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Probate in Maricopa County, Arizona

When someone who lived in Maricopa County dies, probate is handled by the county probate court. This page points you to that court and summarizes the Arizona rules that apply — the small-estate threshold, the key deadlines, and the instruments Arizona uses. For your own dates and numbers, use the free calculators linked below.

Where to file

Probate is filed in Maricopa County, where the person who died last lived. Local forms, e-filing rules, and scheduling vary by county — confirm with the county probate court.

Maricopa County Superior Court — Probate

Does this estate need full probate?

Arizona lets smaller estates skip full probate using the Small estate affidavit (A.R.S. §14-3971) — $200k personalty; separate $300k real-property affidavit for estates up to $200,000.

Check your estate Source — A.R.S. §14-3971 (HB2116, eff. 9/26/2025: personalty $200k, real property $300k)

Key probate deadlines in Arizona

Lodge the will with the court: No fixed statutory deadline — varies, confirm with the probate court.
File the estate inventory: 90 days after appointment as personal representative
Creditor-claim period closes: 4 months after first publication of the notice to creditors (outer bar: 24 months from death)

Compute the exact dates from a date of death Source — A.R.S. §14-3706 (inventory 90 days); §§14-3801/3803 (4-mo creditor, 2-yr outer bar); §14-2516

Good to know in Arizona

The court empowers the personal representative with Letters Testamentary / Letters of Administration.
The estate closes with the Order of Complete Settlement of the Estate.
Arizona has no state estate or inheritance tax.

Talk it through, or find a local pro

Ask the guide a question about probate in Maricopa County, or browse vetted probate attorneys and real-estate advisors who work in Arizona.

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Selling an inherited home? Estimate the tax with the capital-gains calculator. Just getting started? Print the Arizona after-a-death checklist.

This tool provides general educational information, not legal advice. Statutory thresholds and deadlines vary by state and county and change over time; results are estimates based on the date of death you enter. Kindeed is not a law firm. For your specific situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state. Where a value is shown as “varies — confirm locally,” we don’t hold a verified figure and you should confirm it directly with the probate court or a licensed professional.