Arizona Court of Appeals
Brief and appendix rules we apply — State appeal, $299.
Format
- Type
- Times New Roman 14 pt, double-spaced
- Margins
- 1-inch margins
- Opening brief
- 14,000 words
- Reply brief
- 7,000 words
- What counts
- Excludes cover/caption, TOC, table of citations, date/signature block, certificates of service and compliance, appendix
- Rules
- Arizona Rules of Civil Appellate Procedure (ARCAP) — ARCAP 4(b), 14(b); ARCAP 14(a)
Parts of the brief, in order
- Caption / cover (Form 4) — Required · ARCAP 14(b)
- TABLE OF CONTENTS — Required · ARCAP 13(a)(1)
- TABLE OF CITATIONS — Required · ARCAP 13(a)(2)
- INTRODUCTION — Optional · ARCAP 13(a)(3)
- STATEMENT OF THE CASE — Required · ARCAP 13(a)(4) (incl. jurisdiction basis)
- STATEMENT OF FACTS — Required · ARCAP 13(a)(5)
- STATEMENT OF THE ISSUES — Required · ARCAP 13(a)(6)
- ARGUMENT — Required · ARCAP 13(a)(7)
- NOTICE UNDER RULE 21(a) (attorneys' fees) — If applicable · ARCAP 13(a)(8)
- CONCLUSION — Required · ARCAP 13(a)(9)
- CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE — Required · ARCAP 14(a) (Form 2)
- CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE — Required · ARCAP 5
- APPENDIX — Optional · ARCAP 13(a)(10), 13.1
Argument headings: Argument contains contentions with supporting reasons, citations to authorities and record; for each issue state standard of review with authority (ARCAP 13(a)(7)(B) as generally understood; verify)
Standard of review: Within the argument for each issue (ARCAP 13(a)(7))
Record citations: Cite the record index item number, exhibit, or certified transcript page (e.g., IR 12; R.T. 3/4/25 at 56); audio/video by time-code (ARCAP 13(d))
Appendix
Optional. Pages are numbered like APP12. (ARCAP 13.1)
- table of contents (identifying record location by index item / transcript date / exhibit and appendix page)
- decision, judgment, findings and conclusions
- other record items cited
- relevant constitutional/statutory provisions
Allowed in Supreme Court and Division One; Division Two uses electronic links to the record instead (per 2015 text; verify current)
Certificates
- Compliance: Certify brief uses proportionately spaced 14-pt typeface, is double-spaced, and states word count not exceeding limit (Form 2)
- Service: Certificate of service stating date and manner of service on each party
Good to know
- ARCAP 13 amended effective Jan 1, 2026
- Preferred fonts: Times New Roman, Bookman, Garamond, Book Antiqua (ARCAP 4(b))
- Amicus briefs 12,000 words
- Paper briefs (if permitted) bound without adhesives (ARCAP 14(c))
- Criminal appeals governed by Ariz. R. Crim. P. 31 (limits not captured here)
Filing: AZTurboCourt e-filing (mandatory for attorneys); text-searchable PDF with bookmarks per ARCAP 4.2/13(a)(1)
Questions
What font and spacing does the Arizona Court of Appeals require for briefs?
Times New Roman 14 pt, double-spaced; 1-inch margins (ARCAP 4(b), 14(b)).
How long can an opening brief be in the Arizona Court of Appeals?
14,000 words (ARCAP 14(a)). Reply brief: 7,000 words.
What goes in the appendix?
Appendix: table of contents (identifying record location by index item / transcript date / exhibit and appendix page); decision, judgment, findings and conclusions; other record items cited; relevant constitutional/statutory provisions.