That is accomplished by filing with the local Probate Court a pleading called an Application for Informal Probate of Will and Appointment of Personal Representative. Alternatively, in the case of an intestate decedent, the pleading is called an Application for Informal Appointment of Personal Representative.
Case initiating documents and subsequent filings for probate case types must be filed in-person, by mail, or via a filing depository box. The ability to eFile probate case documents is currently not available for Maricopa County, but is expected in the near future.
That is accomplished by filing with the local Probate Court a pleading called an Application for Informal Probate of Will and Appointment of Personal Representative. Alternatively, in the case of an intestate decedent, the pleading is called an Application for Informal Appointment of Personal Representative.
An informal appointment or probate, or a formal testacy or appointment proceeding, may be commenced after the two-year deadline if no court proceeding concerning the administration or succession has occurred within the two-year period.
Virtually anyone over the age of 18 can be your executor. Arizona law states that your executor must also be an Arizona resident, although other states' laws will vary. There may also be an appeals process in your state to name an out-of-state executor. Many states also restrict the ability to appoint a felon.
However, if there is no will or the will is contested by potential heirs or creditors, the process can become lengthy due to court hearings and legal challenges. On average, probate in Arizona takes between six months to a year for an uncontested estate.
How to Start Probate for an Estate Open the Decedent's Last Will and Testament. Determine Who Will be the Personal Representative. Compile a List of the Estate's Interested Parties. Take an Inventory of the Decedent's Assets. Calculate the Decedent's Liabilities. Determine if Probate is Necessary. Seek a Waiver of Bond.
While Arizona law does not mandate hiring a probate attorney, the assistance they provide can be highly beneficial. Probate can be time-consuming, detail-oriented, and occasionally contentious.
Filing a Will or Probate Case The Probate Filing Counter is located at 201 W. Jefferson in Phoenix, or at our Southeast location, 222 E. Javelina in Mesa, or at our Northwest Regional Court Center location at 14264 W. Tierra Buena Lane in Surprise, or at our Northeast Regional Court Center at 18380 N.