The Superior Court has jurisdiction over the distribution of a person's estate after they die. This is known as a Probate case. When a person dies, it might be necessary to file a case in probate court if their property is not titled in such a way that it is clear who will inherit that property.
There may be additional hearings to resolve contests, and the executor will probably need court approval before making major decisions and actions. Informal probate is obviously the quickest and can conclude in 4 – 6 months. Formal probate may take up to a year or longer.
In Arizona, if a decedents estate is small enough, the law allows you to skip probate altogether and use a simplified process. This usually is reserved for smaller estates if the value is under $100,000 (for real estate) or under $75,000 (personal property).
Probate Shortcuts in Arizona ValueOther Requirements Personal Property < $75,000 No ongoing formal probate Real Estate <$100,000 No personal representative appointed (or active during the last year)
Required to present their claims within four months after the date of the first publication of the notice to creditors or the claims will be forever barred. required to present their claims within four months after receipt of the notice to creditors by mail or the claims will be forever barred.
If the decedent names a personal representative in their last will and testament, they're referred to as an executor. If the decedent did not have a will, or if the will was invalidated, the court will appoint an administrator to serve as personal representative.
In Arizona, probate is always required for wills and assets that aren't in a trust or included in a transfer-on-death deed. Probate is also required for large estates consisting of personal property valued at over $75,000 and real estate property valued at over $100,000.
Required to present their claims within four months after the date of the first publication of the notice to creditors or the claims will be forever barred. required to present their claims within four months after receipt of the notice to creditors by mail or the claims will be forever barred.
Some estates will not need to go through probate, while others qualify for simplified probate. Some types of assets automatically pass to an heir without any oversight from the probate court.
Informal probate requires that the deceased had a valid will at the time of death that has not been challenged and died less than 2 years before probate is opened. In an informal probate process, a personal representative is appointed by the court to administer the estate with minimal court supervision.