Up to $3,500 · 6 years to file.
A landlord who kept your deposit past the legal return deadline. In Arizona, small-claims cases for this kind of dispute are filed in the Justice Court (Small Claims Division), where you can sue for up to $3,500.
Your deadline: Arizona generally gives you 6 years from when the claim arose to file. Miss it and the court can dismiss the case no matter how clearly you're owed.
The filing fee is around $35 (About $26–$45 plus service.). Before you file, send a written demand letter and keep proof of delivery.
Source: Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 22-503; deadlines: Ariz. Rev. Stat. §§ 12-542, 12-543, 12-548. Reviewed 2026-06-17 (verify with the court clerk).
Note on deadlines: Written contract 6 yrs; oral contract 3; property damage and personal injury 2 yrs.
Suing for something else in Arizona: Arizona unpaid loan · Arizona property damage · Arizona unpaid rent · Arizona contractor dispute.
Suing for security deposit in nearby states: California ($12,500, 4 years) · Nevada ($10,000, 6 years) · New Mexico ($10,000, 6 years) · Utah ($15,000, 6 years).
General legal information, not legal advice. Rules change and vary by county and court; consult a licensed attorney or your court clerk.
Updated July 2026