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.
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.
In Arizona, formal probate, unlike informal probate, is the process where the petitioner files a petition requesting that a judicial officer decide an issue or direct that action be taken, usually after notice to all interested parties and a court hearing.
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.
Probate procedures can be complex and time-consuming, but there are ways to avoid or bypass this process for certain assets in Arizona. Properties such as those held in a living trust are exempt from probate. Similarly, community property and jointly-held property with a right of survivorship do not require probate.