Ultimate 50 State Guide

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont; Vermont (Small Claims court)
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

Guides on how to resolve debt with every debt collector

Are you being sued by a debt collector? We’re making guides on how to resolve debt with each one.

• 11 Charter Communications
• AAA Collections
• Aargon Agency Inc
• Absolute Resolutions Investments LLC
• ACEI Collections
• Account Services
• Accredited Collection Services
• Accredited Collection Services
• Advanced Recovery Systems
• AES NCT
• AFNI Collections
• Alco Capital Group LLC
• Aldous and Associates
• Alliance Collections
• Alliance One
• Alliant Capital Management
• Alpha Recovery Corp
• Alltran Financial
• Alltran Health
• Alorica Inc.
• Amcol Clmbia in Court
• American Coradius International
• American Profit Recovery
• American Recovery Service
• Americollect
• AmSher Collection Services
• Apelles LLC
• AR Resources
• ARC Collections
• ARM Solutions
• Arrow Financial Services
• ARS National Services
• ARSC Debt Collectors
• ARS National Services
• ARstrat
• AscensionPoint Recovery Services
• Asset Acceptance LLC
• Asset Recovery Solutions
• Associated Credit Services
• Atlantic Credit and Finance
• Atradius Collections
• Automated Collection Services, Inc.
• Autovest LLC
• Avante USA
• Avantus
• AWA Collections
• Balekian Hayes
• Bay Area Receivables
• BCA Financial Services
• BC Services
• Benuck and Rainey
• Berlin-Wheeler
• Bluebonnet Financial LLC
• Bonneville Collections
• Bull City Financial
• Bureaus Investment Group
• Cach LLC
• Caine and Weiner
• Capio Partners
• Capital Accounts
• Capital Collections
• Capital Management Services
• CardWorks
• Carmel Financial/New Coast Direct
• Cavalry SPV I LLC
• CBCInnovis
• CBCS Collections
• CBE Group
• CBV Collections
• CCB Credit Services
• CCS Collections
• CCS Offices
• Central Mediation Services
• Central Portfolio Control
• Cerastes LLC
• Choice Recovery
• Choice Recovery Inc
• CKS Financial
• CKMS Financial
• Client Services
• CMRE Financial Services
• COAF
• Coast Professional
• Comenity Bank Debt Collection
• Commonwealth Financial
• ConServe Debt Collection
• Consumer Collection Management
• Contract Callers Inc
• Convergent Healthcare Recoveries
• Convergent Outsourcing
• Couch Conville & Blitt
• Covington Credit
• CRDT First
• Credco in Court
• Credence Resource Management
• Credit Bureau Systems
• Credit Control Corporation
• Credit Management Company
• Credit Management LP
• Credit Systems
• Credit Systems
• CSIEZPay
• CTC Debt Collector
• CVCS Debt Collection
• Cypress Financial Recoveries
• D&A Services
• Daniels, Norelli, Cecere & Tavel P.C.
• DCM Services
• Debt Recovery Solutions
• Delanor Kemper & Associates
• Department Stores National Bank
• Direct Recovery Associates
• Discover Collections
• Diversified Adjustment
• Diversified Consultants
• Diversified Recovery Bureau
• DNF Associates, LLC
• Dodeka LLC
• DRS Credit
• Dynamic Collectors
• Eagle Loan
• Eagle Accounts Group, Inc.
• Eastern Account System
• EduCap
• Ellington and Associates Collections
• Encore Capital Group
• Enerson Law
• Enerson Law LLC
• Enhanced Recovery Company
• EOS CCA
• ERC Collections
• ERSolutions
• Estate Information Services
• Equable Ascent Financial
• Everest Business Funding
• Executive Credit Management
• Faber and Brand
• Factual Data
• Falls Collection Service
• FBCS
• FCO Collections and Outsourcing
• FIA Card Services
• fin rec svc (Financial Recovery Services)
• First Federal Credit Credit Control
• First Financial Bank
• First Portfolio Ventures LLC
• First Progress
• FirstPoint Collection Resources
• Firstsource Advantage
• FMA Alliance
• FNB Omaha
• Forster & Garbus
• Franklin Collection Services
• Freedom Plus
• Freshview Solutions
• Frontline Asset
• Frost Arnett
• Fulton Friedman & Gullace LLP
• Galaxy International Purchasing, LLC
• GC Debt Collection
• GC Services
• General Revenue Corporation
• GLA Collections
• Glass Mountain Capital
• Glasser and Glasser
• Global Credit Collection Corp
• Global Trust Management
• GMAC Financing
• Golden 1 Credit Union
• Grant and Weber
• Grant Mercantile Agency
• Gulf Coast Collection Bureau
• Gurstel
• Halsted Financial Services
• Harris and Harris
• Harvard Collection
• Harvest Credit Management
