Only these pleadings are allowed: a complaint; an answer to a complaint; a counterclaim; an answer to a counterclaim designated as a counterclaim; an answer to a crossclaim; a third-party complaint; an answer to a third-party complaint; and, if the court orders one, a reply to an answer.
Rule 7.Pleadings allowed.
Last amended January 1, 2021 · Last verified July 1, 2026
In one sentenceRule 7 lists the only pleadings Arizona civil procedure recognizes — a complaint, an answer, a counterclaim answer, a crossclaim answer, a third-party complaint and its answer, and, if the court orders one, a reply — and allows nothing else.
Full Text of Rule 7
Amendment History
Promulgated by R-16-0010, effective January 1, 2017; amended by R-20-0006, effective January 1, 2021.
Plain-English Summary
Rule 7 is short, but it closes off a door many litigants might otherwise try to open: it names the complete list of documents that count as a pleading in an Arizona civil case, and nothing on that list may be supplemented by an unlisted filing. A complaint starts the case; an answer responds to it; a counterclaim gets its own answer, and so does a crossclaim; and a third-party complaint brings in a new party, who then answers in turn.
A reply to an answer is the one pleading that requires the court's permission — a party cannot file one because the answer raised something it wants to address. Motions, by contrast, are not pleadings at all under this rule; they follow their own format and timing requirements set out in Rule 7.1.
Frequently Asked Questions
What documents count as "pleadings" in an Arizona civil case?
Only a complaint, an answer, a counterclaim and its answer, a crossclaim answer, a third-party complaint and its answer, and, if ordered, a reply.
Can a party file a reply to an answer without being asked?
No, a reply is allowed only if the court orders one.
Is a motion considered a "pleading" under Arizona’s rules?
No, motions are governed separately by Rule 7.1, not by this rule’s list of pleadings.
Source & verification. The rule text and History are reproduced verbatim from the
official Arizona Rules of Civil Procedure (Ariz. R. Civ. P. 7). 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: pleadings allowedlist of pleadingsreply to an answer