In one sentenceRule 9 sets heightened pleading standards for specific kinds of allegations — capacity to sue, fraud or mistake, conditions precedent, official acts, judgments, time and place, special damages, and libel or slander — layering extra detail on top of Rule 8's general pleading requirements.
1Generally. Except when required to show that the court has jurisdiction, a pleading need not allege:
Aa party’s capacity to sue or be sued;
Ba party’s authority to sue or be sued in a representative capacity; or
Cthe legal existence of an organized association of persons that is made a party.
2Raising Those Issues. To raise any of those issues, a party must do so by a specific denial, which must state any supporting facts that are peculiarly within the party’s knowledge.
bFraud or mistake; condition of the mind. In alleging fraud or mistake, a party must state with particularity the circumstances constituting fraud or mistake. Malice, intent, knowledge, and other conditions of a person’s mind may be alleged generally.
cConditions precedent. In pleading conditions precedent, it suffices to allege generally that all conditions precedent have occurred or been performed. But when denying that a condition precedent has occurred or been performed, a party must do so with particularity.
dOfficial document or act. In pleading an official document or official act, it suffices to allege that the document was legally issued or the act was legally done.
eJudgment. In pleading a judgment or decision, it suffices to plead the judgment or decision without showing that the decision maker had jurisdiction to render it.
fTime and place. An allegation of time or place is material when testing a pleading’s sufficiency.
gSpecial damages. If an item of special damage is claimed, it must be specifically stated.
hComplaint in an action for libel or slander. In an action claiming libel or slander, it suffices to allege generally that a defamatory matter pertained to the plaintiff. It is not necessary for the plaintiff to allege extrinsic facts supporting that allegation. If the defendant controverts the allegation in an answer, the plaintiff must prove it at trial.
Amendment History
Promulgated by R-16-0010, effective January 1, 2017.
Plain-English Summary
A pleading ordinarily does not need to allege a party’s capacity to sue, its authority to sue in a representative role, or the legal existence of an organization that is a party — those issues only come up if an opponent raises them through a specific denial backed by supporting facts. Fraud or mistake is different: the circumstances behind it must be stated with particularity, though a person’s state of mind, like malice, intent, or knowledge, can still be alleged generally.
Conditions precedent can be pled with a general allegation that they have all occurred or been performed, but a party denying that they occurred must be specific about which ones and why. Similarly, alleging that an official document or act was legally issued or done is enough on its own, and pleading a judgment does not require showing that the court or body that issued it had jurisdiction to do so.
Time and place allegations matter when a court tests whether a pleading is sufficient, and special damages must be spelled out specifically rather than left to inference. Libel and slander claims get their own shortcut: a general allegation that the defamatory statement concerned the plaintiff is enough unless the defendant disputes it, in which case the plaintiff must prove that connection at trial.
Frequently Asked Questions
How specifically must a party plead fraud in Arizona?
The circumstances constituting the fraud must be stated with particularity, though intent and knowledge can be alleged generally.
Does a plaintiff need to prove capacity to sue in the complaint itself?
No, capacity is presumed unless the opposing party specifically denies it with supporting facts.
What must a party do to claim special damages?
State them specifically in the pleading rather than relying on a general allegation.
What is required to plead a claim for libel or slander?
A general allegation that the defamatory statement pertained to the plaintiff is enough, unless the defendant disputes it, in which case the plaintiff must prove it at trial.
Source & verification. The rule text and History are reproduced verbatim from the
official Arizona Rules of Civil Procedure (Ariz. R. Civ. P. 9). 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:pleading special matterspleading fraud with particularityspecial damages