LegalCostCalculator.org
Created May 2026 · Reviewed and verified October 2026 Side-by-Side

Arizona vs Nevada: Legal Cost Comparison (2026)

Full side-by-side breakdown of legal fees in Arizona and Nevada — LLC formation, divorce filing, small claims limits, and notary fees.

Arizona
Cheaper LLC
Nevada
Cheaper Divorce
Nevada
Higher SC Limit

LLC Formation Costs: Arizona vs Nevada

Arizona
Nevada

Filing Fee

$50 WIN
$425

Arizona is cheaper here

Annual Report

$0 WIN
$350

Arizona is cheaper here

Publication Cost

$100
$0 WIN

Nevada is cheaper here

Franchise Tax

$0 WIN
$200

Arizona is cheaper here

Est. Year-1 Total

$150 WIN
$625

Arizona 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).

Nevada: Nevada's $350 in annual fees makes it expensive to maintain despite popular belief that it's cheap. Initial filing is $425 total.

Arizona: No annual report fee — one of the lowest ongoing costs in the US.

Nevada: No state corporate income tax, no personal income tax, strong privacy protections.

Editor's pick

Ready to Form Your LLC?

Let a trusted formation service handle the paperwork for your chosen state — starting at $39 + state fees.

A local attorney bills $300+/hour for this. LegalZoom does it flat-fee, online.

Small Claims Court: Arizona vs Nevada

Arizona
Nevada

Max Claim Limit

$5,000
$10,000 WIN

Nevada is cheaper here

Min Filing Fee

$30 WIN
$66

Arizona is cheaper here

Contract SOL

6 yrs
6 yrs

It's a tie

Divorce Filing Costs: Arizona vs Nevada

Arizona
Nevada

Filing Fee

$349
$299 WIN

Nevada is cheaper here

Sheriff Service

$25 WIN
$35

Arizona is cheaper here

Children Surcharge

$0
$0

It's a tie

Notary Fees: Arizona vs Nevada

Arizona
Nevada

Acknowledgment

$10
$15

Jurat

$10
$15

RON Fee

$10
$25

Which of These Fits Your Situation?

Self-serve templates and guides, instant download, no attorney needed.

Small Claims Demand Letter Template
Small Claims

HTML, Word (.docx), instant download

LLC Operating Agreement Template
LLC Formation

HTML, Word (.docx), instant download

Uncontested Divorce Checklist & Forms Guide
Divorce

HTML, Word (.docx), instant download

Dealing with more than one? Get My Everything Bundle: $109.99 (save vs. buying separately)

All Legal Costs in Arizona
Full breakdown: LLC, divorce, small claims & notary
All Legal Costs in Nevada
Full breakdown: LLC, divorce, small claims & notary

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Arizona or Nevada cheaper to form an LLC?
Arizona is cheaper to form an LLC — $50 vs $425. However, consider the full first-year cost including annual report fees and publication requirements: Arizona year-1 total is $150 vs Nevada at $625.
What is the LLC filing fee in Arizona vs Nevada?
The LLC filing fee is $50 in Arizona vs $425 in Nevada. In addition to the one-time filing fee, Arizona has no annual report fee and Nevada charges a $350 annual report fee.
Which state is better for a small business — Arizona or Nevada?
For most small businesses operating in one state, form your LLC in the state where you actually do business. If you operate in Arizona, form there — registering in Nevada and then foreign-qualifying in Arizona means paying fees to both states. The "form in a cheaper state" strategy mainly benefits online businesses with no physical location.
How do divorce filing fees compare between Arizona and Nevada?
Nevada has lower divorce filing fees — $299 vs $349. Both states also charge for service of process ($25 in Arizona, $35 in Nevada). You can only file divorce in a state where you or your spouse meets the residency requirement.
What is the small claims limit in Arizona vs Nevada?
The small claims limit is $5,000 in Arizona vs $10,000 in Nevada. Nevada allows you to sue for more money without going to regular civil court. Filing fees are $30 in Arizona and $66 in Nevada.

Our mission is to educate. We give everyone the most accurate, complete legal cost information available online, free.

Keeping it accurate takes real work. Fees change across all 50 states and 530+ counties, so we check every official source monthly and review every state each quarter.

If this information helped you, please consider supporting our work. A coffee, a short review, or using our templates and partner links is what keeps this site free.

Buy us a coffee Leave a review Browse templates
Buy us a coffee