When an order grants relief for a nonparty or may be enforced against a nonparty, the procedure for enforcing the order is the same as for a party.
Rule 71.Enforcing relief for or against a nonparty.
Last verified July 1, 2026
In one sentenceRule 71 confirms that relief granted for or against someone who isn't a party is enforced the same way as if that person were a party.
Full Text of Rule 71
Amendment History
Promulgated by R-16-0010, effective January 1, 2017.
Plain-English Summary
Court orders don't always run only between the named parties: an order might grant relief to someone outside the case, or it might need to be enforced against a nonparty who is nonetheless bound by it. Rule 71 keeps the enforcement mechanics simple in that situation by applying the same procedures used for parties, so a nonparty facing enforcement gets no less process, and a nonparty owed relief has no fewer tools, than an actual party would.
This rule doesn't expand who can be bound by or benefit from a court order; it only confirms that once relief for or against a nonparty is proper, enforcing it doesn't require some separate or novel procedure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a court order be enforced against someone who wasn't a party to the case?
If the order properly grants relief against that person, yes — Rule 71 says the same enforcement procedure used for parties applies.
Does this rule let a court bind people who had nothing to do with the case?
No. It only addresses how to enforce relief that is already properly granted for or against a nonparty; it doesn't expand who can be bound.
What procedure applies to enforce relief in favor of a nonparty?
The same procedure that would apply if that person were an actual party to the action.
Source & verification. The rule text and History are reproduced verbatim from the
official Arizona Rules of Civil Procedure (Ariz. R. Civ. P. 71). 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: nonparty enforcement rule