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The End of Life Plannerby Valoren

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

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Small estate affidavits in Arizona

Where Arizona law lets a smaller estate be settled without full probate, these are the official words on how: who may use the route, what it covers and what the paperwork must say. Whether a particular estate fits is for the court, the bank or company holding the asset, or an attorney in Arizona; nothing on this page decides it.

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

Every quotation checked October 24, 2026

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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.

The affidavit for collecting personal property: the waiting period, and the value limit

B. Thirty days after the death of a decedent, any person indebted to the decedent or having possession of tangible personal property … shall make payment of the indebtedness or deliver the tangible personal property … to a person claiming to be the successor of the decedent on being presented an affidavit made by or on behalf of the successor

the value of all personal property in the decedent's estate, wherever located, less liens and encumbrances, does not exceed $200,000 as valued as of the date of death.

Arizona · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · A.R.S. §14-3971(B)

The affidavit for real property: the waiting period, the value limit, filing it with the court, and recording the copy

E. Not sooner than six months after the death of a decedent, a person or persons claiming as successor or successors to the decedent's interest in real property … may file in the court in the county in which the decedent was domiciled at the time of death

does not exceed $300,000 as valued at the date of death.

the registrar shall issue a certified copy of the affidavit without attachments, and the copy shall be recorded in the office of the recorder in the county where the real property is located.

Arizona · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · A.R.S. §14-3971(E)–(F)

The act that raised both limits, and the figures it replaced

Increases the limit of the value of all personal property in a decedent's estate that can be claimed by a successor of a decedent through an affidavit, from $75,000 to $200,000.

Increases the limit of the value of all real property in a decedent's estate that can be claimed by a successor of a decedent through an affidavit, from $100,000 to $300,000.

Arizona · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Laws 2025, ch. 24 (HB 2116)

One county court’s two affidavit forms, and which of them is filed

PBSE11f Affidavit for Collection of All Personal Property

✓ Filing: No. This affidavit may be used once it is complete. It does not get filed with the Court.

PBSE12f Affidavit for Transfer of Title to Real Property

✓ Filing: Yes. You must file this affidavit with the Clerk of Superior Court once it is complete.

Arizona · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Maricopa County Superior Court, PBSE1

A surviving spouse collecting unpaid wages by affidavit

A. At any time after the death of a decedent, any employer owing wages, salary or other compensation for personal services of the decedent shall pay to the surviving spouse of the decedent the amount owing, not in excess of $5,000, on being presented an affidavit

Arizona · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · A.R.S. §14-3971(A)

Summary administration: when a personal representative may distribute without notice to creditors

If it appears from the inventory and appraisal that the value of the entire estate, less liens and encumbrances, does not exceed allowance in lieu of homestead, exempt property, family allowance, costs and expenses of administration, reasonable funeral expenses, and reasonable and necessary medical and hospital expenses of the last illness of the decedent, the personal representative, without giving notice to creditors, may immediately disburse and distribute the estate

Arizona · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · A.R.S. §14-3973

The same page for other states

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Common questions

B. Thirty days after the death of a decedent, any person indebted to the decedent or having possession of tangible personal property … shall make payment of the indebtedness or deliver the tangible personal property … to a person claiming to be the successor of the decedent on being presented an affidavit made by or on behalf of the successor

the value of all personal property in the decedent's estate, wherever located, less liens and encumbrances, does not exceed $200,000 as valued as of the date of death.

E. Not sooner than six months after the death of a decedent, a person or persons claiming as successor or successors to the decedent's interest in real property … may file in the court in the county in which the decedent was domiciled at the time of death

does not exceed $300,000 as valued at the date of death.

the registrar shall issue a certified copy of the affidavit without attachments, and the copy shall be recorded in the office of the recorder in the county where the real property is located.

Arizona · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · A.R.S. §14-3971(E)–(F)

B. Thirty days after the death of a decedent, any person indebted to the decedent or having possession of tangible personal property … shall make payment of the indebtedness or deliver the tangible personal property … to a person claiming to be the successor of the decedent on being presented an affidavit made by or on behalf of the successor

the value of all personal property in the decedent's estate, wherever located, less liens and encumbrances, does not exceed $200,000 as valued as of the date of death.

E. Not sooner than six months after the death of a decedent, a person or persons claiming as successor or successors to the decedent's interest in real property … may file in the court in the county in which the decedent was domiciled at the time of death

does not exceed $300,000 as valued at the date of death.

the registrar shall issue a certified copy of the affidavit without attachments, and the copy shall be recorded in the office of the recorder in the county where the real property is located.

Arizona · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · A.R.S. §14-3971(E)–(F)

PBSE11f Affidavit for Collection of All Personal Property

✓ Filing: No. This affidavit may be used once it is complete. It does not get filed with the Court.

PBSE12f Affidavit for Transfer of Title to Real Property

✓ Filing: Yes. You must file this affidavit with the Clerk of Superior Court once it is complete.

Arizona · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Maricopa County Superior Court, PBSE1

E. Not sooner than six months after the death of a decedent, a person or persons claiming as successor or successors to the decedent's interest in real property … may file in the court in the county in which the decedent was domiciled at the time of death

does not exceed $300,000 as valued at the date of death.

the registrar shall issue a certified copy of the affidavit without attachments, and the copy shall be recorded in the office of the recorder in the county where the real property is located.

Arizona · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · A.R.S. §14-3971(E)–(F)

E. Not sooner than six months after the death of a decedent, a person or persons claiming as successor or successors to the decedent's interest in real property … may file in the court in the county in which the decedent was domiciled at the time of death

does not exceed $300,000 as valued at the date of death.

the registrar shall issue a certified copy of the affidavit without attachments, and the copy shall be recorded in the office of the recorder in the county where the real property is located.

Arizona · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · A.R.S. §14-3971(E)–(F)

PBSE11f Affidavit for Collection of All Personal Property

✓ Filing: No. This affidavit may be used once it is complete. It does not get filed with the Court.

PBSE12f Affidavit for Transfer of Title to Real Property

✓ Filing: Yes. You must file this affidavit with the Clerk of Superior Court once it is complete.

Arizona · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Maricopa County Superior Court, PBSE1

Increases the limit of the value of all personal property in a decedent's estate that can be claimed by a successor of a decedent through an affidavit, from $75,000 to $200,000.

Increases the limit of the value of all real property in a decedent's estate that can be claimed by a successor of a decedent through an affidavit, from $100,000 to $300,000.

Arizona · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Laws 2025, ch. 24 (HB 2116)

A. At any time after the death of a decedent, any employer owing wages, salary or other compensation for personal services of the decedent shall pay to the surviving spouse of the decedent the amount owing, not in excess of $5,000, on being presented an affidavit

Arizona · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · A.R.S. §14-3971(A)

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