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Created May 2026 · Reviewed and verified October 2026 Side-by-Side

Arizona vs North Dakota: Legal Cost Comparison (2026)

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

Arizona
Cheaper LLC
North Dakota
Cheaper Divorce
North Dakota
Higher SC Limit

LLC Formation Costs: Arizona vs North Dakota

Arizona
North Dakota

Filing Fee

$50 WIN
$135

Arizona is cheaper here

Annual Report

$0 WIN
$50

Arizona is cheaper here

Publication Cost

$100
$0 WIN

North Dakota is cheaper here

Franchise Tax

$0
$0

It's a tie

Est. Year-1 Total

$150
$135 WIN

North Dakota 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).

North Dakota: North Dakota requires an annual report every year — don't miss the deadline.

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

North Dakota: Moderate fees and low business competition in many sectors.

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Small Claims Court: Arizona vs North Dakota

Arizona
North Dakota

Max Claim Limit

$5,000
$15,000 WIN

North Dakota is cheaper here

Min Filing Fee

$30
$20 WIN

North Dakota is cheaper here

Contract SOL

6 yrs
6 yrs

It's a tie

Divorce Filing Costs: Arizona vs North Dakota

Arizona
North Dakota

Filing Fee

$349
$80 WIN

North Dakota is cheaper here

Sheriff Service

$25 WIN
$30

Arizona is cheaper here

Children Surcharge

$0
$0

It's a tie

Notary Fees: Arizona vs North Dakota

Arizona
North Dakota

Acknowledgment

$10
$5

Jurat

$10
$5

RON Fee

$10
$5

Which of These Fits Your Situation?

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

Small Claims Demand Letter Template
Small Claims

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LLC Operating Agreement Template
LLC Formation

HTML, Word (.docx), instant download

Uncontested Divorce Checklist & Forms Guide
Divorce

HTML, Word (.docx), instant download

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Arizona or North Dakota cheaper to form an LLC?
Arizona is cheaper to form an LLC — $50 vs $135. However, consider the full first-year cost including annual report fees and publication requirements: Arizona year-1 total is $150 vs North Dakota at $135.
What is the LLC filing fee in Arizona vs North Dakota?
The LLC filing fee is $50 in Arizona vs $135 in North Dakota. In addition to the one-time filing fee, Arizona has no annual report fee and North Dakota charges a $50 annual report fee.
Which state is better for a small business — Arizona or North Dakota?
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 North Dakota 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 North Dakota?
North Dakota has lower divorce filing fees — $80 vs $349. Both states also charge for service of process ($25 in Arizona, $30 in North Dakota). 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 North Dakota?
The small claims limit is $5,000 in Arizona vs $15,000 in North Dakota. North Dakota allows you to sue for more money without going to regular civil court. Filing fees are $30 in Arizona and $20 in North Dakota.

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.

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