a A party’s failure to act; ordering another to act. If a judgment requires a party to convey land, to deliver a deed or other document, or to perform any other specific act and the party fails to comply within the time specified, the court may order the act to be done—at the disobedient party’s expense—by another person appointed by the court. When done, the act has the same effect as if done by the party.
Rule 70.Enforcing a judgment for a specific act.
Last verified July 1, 2026
In one sentenceRule 70 lets a court enforce a judgment that requires a party to perform a specific act, from having someone else do the act to vesting title directly or holding the disobedient party in contempt.
Full Text of Rule 70
b Vesting title. If the real or personal property is within Arizona, the court—instead of ordering a conveyance—may enter a judgment divesting any party’s title and vesting it in others. That judgment has the effect of a legally executed conveyance.
c Obtaining a writ of attachment or sequestration. On application by a party entitled to performance of an act, the clerk must issue a writ of attachment or sequestration against the disobedient party’s property to compel obedience.
d Obtaining a writ of execution or assistance. On application by a party who obtains a judgment or order for possession, the clerk must issue a writ of execution or assistance.
e Contempt. The court also may hold the disobedient party in contempt.
Amendment History
Promulgated by R-16-0010, effective January 1, 2017.
Plain-English Summary
If a judgment orders a party to convey land, deliver a deed or other document, or perform some other specific act, and that party fails to comply in the time allowed, the court can have another court-appointed person perform the act instead, at the disobedient party's expense, and the result counts the same as if the original party had done it. When the property is located in Arizona, the court has an even more direct option: instead of ordering someone to execute a conveyance, it can enter a judgment that divests the noncomplying party's title and vests it in whoever is entitled to it, and that judgment operates just like a properly executed conveyance.
To help enforce a judgment for a specific act, the clerk must issue a writ of attachment or sequestration against the disobedient party's property on request, and must issue a writ of execution or assistance for a party who has obtained a judgment for possession. On top of these mechanisms, the court retains the option of holding the disobedient party in contempt.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if someone refuses to comply with a judgment ordering them to convey property?
The court can have another court-appointed person perform the act at the disobedient party's expense, or, for Arizona property, enter a judgment vesting title directly in the party entitled to it.
Does a court-ordered conveyance need to be separately executed by the disobedient party?
No, when the property is in Arizona. The court's judgment vesting title has the same effect as a legally executed conveyance.
Can the court hold someone in contempt for failing to perform a specific act ordered by judgment?
Yes. Contempt remains available in addition to the other enforcement mechanisms in this rule.
Source & verification. The rule text and History are reproduced verbatim from the
official Arizona Rules of Civil Procedure (Ariz. R. Civ. P. 70). 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: enforcing judgment for specific act rule