General Information
The information on this page applies to the Manistee Justice Court.
The intent is to provide seamless customer service for the most frequently asked questions. When appropriate, this page will refer you to the proper links on the rest of our web site.
All information can be confirmed by calling the court.
IMPORTANT: Bailiffs and clerks are not permitted to offer you any advice. This includes which form to use. Please seek proper legal guidance for any questions not answered here.
Address:
Justice of the Peace Donald Watts
Manistee Justice Court
14264 W. Tierra Buena Lane
Surprise, AZ 85374
Email:
ManisteeJusticeCourt@jbazmc.maricopa.gov
Important: Put the case number in the subject line.
It is your responsibility to confirm with staff that your email and attachments/exhibits have been received.
Numbers:
P:
F:
Hours:
Monday through Friday
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Closed weekends and holidays
All requests for a garnishment hearing will be granted.
Please note that this hearing is ONLY for the judge to consider a reduction of the percentage of the amount taken from your paycheck. The law allows for a reduction from 25% to 15%.
The plaintiff may agree (stipulate) to the reduction or ask for documentation to show why this is a hardship. You should be prepared to provide documentation in either event.
The Judge will make the final determination.
Important: In this hearing the judge will not hear evidence to set aside or vacate the judgment. Please make a proper motion for this.
TENANT/DEFENDANT INFORMATION:
When an eviction is filed against you, you may pay the amount due before the case comes in front of the judge. The case will then be dismissed and sealed from appearing on your record.
The case will be heard virtually; you do not have to come to the courthouse.
You may file an answer at no charge. Counterclaims have a fee. Please file your documents by the day before your case will be heard, either by email or via the dropbox marked "Justice Courts" outside the front door.
If the judge rules for the landlord, you will likely have five days to vacate the property.
LANDLORD/PLANTIFF INFORMATION:
Listed below is the minimum documentation that is required to file a case. The judge may ask for additional information depending on the circumstances:
- Notice (5 day, 10 day, 30 day, etc.),
- Summons, Complaint, REIS
- A completed proposed judgment using this form. You must use complete numbers (example: $429.00, not 429).
- Declaration of service from a process server that lists all documents served
- Lease (not required filed in court, but must be given to the tenant)
- Ledger (not required filed in court, but must be given to the tenant)
Failure to provide ALL of these documents at a minimum, the day BEFORE your hearing will result in your case being continued or dismissed. Manistee is considered a high volume court and does not have the ability to process your forms when they are submitted the day of your hearing. If the defendant is not present, the plaintiff shall have the defendant served again. A process server will most likely charge for this second service.
Arizona Landlord Tenant Act
Please refer to your notice of court date to determine if you are to appear in person or by video. If you do not see that information please contact the court 48 hours before your hearing/trial.
Interpreters:
If you need an interpreter, please notify the court three days in advance. If it is less than three days notice, we may not be able to accommodate your request.
If your hearing is in person:
It is advisable to arrive at the courthouse 15-20 minutes early to go through security and check in at the front counter before proceeding to the courtroom.
If your hearing is by video:
Our primary video appearance platform is Court Connect. You can use your web browser or download the Microsoft Teams application on your device. The judge will expect to see you on camera, just as if you were appearing in the courtroom. If you do not have access to video, contact the court for additional instructions.
Please check in with the bailiff 30 minutes before your hearing/trial to receive a room number- either 125 for the courtroom or 168 for a hearing room. Here are the clickable links to enter the room:
Please enter the appropriate room 15 minutes before your start time with your camera on and microphone muted. Enter your case number and name in the name field, if possible. You will be in a virtual waiting room until the judge allows you into the courtroom.
Continuances will not be granted for you to download applications or send in more documentation.
Please refer to our main Attend a Hearing page for detailed information on the equipment you will need and procedures to follow for virtual hearings.
After your case:
After your hearing, please complete the survey (see the Survey Questions link below). Your comments will be valuable for cases in the future.
"No-Shows" or Defaults
If you are not in the courtroom when your case is called you may be judged in default, have a warrant issued, and face additional penalties. This applies to both in person and virtual hearings and if you were in the wrong courtroom by mistake. It is your responsibility to be in the right place at the right time.
Copies:
Each litigant must provide copies to the opposing party and to the court. EXCEPTION: Exhibits for protective orders will be exchanged by the court so that the litigants will not have any contact.
Timeline:
All exhibits must be received 24 hours before your hearing/trial. Weekends are not counted so if you have a hearing on Monday you must have everything submitted by Friday. All exhibits must have the case number on the subject line.
It is your responsibility to confirm the court has received your exhibits the day before trial. The hearing/trial will not be continued simply because the mail did not deliver in time.
Exhibits can be submitted by:
- regular mail (please allow extra time for mailing),
- e-mail with the case number in the subject line (no later than 5 p.m. the day before), or
- dropped off 24/7 in the drop box near the courthouse entrance (no later than 5 p.m. the day before.)
Failure to follow these timelines may result in sanctions, which may include exhibits being rejected.
Labeling:
Each page of an exhibit must be marked as follows: Plaintiff will mark P-1, P-2, P-3 etc. Defendant will mark D-1, D-2, D-3; etc. This is known as Bates Stamping. When making a motion to submit the exhibit simply refer to the page number.
Video:
If you have a video please provide the court and opposing party with a link to a cloud system like YouTube. Cloud systems that the Bench is unfamiliar with may result in denial of exhibits. Videos that require plugins or just a file will not be viewed.
If the Judge allows this exhibit, the court will make a CD of the file to be put in the file. You may delete your uploaded file four weeks after your court date.
Where necessary:
The judge at his or her discretion may deviate from this outline.