This guide can give you a place to start your research when you have won a monetary judgment against another party in Superior or Justice court.

“Defendant” refers to the person or entity against whom a criminal or civil case is filed. Some states use the term respondent instead of defendant in divorce and family law cases. Nolo.com

“Garnishment” refers to a court-ordered procedure for taking money or property from someone to satisfy a debt. For example, a debtor's wages might be garnished to pay child support, back taxes, or a lawsuit judgment. Nolo.com

“Judgment” refers to a final court ruling resolving the key questions in a lawsuit and determining the rights and obligations of the parties. For example, after a trial involving a vehicle accident, a court will issue a judgment stating which party was at fault and how much money that party must pay the other. (See also: decree) Nolo.com

“Judgment Creditor” refers to a person or entity that has a money judgment or an order for support of a person that is due and unpaid or an order pursuant to chapter 14 of this title allowing him to garnish monies, personal property or shares of stock before final judgment on the underlying action. ARS §12-1570(4)

“Judgment Debt” refers to a debt that arises out of a judgment in a lawsuit. Nolo.com

"Judgment Debtor" refers to a person or entity against which a money judgment has been awarded or against which an order for support of a person is due and unpaid or against which an order pursuant to chapter 14 of this title (ARS §§12-2401-12-2412) has been entered. ARS §12-1570(5)

“Lawsuit” refers to a legal action by one person or entity against another person or entity, to be decided in a court of law. It can also refer to the complaint or petition that begins a court case. Nolo.com

“Plaintiff” refers to the person, corporation, or other legal entity that initiates a lawsuit seeking damages, enforcement of a contract, or a court determination of rights. In certain states and for some types of lawsuits, the term petitioner is used instead of plaintiff. Nolo.com

Arizona Revised Statutes §§ 12-1551 through 12-156: These statutes govern the execution of judgments.

Arizona Revised Statutes §§ 12-1570 through 12-1598.17: These statutes govern the garnishment of earnings or non-earnings.

Arizona Revised Statutes §§ 22-241 through 22-247: These statutes govern judgments and executions for civil proceedings in Justice Courts.

Arizona Revised Statutes §§ 28-4071 through 28-4088: These statutes govern vehicle insurance and financial responsibility, including non-payments of court judgments.

Arizona Revised Statutes §§ 33-961 through 33-968: These statutes govern judgment liens on real property.

There are three statutes that allow a Sheriff’s deputy or Constable to require a bond when executing a writ. If a Sheriff’s deputy or Constable determines that there is property to be levied upon or the plaintiff has identified property to be levied upon, then the Sheriff’s deputy or Constable will require a bond of indemnity from the plaintiff on these writs of execution. 

  • Title 12 - Article 2 Attachment, ARS 12-1529: Execution of writ; indemnity bond for attaching officer. 
  • Title 12 - Article 3 Execution of Judgments, ARS 12-1564: Indemnification of officer for levy; recovery of costs.
  • Title 12 - Article 12 Replevin, ARS 12-1303: Bond; amount and conditions.

Per ARS 12-1611 and 12-1612, A Judgment is active for 10 years, however you may renew your judgment for an additional 10 years BEFORE THE EXPIRATION of the Judgment and renew every 10 years thereafter.

Within 90 days of the expiration of Judgment you can renew:

  • File Affidavit of Renewal of Judgment. Fee applies.
  • The Court will mail you a Notice of Renewal of Judgment with a NEW expiration date.
  • You may renew a judgment multiple times but be aware of the expiration renewal date. If you renew again, it must be from this date.

Superior Court Affidavit of Renewal of Judgment form: You may email the Superior Court of Maricopa County Law Library Resource Center at services@jbazmc.maricopa.gov for a template of an Affidavit of Renewal of Judgment form that you may use as a guide to create your own form that is usable in the Superior Court. This form may be found in the Arizona Legal Forms, Civil Procedure, Rule 69, Form 2.  The book is available online at any of the Law Library Resource Centers on Westlaw or in print at our downtown location only.

You may use the Civil Dept. pleading/motion to draft your own form: https://superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/media/n30m54ah/gn10fz.pdf En Español aquí


Justice Court Affidavit of Renewal of Judgment form: Click on the “Civil Suit” menu to find the form titled "Affidavit to Renew a Judgment." It is only usable for Justice Court cases.

Judgment Debtor Exam: This Supplemental Proceeding is held to obtain information about the assets and relevant information you need to help you in collecting. You may have the Debtor appear or a person (party) who has knowledge of the Debtors assets. IF the party is personally served and a description and DOB is provided by you, the court may issue a Civil Arrest Warrant in the event of a failure to appear.

  • You complete the form, take the form to the Court and pay a fee.
  • The Court issues a Court Date and time that you are also required to attend as you will be asking the party questions who will be under oath regarding assets.
  • You must serve the person named as the Debtor by process service (this is an additional fee; you can find a process company by looking online).
  • You may want to remind your process server:
    • To make personal service upon the named person.
    • To get the person's physical description and DOB (necessary if the party fails to appear for the court to issue a Civil Warrant)


Superior Court Judgment Debtor Motion form: You may email the Superior Court of Maricopa County Law Library Resource Center at services@jbazmc.maricopa.gov for a template of a Judgment Debtor Exam Motion form that you can use as a guide to create your own form that is usable in the Superior Court. This form may be found in the Arizona Legal Forms, Civil Procedure, Chapter 19, Form 3. The book is available online at any of the Law Library Resource Centers on Westlaw or in print at our downtown location only.

