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Arizona Superior Courts Superior Courts have general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases, except when jurisdiction is limited by law or exclusively assigned to another court. If no other court has jurisdiction to handle a particular case, Superior Courts have jurisdiction.
Superior Courts have original jurisdiction over civil cases including probate, estate, divorce, annulment of marriage, disputes over title and possession to real property, civil cases involving claims for $10,000 or more (exclusive of interest and costs), the legality of municipal ordinances, actions for forcible entry and detainer, proceedings in insolvency, actions to prevent or stop a nuisance, and naturalization. Superior Courts share jurisdiction with Justice of the Peace Courts for civil cases involving claims for $5,001 - $10,000, exclusive of interest and costs.
Superior Courts have exclusive jurisdiction over felony criminal cases, but preliminary hearings for felony cases can happen in lower courts. Superior Courts share jurisdiction with Justice of the Peace Courts over misdemeanors when the potential penalty does not exceed $2,500 or imprisonment for six months.
The Tax Court is a specialized panel of the Superior Court, with original jurisdiction over cases involving the legality of any tax, impost or assessment. The Tax Court may be held in any county seat, but the principal office is located at the Superior Court in Maricopa County. The Tax Court offers a simplified Small Claims procedure for cases involving most taxes where the amount in dispute is less than $5,000, and for some cases that involve disputes over the classification and value of certain types of property, including property tax disputes that concern property that has a full cash value of less than one million dollars.Arizona Justice Courts Justice Courts have limited jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases.
Criminal cases heard by Justice Courts include felony preliminary hearings, misdemeanors and criminal offenses punishable by a fine of less than $2,500 or less than six months in county jail.
Justice Courts have original jurisdiction over all civil actions that involve claims for $5,000 or less, exclusive of interest or costs. Justice Courts also handle cases involving the possession of real property, such as landlord-tenant cases, if the title or ownership of the property is not in dispute.
Justice Courts have Small Claims Court divisions that handle most civil cases when the amount in dispute is less than $2,500, exclusive of interest and costs. The Small Claims division will not handle certain types of cases, including defamation, slander, libel, class action lawsuits, specific performance, injunctive relief, disputes over the title of real property, lawsuits against the State or its employees, traffic violations and criminal cases. There is no right to a jury trial in the Small Claims Division.
Justice Courts share jurisdiction with Superior Courts over civil cases with disputes worth between $5,001 - $10,000, exclusive of interest and costs.Arizona Municipal Courts Municipal Courts have limited jurisdiction over city and town ordinance violations, including the enforcement of fines, fees and other such penalties and restitution.
Municipal Courts share jurisdiction with Justice of the Peace Courts over violations of State law committed within the limits of the city or town.Arizona Magistrate Courts Magistrate Courts have limited jurisdiction over civil ordinance violations, criminal ordinance violations, preliminary criminal hearings, Orders of Protection and Injunctions Against Harassment.
Magistrate Courts may exercise jurisdiction over certain juvenile delinquency cases, including ordinance violations. If a Magistrate is acting as a juvenile hearing officer, the Magistrate does not have jurisdiction over felony criminal charges brought against a juvenile.Arizona Court Notes Orders of Protection:
Injunctions Against Harassment and Domestic Violence Protection Orders can generally be filed in Superior Courts, Justice Courts and Magistrate Courts. If a Domestic Violence Protection Order involves pending cases for paternity, maternity, annulment or divorce, the request must be filed in Superior Court.
Tribal Courts:
Arizona has a separate Tribal Courts system, and some Tribal Court orders can be enforced in Superior Courts.
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