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.
Probate is a complex process that can take many months to finalize while requiring extensive paperwork and legal documentation, so it's ideal to have your estate planning documents prepared before your passing to simplify the process for your heirs and survivors.
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.
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.
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.
Is It Possible for Probate Assets to Bypass Probate Court? The state of Arizona allows small estates to transfer probate assets outside of probate court under the following conditions: The decedent's personal property is less than $75,000. The decadent's real property is less than $100,000.
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, A.R.S. § 12.341. 01 provides that the prevailing party in a lawsuit may recover its attorney's fees in any action arising out of a contract.
Is It Possible for Probate Assets to Bypass Probate Court? The state of Arizona allows small estates to transfer probate assets outside of probate court under the following conditions: The decedent's personal property is less than $75,000. The decadent's real property is less than $100,000.