You may use the Civil Department pleading/motion to draft your own form: Civil Department Pleading/Motion Form. En Español aquí


Writs of Execution: This is a process where a Constable would take non-exempt personal property from the Judgment Debtor to satisfy a judgment however, there are many exemptions to what a Constable can take. It is advisable that you contact the Constable before issuing a Writ of Execution. The Constable can better explain the exemptions.

Fee: Fees apply, plus other cost i.e. storage / auctions / advertising / misc. The Constable will inform you of additional costs. 

There are 2 types of Writs:

  • General: Where a Constable tries to collect money or property.
  • Special: Where you name specific property to be taken such as a car.

You must provide an address where the property is located - this location may be in another precinct in that case, the Constable of that precinct will be executing the writ.

You must provide a phone number where the Constable can reach you.

The Constable has 60 days to execute (work on) the writ. If there is no property to levy, the writ will be returned unsatisfied.

Superior Court Writ of Execution form: You may email the Superior Court of Maricopa County Law Library Resource Center at services@jbazmc.maricopa.gov for a template of a Writ of Execution form that you can use as a guide to create your own form that is usable in the Superior Court. This form may be found in the Arizona Legal Forms, Civil Procedure, Rule 69, Form 3 (general), and Rule 69, Form 4 (special).  The book is available online at any of the Law Library Resource Centers on Westlaw or in print at our downtown location only.  

You may use the Civil Department pleading/motion to draft your own form:  Civil Department Pleading/Motion Form. En español aquí

Justice Court Writ of Execution form: Click on the “Civil Suit” menu to find this form. It is only usable for Justice Court cases.

Suspension of License/Lien due to Tort Motor Judgment (ARS 28-4071): If the judgment is a result of a car accident you may have the Judgment Debtor’s license and registration suspended:

  • If the judgment was from the Justice Court, the Creditor must inform the Court by filing the Certificate of Judgment Status form that the judgment has not been paid. The Justice Court can give you this form if you ask them for it. You will use this form to receive a Transcript Judgment through the Superior Court.
  • The Superior Court will certify the judgment.
  • The Creditor may then take a certified copy of the transcript judgment to the Motor Vehicle Department.
  • If the judgment was from the Superior court, the Creditor may take a certified copy of their judgment to the Motor Vehicle Department. 

Property Lien: You can record the judgment with the Recorder's Office to place a lien on the Debtor’s property, however there are steps you must take before Recording:

  • You must obtain a certified copy of the judgment from the Court that issued the judgment. There is a fee for certification. If the judgment is from the Justice Court originally, you then must take the certified copy to the Superior Court Clerk of the Court.
  • Take the certified copy to the county Recorder's Office where the Judgment Debtor has real estate property. If the Judgment Debtor has property in different counties, you can record your judgment with each county. NOTE: Fees apply

Garnishment of Earnings or Non-Earnings: Use the forms on the AZCourts.gov website if you want to garnish either the Debtor’s earnings (wages) or non-earnings. If you garnish someone’s wages, their employer would be the Garnishee; if you garnish someone’s non-wages, the entity you take the funds from, such as the bank, would be the Garnishee. Note: for a bank account, if you do not know the debtor's account number the bank requires a search fee. You must know where the Debtor works and/or where the Debtor banks. En español aquí

  • Process Checklist – Bank Account/Non-Earnings Garnishment Packets: Start with the process checklist to understand how to garnish someone’s non-earnings (i.e. their bank account). This document will give you, as the judgment creditor, an overview of how the process will proceed and which documents you will need to file and when. En español aquí
  • Process Checklist - Earnings/Continuing Lien Garnishment Packets: Start with the process checklist to understand how to garnish someone’s earnings/wages. This document will give you, as the judgment creditor, an overview of how the process will proceed and which documents you will need to file and when. En español aquí
  • Motion to join a third party in a non-earnings garnishment: Use this form if:
    • You have filed a garnishment of the Defendant/Judgment Debtor’s bank account in the Maricopa County Superior Court; and
    • The bank (Garnishee) has filed its Answer which states that more than one person may have an interest in the bank account being garnished; and
    • You want the Court to join the other person who has an interest in the bank account to the garnishment so that the Court can determine what money in the bank account belongs to the Defendant/Judgment Debtor. En español aquí

These resources are available at the downtown Phoenix location, and online when indicated. 

Arizona Supreme Court. “Civil Trial Process.” AZcourts.gov. 2022

Arizona Supreme Court. “Small Claims Flowchart.” AZcourts.gov. 2022.

Maricopa County Bar Association. “Arizona litigation guide.” The Law Firm of Fennemore Craig. -- 3rd ed. -- [Phoenix, AZ]: Maricopa County Bar Association, c2020.

McAuliffe, Daniel J. “Civil procedure: AZ Legal Forms”. KFA2468 .A75 2024 ed. Also available on Westlaw.

McAuliffe, Shirley J. “AZ Practice Series: AZ Civil Trial Practice”. KFA 2938 .S64 2024 ed. Also available on Westlaw.

Nebeker, William A., Nebeker, William A., Seamons, Quinton F. “Litigating the class action lawsuit in Arizona.” Eau Claire, Wis.: National Business Institute, 2005. Also available online on NCLC database.

Superior Court of Maricopa County. “Arbitration Case Flow Chart.” 2022.

Superior Court of Maricopa County. “Civil Non-Arbitration Case Flow Chart.” 2022.

This information is provided by the Law Library Resource Center of the Superior Court of Arizona in Maricopa County.

Contact a Reference Librarian

Contact the Law Library Resource Center

Last update: 9/11/2024

Disclaimer: The information provided in these guides is for research purposes only. We do not provide legal advice. For legal advice, please speak to an attorney. These guides are reviewed and updated periodically. The most recent revision date is on the guide. There may be more current information available. These guides are intended as a starting point only and do not include all information or materials related to the topic.