The Arizona Civ Pro Pass
The Arizona civil-procedure traps that decide cases before the merits do — each with its rule and the surface that handles it. This is the checklist an attorney runs; running it is your choice.
Twenty days — with the under-11-day twist waiting
Ariz. R. Civ. P. 12(a); 6(a)The answer is due 20 days after service — and Arizona's computation rule excludes intermediate weekends and holidays ONLY for periods under 11 days, a threshold no other state uses. The served flow computes it for you.
Handle it →Silence admits — twice
Ariz. R. Civ. P. 8(b)(6); 36An allegation not denied in a required responsive pleading is ADMITTED (8(b)(6)) — and a request for admission is admitted unless answered within 30 days (defendants get the rule's own 60-day alternative). Two silence traps, one discipline.
Handle it →The 12(g)/(h) omission
Ariz. R. Civ. P. 12(g), (h)One Rule 12 motion — everything available in it. A threshold defense (personal jurisdiction, venue, process, service) omitted from the first motion or responsive pleading is waived.
Handle it →The 180-day government notice
A.R.S. § 12-821.01A claim against a public entity or employee dies at 180 days unless the notice of claim is FILED — with facts sufficient to evaluate AND a specific settlement amount. The one-year § 12-821 bar runs behind it.
Handle it →The tier caps come BEFORE your discovery plan
Ariz. R. Civ. P. 26.2Every case is deemed-assigned to a tier that caps depositions, interrogatories, requests, and the clock — per side. Aggression is budgeted by rule; the only doors past the caps are 26.2(g)'s own.
Handle it →Disclosure is a duty, not a request
Ariz. R. Civ. P. 26.1The Zlaket disclosure statement — facts, theories, witnesses, experts, damages computations, documents, insurance — is owed WITHOUT being asked, and the duty is continuing. An incomplete disclosure is its own sanctions lane.
Handle it →The 270-day Dismissal Calendar
Ariz. R. Civ. P. 38.1(d)The clerk MUST place an inactive case on the Dismissal Calendar once 270 days pass from commencement — the machine runs whether anyone is watching or not.
Handle it →The med-mal certification
A.R.S. § 12-2603The preliminary expert-opinion certification rides WITH the claim in medical-malpractice actions — a pleading-stage obligation the statute enforces.
Handle it →The savings statute saves less than you think
A.R.S. § 12-504Six months to refile after a qualifying termination — but abatement, court-ordered voluntary dismissal, and dismissal for lack of prosecution get only DISCRETIONARY saving. Pair it with the Dismissal Calendar and the trap closes.
Handle it →Fee sanctions are MANDATORY
A.R.S. § 12-349; Ariz. R. Civ. P. 11For claims without substantial justification the court SHALL assess fees and expenses (double damages up to $5,000 behind them) — and Rule 11 requires unsigned documents to be STRUCK. The signing stakes are Arizona-sized.
Handle it →