a Generally. A party asserting a claim, counterclaim, crossclaim, or third-party claim may join, as independent or alternative claims, as many claims as it has against an opposing party.
Rule 18.Joinder of claims.
Last verified July 1, 2026
In one sentenceRule 18 lets a party join as many claims as it has against an opposing party in a single action, whether the claims are independent or alternative, and lets a party pair a money claim with a claim to set aside a fraudulent conveyance without first winning a judgment on the money claim.
Full Text of Rule 18
b Joinder of contingent claims. A party may join two claims even though one of them is contingent on the disposition of the other; but the court may grant relief only in accordance with the parties’ relative substantive rights. In particular, a party may state a claim for money and a claim to set aside a conveyance that is fraudulent as to that party, without first obtaining a judgment for the money.
Amendment History
Promulgated by R-16-0010, effective January 1, 2017.
Plain-English Summary
Rule 18 removes any limit on how many claims a party can bring against an opposing party in one lawsuit. A plaintiff, or a party asserting a counterclaim, crossclaim, or third-party claim, can combine as many claims as it has, whether they stand independently of each other or offer alternative theories of recovery.
The rule also confirms that a party can join two claims even when one depends on how the other turns out, though the court can only grant relief consistent with each side’s actual rights. Its own example makes the point concrete: a party can combine a claim for money owed with a claim to unwind a fraudulent transfer, without first getting a judgment on the money claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many claims can a party bring against an opposing party in one lawsuit?
As many as it has, joined as independent or alternative claims.
Does joining a contingent claim change what relief a court can award?
No, the court is still limited to relief consistent with the parties’ actual substantive rights.
Can a party combine a claim for money owed with a claim to set aside a fraudulent transfer?
Yes, without first obtaining a judgment on the money claim.
Source & verification. The rule text and History are reproduced verbatim from the
official Arizona Rules of Civil Procedure (Ariz. R. Civ. P. 18). Prescribed by the Supreme Court of Arizona (Ariz. Const. art. 6, § 5). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 1, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: joinder of claimspermissive joindercontingent claims