Superior Court >Civil Department How Do I... ? How do I obtain a change of name?

• For a minor?
• For an adult without children?
• For an adult with a minor child?
• For a family?

See: Self-Service Center How do I know which court to file my case? Justice court cases would be for monetary cases under $9,999.00.
Justice courts cannot rule on real property issues, for all other cases that Justice Courts accept, please see Justice Courts Superior court cases would include monetary cases over $10,000, for all other cases that Superior Court accepts, please see the links below:
http://www.supreme.state.az.us/rules
http://www.clerkofcourt.maricopa.gov How do I know who will hear my case once it is filed? Commissioners preside over the following:

• Judgment Debtor Exams
• Changes of Names
• Forcible Detainers
• Garnishments
• Defaults
• Injunctions Against Harassment
• Orders of Continuing Lien

Judges will hear (but are not limited to) the following:

• Temporary Restraining Orders
• Orders to Show Cause
• Pretrial Conferences
• Trials
• Any dispositive motions, such as but not limited to, summary judgments, placement on the inactive calendar, motions to dismiss http://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/docket/index.asp

How do I know which Judge will hear my case? See the Case Information Page click on Civil Cases, and In the upper right hand corner, under JO, the Judicial Officer will be visible http://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/docket/index.asp How do I serve the defendant? An officer of the Court is the only one who can serve a defendant in a Superior Court case, these are licensed process servers or employees of the Sheriff’s office. How do I know what to do after I have been served in a Superior Court case? Once a party is served if you are a corporation, you must seek legal counsel, if you are acting as an individual, you may seek legal counsel or check the Arizona Rules of Court as to how to proceed with your case. You must appear and defend within 20 days (in state) and 30 days (out of state). http://www.supreme.state.az.us/rules How do I know the difference between Alternative Dispute Resolution and Arbitration?

• Alternative Dispute Resolution is for settlement conferences and short trials held. For more information related to these or other ADR processes, please click on the following: Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Arbitration is a process conducted by attorneys active with the Arizona State Bar for 4 years or more, in which they hear evidence and decide cases under $50,000 money matters only.

How do I know how my case will proceed through the system? Click on the Arbitration and Non-Arbitration flowcharts, (depending if an arbitrator has been appointed to your case.) Please remember that all cases have different issues and are subject to the Judicial Officer’s discretion.
Arbitration Flowchart
Non-Arbitration flowchart How do I know what some of these legal terms mean? Please see the Glossary of Common Terms.