Arizona is a community property state. Only a decedent's one-half share passes through probate — the surviving spouse already owns the other half. Separate property (inheritances, gifts, pre-marriage assets) distributes under the will or intestate statute.
We’re not yet live in Arizona — the guide below is still accurate, and you can join the waitlist to be the first to know when a Arizona-licensed attorney is available.
Arizona recognizes 2 paths. The right one depends on the will, the value of the estate, and whether all beneficiaries agree.
Unsupervised probate. Personal representative acts independently with court filing requirements.
Supervised probate. Court approval required for major transactions.
These are the filings ordered the way they actually happen in a typical Arizona estate. Each deadline is keyed to the triggering event — death, letters issued, first publication — and tied to the statute.
File Petition to Probate Will with Superior Court in county where decedent was domiciled.
Notice published once in newspaper in county where estate proceedings held.
List all estate assets with fair market valuations as of date of death.
Wait for creditor claims deadline. Personal representative allows or disallows claims.
File final account showing all receipts, disbursements, and proposed distributions.
Distribute assets to beneficiaries per will or Arizona intestacy law.
File petition for discharge and receive order discharging personal representative.
After the personal representative is appointed, a notice to creditors must be published once for 1 week. Creditors then have a limited window to file claims; claims filed after the deadline are generally barred.
If the gross estate is small enough, Arizona allows a simplified path that skips most of the formal probate machinery. Faster, cheaper, and — done right — every bit as final.
A will executed entirely online, with remote witnesses and a notary, is valid in Arizona under current law. If the decedent signed an e-will — through a platform like Trust & Will, Willing, or a law-firm portal — it gets admitted to probate the same way a traditional paper will does.
Probate is filed in the county where the decedent lived at the time of death. A sample of active Arizona courts:
Most Arizona estates close in 7–13 months. The floor is set by the creditor claim period (4 months from first publication of the creditor notice.) plus the time to file inventory, settle debts, and prepare the final accounting. Estates with real property sales, tax returns, or disputes run longer.
Yes. If the gross estate is $75,000 or less and at least 30 days have passed since the date of death, you can generally use a small estate affidavit or collection procedure instead of full probate. Citation: ARS § 14-3971 et seq..
Arizona recognizes independent or supervised administration. independent — Unsupervised probate. Personal representative acts independently with court filing requirements. supervised — Supervised probate. Court approval required for major transactions.
After the personal representative is appointed, a notice to creditors must be published once in a qualifying newspaper for 1 week. Creditors then have 4 months from first publication of the creditor notice. Claims filed after the deadline are barred. Citation: ARS § 14-3401, 14-3403.
Arizona is a community property state. Property acquired during marriage is presumed to be owned 50/50 by both spouses. On a decedent's death, only the decedent's one-half share passes through probate — the surviving spouse already owns the other half outright. Separate property (inheritances, gifts, pre-marriage assets) is classified differently and distributes under the will or intestate statute.
Court filing fees in Arizona typically run $200–$500, plus publication costs of $100–$300 for the creditor notice. Attorney fees are the biggest variable — traditional hourly counsel on a routine estate often bills $5,000–$15,000, while flat-fee services like Closewell price the same work from $1,400–$4,500 depending on complexity. Bond premiums, appraisals, and tax preparation are additional.
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