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

Arizona vs Virginia: Legal Cost Comparison (2026)

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

Arizona
Cheaper LLC
Virginia
Cheaper Divorce
Arizona
Higher SC Limit

LLC Formation Costs: Arizona vs Virginia

Arizona
Virginia

Filing Fee

$50 WIN
$100

Arizona is cheaper here

Annual Report

$0 WIN
$50

Arizona is cheaper here

Publication Cost

$100
$0 WIN

Virginia is cheaper here

Franchise Tax

$0
$0

It's a tie

Est. Year-1 Total

$150
$100 WIN

Virginia 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).

Virginia: Virginia requires an annual fee even if your LLC had zero activity that year.

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

Virginia: Northern Virginia is a major tech hub with proximity to federal contracts.

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Small Claims Court: Arizona vs Virginia

Arizona
Virginia

Max Claim Limit

$5,000
$5,000

It's a tie

Min Filing Fee

$30 WIN
$46

Arizona is cheaper here

Contract SOL

6 yrs WIN
5 yrs

Arizona is cheaper here

Divorce Filing Costs: Arizona vs Virginia

Arizona
Virginia

Filing Fee

$349
$86 WIN

Virginia is cheaper here

Sheriff Service

$25 WIN
$40

Arizona is cheaper here

Children Surcharge

$0
$0

It's a tie

Notary Fees: Arizona vs Virginia

Arizona
Virginia

Acknowledgment

$10
$10

Jurat

$10
$10

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Arizona or Virginia cheaper to form an LLC?
Arizona is cheaper to form an LLC — $50 vs $100. However, consider the full first-year cost including annual report fees and publication requirements: Arizona year-1 total is $150 vs Virginia at $100.
What is the LLC filing fee in Arizona vs Virginia?
The LLC filing fee is $50 in Arizona vs $100 in Virginia. In addition to the one-time filing fee, Arizona has no annual report fee and Virginia charges a $50 annual report fee.
Which state is better for a small business — Arizona or Virginia?
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 Virginia 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 Virginia?
Virginia has lower divorce filing fees — $86 vs $349. Both states also charge for service of process ($25 in Arizona, $40 in Virginia). 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 Virginia?
The small claims limit is $5,000 in Arizona vs $5,000 in Virginia. Arizona allows you to sue for more money without going to regular civil court. Filing fees are $30 in Arizona and $46 in Virginia.

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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