Arizona vs Delaware: Legal Cost Comparison (2026)
Full side-by-side breakdown of legal fees in Arizona and Delaware — LLC formation, divorce filing, small claims limits, and notary fees.
LLC Formation Costs: Arizona vs Delaware
| Metric | Arizona | Delaware | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $50 | $90 | Arizona |
| Annual Report | $0 | $300 | Arizona |
| Publication Cost | $100 | $0 | Delaware |
| Franchise Tax | $0 | $0 | Tie |
| Est. Year-1 Total | $150 | $90 | Delaware |
Filing Fee
Arizona is cheaper here
Annual Report
Arizona is cheaper here
Publication Cost
Delaware is cheaper here
Franchise Tax
It's a tie
Est. Year-1 Total
Delaware is cheaper here
Arizona: Arizona requires three consecutive newspaper publications within 60 days of approval if your statutory agent is outside Maricopa or Pima county (A.R.S. § 29-3201).
Delaware: Delaware's $300 annual franchise fee makes ongoing costs high for small businesses that don't benefit from its court system.
Arizona: No annual report fee — one of the lowest ongoing costs in the US.
Delaware: Most investor-friendly state — preferred if you plan to raise venture capital or have multiple members.
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Small Claims Court: Arizona vs Delaware
| Metric | Arizona | Delaware | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Claim Limit | $5,000 | $25,000 | Delaware |
| Min Filing Fee | $30 | $35 | Arizona |
| Contract SOL | 6 yrs | 3 yrs | Arizona |
Max Claim Limit
Delaware is cheaper here
Min Filing Fee
Arizona is cheaper here
Contract SOL
Arizona is cheaper here
Divorce Filing Costs: Arizona vs Delaware
| Metric | Arizona | Delaware | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $349 | $165 | Delaware |
| Sheriff Service | $25 | $60 | Arizona |
| Children Surcharge | $0 | $0 | Tie |
Filing Fee
Delaware is cheaper here
Sheriff Service
Arizona is cheaper here
Children Surcharge
It's a tie
Notary Fees: Arizona vs Delaware
| Metric | Arizona | Delaware |
|---|---|---|
| Acknowledgment | $10 | $5 |
| Jurat | $10 | $5 |
| RON Fee | $10 | $25 |
Acknowledgment
Jurat
RON Fee
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