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The End of Life Plannerby Valoren

General information · not a substitute for the advice of an attorney.

Free · general informationArizona

Probate in Arizona

What Arizona’s own law and courts say about probate, from how an estate comes before the court to when creditors must claim. Nothing on this page decides whether a particular estate needs probate. That question belongs to the court, or to an attorney in Arizona.

  • Every fact dated, in the official words
  • Each state’s own law

Every quotation checked October 24, 2026

The free first-week checklist

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Every quotation on this page is the official body’s own words, as they stood on the day we read them. The date is beside each one.

Who acts as the registrar

The acts and orders which this title specifies as performable by the registrar shall be performed by a judge, the clerk of the court, a court commissioner or any of such at the selection of the presiding judge of the county

Arizona · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · A.R.S. §14-1307

How long after a death probate can still be opened

An informal probate or appointment proceeding or formal testacy or appointment proceeding, other than a proceeding to probate a will previously probated at the testator's domicile and appointment proceedings relating to an estate in which there has been a prior appointment, shall not be commenced more than two years after the decedent's death, except:

Arizona · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · A.R.S. §14-3108

The notice to creditors, and how long they have to claim

at the time of appointment a personal representative shall publish a notice to creditors once a week for three successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county … notifying creditors of the estate to present their claims within four months after the date of the first publication of the notice or be forever barred.

Arizona · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · A.R.S. §14-3801(A)

The outer limit on claims against the estate

1. Two years after the decedent's death plus the time remaining in the period commenced by an actual or published notice

Arizona · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · A.R.S. §14-3803(A)(1)

What the person holding the will must do, and the liability for not doing it

A. After the death of a testator and on request of an interested person, a person having custody of a will of the testator shall deliver it with reasonable promptness to a person able to secure its probate or, if none is known, to an appropriate court.

B. A person who wilfully fails to deliver a will as required by this section is liable to any person aggrieved for any damages caused by this failure.

Arizona · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · A.R.S. §14-2516

The same page for other states

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FAQ

Common questions

means the superior court.

Arizona · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · A.R.S. §14-1201(11)

The acts and orders which this title specifies as performable by the registrar shall be performed by a judge, the clerk of the court, a court commissioner or any of such at the selection of the presiding judge of the county

Arizona · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · A.R.S. §14-1307

An informal probate or appointment proceeding or formal testacy or appointment proceeding, other than a proceeding to probate a will previously probated at the testator's domicile and appointment proceedings relating to an estate in which there has been a prior appointment, shall not be commenced more than two years after the decedent's death, except:

Arizona · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · A.R.S. §14-3108

at the time of appointment a personal representative shall publish a notice to creditors once a week for three successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county … notifying creditors of the estate to present their claims within four months after the date of the first publication of the notice or be forever barred.

Arizona · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · A.R.S. §14-3801(A)

1. Two years after the decedent's death plus the time remaining in the period commenced by an actual or published notice

Arizona · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · A.R.S. §14-3803(A)(1)

A. After the death of a testator and on request of an interested person, a person having custody of a will of the testator shall deliver it with reasonable promptness to a person able to secure its probate or, if none is known, to an appropriate court.

B. A person who wilfully fails to deliver a will as required by this section is liable to any person aggrieved for any damages caused by this failure.

Arizona · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · A.R.S. §14-2516

A. After the death of a testator and on request of an interested person, a person having custody of a will of the testator shall deliver it with reasonable promptness to a person able to secure its probate or, if none is known, to an appropriate court.

B. A person who wilfully fails to deliver a will as required by this section is liable to any person aggrieved for any damages caused by this failure.

Arizona · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · A.R.S. §14-2516

For anyone who would rather their family found it all in one place than went looking.

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