In one sentenceRule 22 lets someone holding money or property claimed by two or more people join all the rival claimants in a single action, whether asserted by a plaintiff or a defendant, even when the claims do not share a common origin, and lets the court release that party from liability once it deposits the money or delivers the property as directed.
1Generally. Interpleader is a procedure where one holding money or property subject to adverse claims may seek to avoid multiple liability by joining in a single action anyone who asserts or may assert claims to the money or property.
2By a plaintiff. A plaintiff may join as a defendant anyone who asserts or may assert a claim to the money or property.
3By a defendant. A defendant may seek interpleader through a crossclaim or counterclaim.
4Propriety of interpleader. Interpleader is proper even though:
Athe claims, or the titles on which the claims depend, do not have a common origin or are adverse and independent rather than identical; or
Bthe party requesting interpleader denies liability in whole or in part to any or all of the claimants.
bRelease from liability upon deposit or delivery. A party requesting interpleader under Rule 22(a) may move the court for an order discharging that party from liability to the claimants. The court may discharge the party upon:
1the party’s deposit in court of the money claimed; or
2the party’s delivery of the property as the court directs.
cRelation to other rules. This rule supplements—and does not limit—the joinder of parties allowed by Rule 20.
Amendment History
Promulgated by R-16-0010, effective January 1, 2017.
Plain-English Summary
Interpleader solves a specific problem: a party is holding money or property that more than one person claims, and paying or delivering it to the wrong claimant risks being sued again by the others. Rule 22 lets that party join every possible claimant in one action rather than facing multiple separate lawsuits over the same fund or property. A plaintiff can use interpleader by naming every claimant as a defendant, and a defendant can raise it through a crossclaim or counterclaim.
Interpleader stays available even when the rival claims do not come from a common source, or when they are inconsistent with each other, and even if the party seeking interpleader denies owing anything to some or all of the claimants. Once interpleader is underway, the party holding the disputed money or property can ask the court for an order releasing it from further liability, which the court can grant once that party deposits the money in court or delivers the property as the court directs.
Rule 22 works alongside Rule 20’s joinder rules rather than replacing them, so a party is not limited to interpleader if ordinary joinder would work just as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of problem does interpleader solve?
Someone holding money or property claimed by multiple rival claimants can join everyone in one action to avoid facing multiple separate lawsuits over the same fund.
Can a defendant use interpleader, or only a plaintiff?
Both; a plaintiff joins claimants as defendants, and a defendant can raise interpleader through a crossclaim or counterclaim.
Do the rival claims have to come from the same source to use interpleader?
No, interpleader is available even when the claims are unrelated to each other or inconsistent with one another.
How does a party get released from liability after starting an interpleader action?
By moving the court for an order discharging it, which the court can grant once the party deposits the money in court or delivers the property as directed.
Source & verification. The rule text and History are reproduced verbatim from the
official Arizona Rules of Civil Procedure (Ariz. R. Civ. P. 22). 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:interpleaderstakeholder liabilityadverse claims to property