Arizona Probate: Key Deadlines at a Glance
| When | Task | Authority | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 5 after death | Earliest date to file Application for Informal Probate | ARS 14-3307 | Hard |
| As soon as possible | Publish Notice to Creditors (start 60-day clock) | ARS 14-3801 | ASAP |
| Within 30 days of appointment | Send written notice to all heirs and devisees | ARS 14-3705 | Hard |
| 60 days from first publication | Creditor claims period closes | ARS 14-3801 | Hard |
| Within 3 months of appointment | Complete estate inventory | ARS 14-3706 | Hard |
| 6 months from death | ARS 14-3972 real property affidavit available (if under $100K assessed value) | ARS 14-3972 | Optional |
| April 15 (year after death) | File deceased's final Form 1040 and Arizona Form 140 | IRS / AZ Dept. of Revenue | Hard |
| As soon as estate is administered | File Closing Statement with probate registrar | ARS 14-3933 | ASAP |
| 3 years from death | Deadline to commence informal probate | ARS 14-3107 | Hard |
Phase-by-Phase Breakdown
Secure the estate — secure real property, maintain A/C on vacant property (critical in Arizona's climate), cancel recurring services, forward mail. Order certified death certificates (8–10 copies). Locate the original will. Review deeds for CPWROS vesting and check county recorder records for Beneficiary Deeds. Assess whether the estate qualifies for a small estate affidavit ($75K personal / $100K real property assessed value).
File the Application in the Superior Court of the county of domicile, no earlier than Day 5 after death. Pay the filing fee ($200–$400 depending on county). The probate registrar reviews the application and, if complete, issues Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration — typically within a few business days to two weeks. Order 6–8 certified copies of Letters for institutions.
Send written notice to all heirs and devisees within 30 days of appointment (ARS 14-3705). The notice must state that informal probate has occurred, provide the decedent's name and date of death, the PR's contact information, and inform recipients that they may request formal proceedings. Open the estate bank account and notify Social Security.
Publish Notice to Creditors in a newspaper of general circulation in the county of probate once per week for three consecutive weeks. The 60-day creditor period begins on the date of first publication. Send direct written notice to all known creditors. File the Affidavit of Publication with the probate court after 3 weeks of publication.
Prepare the inventory within 3 months of appointment (ARS 14-3706). List all probate assets with date-of-death fair market values. For community property estates, list the decedent's one-half share only. Real estate typically requires an appraisal by a licensed Arizona appraiser. The inventory does not need to be filed with the court in informal probate but must be provided to any interested party who requests it.
After the 60-day creditor period closes, review and pay allowed claims in priority order. Check for AHCCCS (Arizona Medicaid) estate recovery claims — do not distribute before this is resolved. File the deceased's final federal Form 1040 and Arizona Form 140 (due April 15 following year of death). If estate earned over $600, obtain an EIN and file federal Form 1041 and Arizona Form 141AZ. Arizona has no state estate tax — no additional estate tax filing is needed.
After all claims and taxes are paid, make final distributions. Execute and record Personal Representative's Deeds for Arizona real property with the county recorder. Transfer vehicle titles at the Arizona MVD. Transfer financial accounts using Letters. Obtain signed receipts from all beneficiaries. Note: the ARS 14-3972 real property affidavit becomes available 6 months after death for qualifying low-value real estate — if applicable, this may simplify the real property transfer.
File the Closing Statement (ARS 14-3933) with the probate registrar once all assets are distributed and all claims are resolved. No court hearing required. Send a copy to all distributees. One year after the Closing Statement is filed, the Personal Representative is conclusively discharged and the probate is closed.
Arizona vs. Other States: Key Timing Differences
Factors That Extend the Arizona Timeline
- Real estate sales: Listing, showing, and closing Arizona real property typically adds 2–4 months to the timeline.
- AHCCCS Medicaid recovery: If the decedent received AHCCCS benefits after age 55, the estate cannot be fully distributed until the AHCCCS claim is resolved — which can take 4–8 weeks or more after notification.
- Contested will or disputed heirship: Formal probate with court hearings can extend the timeline by 6–18 months.
- Community property disputes: If there is disagreement about whether an asset is community or separate property, formal proceedings may be needed.
- Complex tax situations: If the estate includes a business, rental properties, or significant capital gains, tax returns may not be finalized until the spring following the year of death.
More Arizona Probate Guides
- Arizona Small Estate Affidavit: Two Paths — Personal and Real Property
- Community Property and CPWROS in Arizona Probate
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