Rule 26.Signing Pleadings, Motions, and Other Documents; Representations to the Court; Sanctions

Part II. Pleadings and Motions · Last amended December 3, 2024 · Last verified September 4, 2026

In one sentenceRule 26 requires every filed document to be signed, makes the signature a certification that the filing is not improper and has legal and factual support, and conditions any sanctions motion on a good faith consultation and ten days' written notice.

Full Text of Rule 26

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b) (c)

(a) Signature.

(1) Generally. Every pleading, written motion, and other document filed with the court or served must be signed by at least one attorney of record in the attorney's name, or by a party personally if the party is self-represented. The court must strike an unsigned document unless the omission is promptly corrected after being called to the filer's attention.

(2) Electronic Filings. ACJA § 1-901 governs how a person may sign a document filed through that person's electronic filing service provider account. “Electronic filing service provider” has the same meaning as provided in ACJA § 1-901.

(3) Signing for Another Party. A person filing a document containing more than one place for a signature, such as a stipulation, may sign on behalf of another party only if the person has actual authority to do so. The person may indicate such authority either by attaching a document confirming that authority and containing the signatures of the other persons who have authority to consent for such parties, or, after obtaining a party's consent, by inserting “/s/ [the other party's or person's name] with permission” as any non-filing party's signature.

(b) Representations to the Court. By signing a pleading, motion, or other document, the attorney or party certifies that to the best of the person's knowledge, information, and belief formed after reasonable inquiry:

(1) it is not being presented for any improper purpose, such as to harass, cause unnecessary delay, or needlessly increase the cost of litigation;

(2) the claims, defenses, and other legal contentions are warranted by existing law or by a non-frivolous argument for extending, modifying, or reversing existing law or for establishing new law;

(3) the factual contentions have evidentiary support or, if specifically so identified, will likely have evidentiary support after a reasonable opportunity for further investigation or discovery; and

(4) the denials of factual contentions are warranted on the evidence or, if specifically so identified, are reasonably based on belief or a lack of information.

(1) Generally. If a pleading, motion, or other document is signed in violation of this rule, the court--on motion or on its own-- may impose on the person who signed it, a represented party, or both, an appropriate sanction, which may include an order to pay to the other party or parties the amount of the reasonable expenses incurred because of the filing of the document, including a reasonable attorney fee.

(2) Consultation. Before filing a motion for sanctions under this rule, the moving party must:

(A) attempt to resolve the matter by good faith consultation as provided in Rule 9(c); and

(B) if the matter is not satisfactorily resolved by consultation, provide the opposing party with written notice of the specific conduct that allegedly violates section (b). If the opposing party does not withdraw or appropriately correct the alleged violation(s) within 10 days after the written notice is served, the moving party may file a motion under subpart (c)(3).

(3) Motion for Sanctions. A motion for sanctions under this rule must:

(A) be made separately from any other motion;

(B) describe the specific conduct that allegedly violates section (b);

(D) attach a copy of the written notice provided to the opposing party under subpart (c)(2)(B).

End

Rule History

Added Aug. 30, 2018, effective Jan. 1, 2019. Amended Aug. 24, 2023, effective Jan. 1, 2024; amended on an emergency basis, effective Aug. 22, 2024, permanently adopted effective Dec. 3, 2024.

Plain-English Summary

Rule 26 is Arizona family court's signature-and-sanctions rule. It has three parts: who signs, what the signature certifies, and what a party must do before asking the court to punish a violation.

Signature

Every pleading, written motion and other document filed or served must be signed by at least one attorney of record, or personally by a self-represented party. An unsigned document must be struck unless the omission is promptly corrected once it is pointed out. Electronic signatures are governed by ACJA section 1-901.

Subpart (a)(3) addresses a practical problem: signing for someone else on a stipulation. A person may do so only with actual authority, shown either by attaching a document confirming it or, with consent, by inserting the other party's name followed by with permission as that party's signature.

What the signature certifies

By signing, the attorney or party certifies -- after reasonable inquiry -- that the filing is not for an improper purpose such as harassment, delay, or needlessly increasing cost; that the legal contentions are warranted by existing law or a non-frivolous argument to change it; that the factual contentions have evidentiary support, or are identified as likely to have it after further investigation or discovery; and that denials are warranted on the evidence or are identified as based on belief or lack of information.

The two-step gate before a sanctions motion

This is the part that catches practitioners. Before filing, the moving party must first attempt to resolve the matter by a Rule 9(c) good faith consultation. If that fails, the party must then give the opponent written notice of the specific conduct said to violate section (b). Only if the opponent fails to withdraw or correct within 10 days after that notice is served may the motion be filed.

The motion itself must be made separately from any other motion, describe the specific conduct, carry a Rule 9(c) good faith consultation certificate, and attach a copy of the written notice. The court may also act on its own.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I file something without signing it?

Rule 26(a)(1) says the court must strike an unsigned document unless the omission is promptly corrected after being called to the filer's attention.

Can I sign a stipulation on behalf of the other party?

Only with actual authority. Rule 26(a)(3) lets a filer indicate that authority either by attaching a document confirming it or, after obtaining consent, by inserting the other person's name followed by the words with permission as that party's signature.

What must I do before filing a motion for sanctions?

Two things, in order. Rule 26(c)(2) requires an attempt to resolve the matter by good faith consultation under Rule 9(c), and then written notice of the specific conduct alleged to violate section (b). The motion may be filed only if the violation is not withdrawn or corrected within 10 days after that notice is served.

Can a sanctions motion be combined with other requests?

No. Rule 26(c)(3)(A) requires the motion to be made separately from any other motion. It must also describe the specific conduct, carry a Rule 9(c) certificate, and attach the written notice.

Can the court impose sanctions without anyone asking?

Yes. Rule 26(c)(1) allows the court to act on motion or on its own, and to sanction the person who signed the document, a represented party, or both.

What can a sanction include?

Rule 26(c)(1) says an appropriate sanction may include an order to pay the other party the reasonable expenses incurred because of the filing, including a reasonable attorney fee.

Source & verification. Rule text and Rule History reproduced verbatim from the Arizona Rules of Family Law Procedure as published by the Arizona Supreme Court, current through amendments effective January 1, 2026. Promulgated by the Supreme Court of Arizona (Ariz. Const. art. 6, § 5). Last verified September 4, 2026. · Official text

Also known as: signaturesigning pleadingssanctionscertificationimproper purposesafe harbor10 days noticewith permissionelectronic signaturefrivolous filing