• Helvey and Associates
• Hollis Cobb
• Holloway Moxley
• Hosto Buchan
• Howard Lee Schiff
• H&R Accounts
• HRRG
• Hudson & Keyse LLC?
• Hunter Warfield
• IC System
• Impact Receivables Management
• Innovative Recovery
• Integras Capital Recovery LLC
• Javitch Block
• JHPDE Finance 1 LLC
• JP Receivables Management Partners
• JPMCB card
• Kenneth Eisen and Associates
• KeyBank student loans
• Kinum
• Kirschenbaum, Phillips & Levy P.C.
• KLS Financial Services
• Kramer & Frank
• Lakeside Collection
• Lending Club
• Lincoln and Morgan Kabbage
• Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson LLP
• Lockhart Collection Agency
• LJ Ross Associates
• LTD Collections
• Malcolm S. Gerald and Associates
• Malen & Associates
• Mandarich Law Group
• Mannbracken
• Marcam Associates
• MARS Inc. Collections
• MBA Law
• MCA Management Company
• McCarthy, Burgess & Wolff
• Meade & Associates
• Medicredit
• Mercantile Adjustment Bureau
• Merchants Credit Association
• MGM Collections
• Michael J Adams PC
• Midland Funding LLC
• Mid-South Adjustment
• Monarch Recovery
• Monterey Financial
• Moss Law Firm
• Mountain Land Collections
• MRS Associates
• MRS BPO
• MSW Capital LLC
• Mullooly, Jeffrey, Rooney & Flynn
• Nathan and Nathan PC
• National Collegiate Trust
• National Credit Adjusters
• National Credit Care
• National Credit Systems
• National Enterprise Systems
• National Recovery Agency
• National Recovery Solutions
• Nationstar
• Nationwide Credit
• Nationwide Recovery Services
• Nationwide Recovery Systems
• NCEP LLC
• NCO Financial Systems Incorporated
• North American Recovery
• Northland Group
• Northstar Capital Acquisition
• Northstar Location Services
• NPAS
• NRC Collection Agency
• Oliver Adjustment Company
• Oliphant Financial, LLC
• Oportun
• P&B Capital Group
• PCB Collections Agency
• Palisades Collection LLC
• Pallida LLC
• Paragon Contracting Services
• Paragon Revenue Group
• Payday Loan Debt Collectors
• Pendrick Capital Partners
• Penn Credit
• Perdue Brandon
• Persolve LLC
• Phillips & Cohen Associates
• Phoenix Financial Services
• Pioneer Credit Recovery
• PMAB LLC
• PRA Group, Inc.
• Pressler, Felt & Warshaw LLP
• Prestige Services, Inc.
• Prince Parker and Associates
• ProCollect
• Professional Finance Company
• Progressive Management Systems
• Provest Law
• PYOD LLC
• Quaternary Collection Agency
• RAB Collection Agency
• Rash Curtis and Associates
• Radius Global SOL
• Radius Global Solutions
• Rawlings Company
• Razor Capital
• Real Time Resolutions
• Receivables Performance Management
• Regents and Associates
• Reliant Capital Solutions
• RentGrow
• Resurgent
• Resurgent Capital Services and LVNV Funding
• Revco Solutions
• Revenue Enterprises LLC
• Revenue Group
• RGS Financial, Inc.
• RMP LLC in Court
• RMP Services
• RS Clark and Associates
• RSIEH
• RSIEH
• RTR Financial Services
• Rubin & Rothman
• Salander Enterprises LLC
• Samara Portfolio Management
• SCA Collections
• Scott Parnell and Associates
• Second Round Collections
• Second Round Sub LLC
• Selip & Stylianou LLP
• Sequium Asset Solutions
• Sessoms and Rogers
• Sherman Acquisition
• Sherman Financial Group
• SIMM Associates
• Source Receivables Management
• Southern Management Systems
• Southwest Credit Group
• Spire Recovery Solutions
• SRS Company
• Stark Collection Agency
• State Collection Service
• Stenger and Stenger
• Stillman Law Office
• Summit Account Resolution
• Sunrise Credit Services
• Superlative RM Debt Collector
• Suttell and Hammer
• Synergetic Communication
• Synerprise Consulting
• The Law Office of Michael J Scott
• Trellis Company
• Troy Capital
• TRS Recovery Services
• TrueAccord
• Tulsa Teachers Credit Union
• UCB Collection
• UHG 1, LLC
• Unifin
• Unifin Debt Collector
• Unifund
• Universal Credit Services
• US Bank Collections
• USAA collections
• USCB America
• Valentine and Kebartas
• Valley Servicing
• Vance & Huffman LLC
• Van Ru Credit Corporation
• Velo Law Office
• Velocity Investments
• Viking Client Services
• Wakefield and Associates
• Waypoint Resource Group
• WCTCB
• Weinberg and Associates
• Weltman, Weinberg & Reis
• Westwood Funding
• Williams and Fudge
• Wilshire Consumer Credit
• Wolpoff & Abramson
• Worldwide Asset Purchasing
• www.AutomotiveCredit.com
• Zarzaur & Schwartz
• Zwicker & Associates

