a Form of judgment; objections to form.
1 Proposed forms of judgment. Proposed forms of judgment must be served on all parties and must comply with Rule 5.1 (d) and 54(h).
2 Objections to form.
A A judgment may not be entered until 5 days after the proposed form of judgment is served, unless:
i the opposing party endorses on the judgment its approval of the judgment’s form; or
ii the court waives or shortens the 5-day notice requirement for good cause; or
iii the judgment is against a party in default.
B An opposing party not in default may file an objection to the proposed form of judgment within 5 days after it is served. If an objection is made:
i the party submitting the proposed form of judgment may reply within 5 days after the objection is served; and
ii after that time expires, the court may decide the matter with or without a hearing.
1 Written document. Except as provided in Rule 58(b)(2)(B) regarding habeas corpus proceedings, all judgments must be in writing and signed by a judge or a court commissioner duly authorized to do so.
2 Time and manner of entry.
A Generally. A judgment is not effective before entry, but a court may direct the entry of a judgment nunc pro tunc in such circumstances and on such notice as justice requires, stating the reasons on the record. A judgment, including a judgment in the form of a minute entry, is entered when the clerk files it.
B In Habeas corpus proceedings. A judgment in habeas corpus proceedings need not be signed, and is final when set forth in a minute entry that is filed.
c Notice of entry of judgment.
1 Manner of notice.
A By the clerk. Immediately upon the entry of a judgment, or the entry of a minute entry constituting a judgment, the clerk must:
i distribute notice, in the form required by Rule 58(c)(2), either electronically, by U.S. mail, or attorney drop box, to every party not in default for failing to appear; and
ii make a record of the distribution.
B By any party. In addition to the clerk’s notice under Rule 58(c)(1)(A), any party may serve notice of entry of judgment in the manner provided in Rule 5(c).
2 Form of notice. Notice of entry of judgment must be in the following form:
A a written notice of the entry of judgment;
B a minute entry; or
C a conformed copy of the file-stamped judgment.
3 Lack of notice. Lack of notice of the entry of judgment by the clerk does not affect the time to appeal or relieve or authorize the court to relieve a party from the failure to appeal within the allowed time, except as provided in Arizona Rule of Civil Appellate Procedure 9(f).
1 Procedure. A party in whose favor a verdict or judgment has been rendered may, in open court, or in a writing filed with the court, remit any part of the verdict or judgment. A remittitur announced in open court must be set forth in a minute entry.
2 Effect on execution. After remitting a portion of a judgment or verdict, a party may execute on a judgment only for the balance of the judgment or verdict after deducting the amount remitted.
3 Effect on right of appeal. The remittitur does not affect the rights of the opposing party to appeal from the judgment, and for purposes of appeal the amount of the original judgment must be considered the amount in controversy.
Promulgated by R-16-0010, effective January 1, 2017.
A proposed form of judgment must be served on all parties, and generally can't be entered until five days later, unless the opposing party endorses its approval, the court shortens the waiting period for good cause, or the judgment is against a defaulted party. A party that isn't in default can object to the proposed form within that five-day window, triggering a possible reply and, ultimately, the court's decision with or without a hearing. Judgments must be written and signed by a judge or authorized commissioner, with a narrow exception for habeas corpus proceedings, where an unsigned minute entry becomes final once filed. A judgment isn't effective until the clerk files it, though the court can direct entry nunc pro tunc — backdated to an earlier point — when justice requires it and the court states its reasons.
Once judgment is entered, the clerk must promptly distribute notice to every party that isn't in default for failing to appear, and any party may also separately serve its own notice. Notice can take the form of a written notice, a minute entry, or a conformed copy of the file-stamped judgment, but the clerk's failure to give notice doesn't extend the deadline to appeal, except as the appellate rules specifically allow. Separately, a party in whose favor a verdict or judgment was entered can voluntarily remit part of it, whether announced in open court or filed in writing; doing so limits execution to the reduced amount but doesn't affect the opposing party's right to appeal, and the full original judgment amount still counts for calculating the amount in controversy on appeal.