What is a notice of claim?
A notice of claim is a formal written claim that an injured person must send to a government body, such as a city, county, school district or state agency, before suing it. In Arizona it is due within 180 days. Missing the deadline or leaving out required details can end the claim.
Last checked November 9, 2026 · Official sources (5)
Notice of claim example: a broken sidewalk in Tempe
Example: you trip on a raised slab of city sidewalk in Tempe and break your wrist. Surgery, therapy and four weeks off work add up to $35,000. You plan to sue but figure you have two years like most injury cases.
That plan can cost you everything. Because the city is a public entity, Arizona requires you to file a claim with the person authorized to accept service within 180 days after the cause of action accrues. The claim also has to name a specific amount the claim can be settled for and the facts supporting it, such as "$35,000, based on these bills and this pay stub." Filed on day 170 with those details, the claim is alive. Filed on day 190, or filed without a number, it may be worth $0 no matter how bad the sidewalk was.
What are the notice of claim deadlines in Arizona and Texas?
| Rule | Arizona | Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Deadline | 180 days after the cause of action accrues | Six months after the incident under state law |
| Cities | Same statute applies | A city charter or ordinance period can apply instead |
| What it must say | A specific settlement amount and the facts supporting it | Check the statute and the city's own rules |
| Escape hatch | Limited; do not count on one | Formal notice is not required if the government had actual notice of the injury |
Actual notice in Texas is narrower than it sounds. A police report alone may not prove the government knew it was at fault. Sending a written notice on time is the safer path.
Why does a notice of claim matter so much?
It is one of the easiest ways to lose a valid injury claim. The government side does not have to remind you, and the clock can start before you know how badly you are hurt. As soon as a public bus, police car, city truck, school, park or public building is involved, find out which agency is responsible, where its claims go, and the exact deadline.
Notice of claim vs. statute of limitations vs. demand letter
The statute of limitations is the deadline to file a lawsuit in court. A notice of claim is an earlier step required only for government defendants. A demand letter is an informal request to an insurer, with no required form.
Questions
Does a notice of claim apply to private businesses?
No. It applies to claims against government bodies and, in Arizona, public schools and public employees too.
What if I file the Arizona claim without a dollar amount?
The statute requires a specific settlement amount and supporting facts, so leaving it out can sink the claim.
Can a Texas city have a shorter deadline than six months?
Yes. State law approves city charter and ordinance notice periods, so check the city's own rules.
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See if I’m owed moneySources (5)
- A.R.S. § 12-821.01(A), checked 2026-11-09. “shall file claims with the person or persons authorized to accept service for the public entity, public school or public employee as set forth in the Arizona rules of civil procedure within one hundred eighty days after the cause of action accrues.”
- A.R.S. § 12-821.01(A), checked 2026-11-09. “The claim shall also contain a specific amount for which the claim can be settled and the facts supporting that amount.”
- Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 101.101(b), checked 2026-11-09. “A city's charter and ordinance provisions requiring notice within a charter period permitted by law are ratified and approved.”
- Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 101.101(a), checked 2026-11-09. “A governmental unit is entitled to receive notice of a claim against it under this chapter not later than six months after the day that the incident giving rise to the claim occurred.”
- Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 101.101(c), checked 2026-11-09. “do not apply if the governmental unit has actual notice that death has occurred, that the claimant has received some injury, or that the claimant's property has been damaged.”