Resolve your debt with your creditor

Some creditors, banks, and lenders have an internal collections department. If they come after you for a debt, Solosuit can still help you respond and resolve the debt. Here’s a list of guides on how to resolve debt with different creditors.

• American Express; American Express – Debt Collection
• Bank of America
• Barclay
• Best Buy Credit Card
• Capital One
• Chase
• Credit One Bank
• Old Navy Credit Card
• PayPal Synchrony Card
• Regional Finance
• Retailers National Bank
• Reunion Student Loan Finance Corporation
• SYNCB/PPEXTR
• Synchrony Bank
• Synchrony Walmart Card
• Target National Bank
• Webbank
• Wells Fargo
• Can I Pay My Original Creditor Instead of a Debt Collection Agency?
• Can I Settle a Debt with the Original Creditor?

Settle your medical debt

Having a health challenge is stressful, but dealing medical debt on top of it is overwhelming. Here are some resources on how to manage medical debt.

• Am I Responsible for My Spouse's Medical Debt?
• Do I Need a Lawyer for Medical Bills?
• Do I Need a Lawyer to Fight Medical Bill Debt?
• Does Bankruptcy Clear Medical Debt?
• How Much Do Collection Agencies Pay for Medical Debt?
• How to Find Medical Debt Forgiveness Programs
• Is There a Statute of Limitations on Medical Bills?
• Medical Debt Statute of Limitations by State
• Summoned to Court for Medical Bills — What Do I Do?
• Summoned to Court for Medical Bills? What to Do Next

Guides on arbitration

If the thought of going to court stresses you out, you’re not alone. Many Americans who are sued for credit card debt utilize a Motion to Compel Arbitration to push their case out of court and into arbitration.

Below are some resources on how to use an arbitration clause to your advantage and win a debt lawsuit.

• How Arbitration Works
• How to Find an Arbitration Clause in Your Credit Agreement
• How to Make a Motion to Compel Arbitration
• How to Make a Motion to Compel Arbitration in Florida
• How to Make a Motion to Compel Arbitration Without an Attorney
• How Credit Card Arbitration Works
• Motion to Compel Arbitration in California
• Sample Motion to Compel Arbitration

Stop calls from debt collectors

Do you keep getting calls from an unknown number, only to realize that it’s a debt collector on the other line? If you’ve been called by any of the following numbers, chances are you have collectors coming after you, and we’ll tell you how to stop them.

• 1-800-390-7584
• 800-289-8004
• 800-955-6600
• 8009556600
• 877-366-0169
• 877-591-0747
• 800-278-2420
• 800-604-0064
• 800-846-6406
• 877-317-0948
• 888-899-4332
• 888-912-7925
• 202-367-9070
• 502-267-7522

Federal debt collection laws can protect you

Knowing your rights makes it easier to stand up for your rights. Below, we’ve compiled all our articles on federal debt collection laws that protect you from unfair practices.

• 15 USC 1692 Explained
• Does the Fair Credit Reporting Act Work in Florida?
• FDCPA Violations List
• How to File an FDCPA Complaint Against Your Debt Collector (Ultimate Guide)
• How to Make a Fair Debt Collection Practices Act Demand Letter
• How to Submit a Transunion Dispute
• How to Submit an Equifax Dispute
• How to Submit an Experian Dispute
• What Debt Collectors Cannot Do — FDCPA Explained
• What Does Account Information Disputed by Consumer Meets FCRA Requirements Mean?
• What does “meets FCRA requirements” mean?
• What does FCRA stand for?
• What is the Consumer Credit Protection Act