How Does Estate Planning Work in Arizona?

Your complete Arizona estate planning overview: probate costs, will execution requirements, trust rules, and what happens if you die without a plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Probate in Arizona uses reasonable compensation for attorney fees, typically 2.2-3.5% of the estate value — about $31,645 all-in on a $500,000 estate. Estates under $200,000 may qualify for simplified probate.

Simple estates in Arizona typically take 4-6 months through probate. Complex or contested estates can take 1-3 years. A revocable trust avoids probate entirely.

Arizona has adopted the Uniform Trust Code and does not require witnesses for trust execution. Notarization is not required for validity, though many financial institutions require notarized trust documents. The successor trustee can publish Arizona's optional creditor notice to shorten the claim window to 4 months; without it, the settlor's creditors have up to 24 months to bring a claim.

Arizona offers remote online notarization (RON) for estate planning documents and transfer-on-death deeds to pass real estate without probate. These tools, combined with revocable trusts and beneficiary designations, provide multiple ways to transfer assets without probate.

A healthcare power of attorney in Arizona requires 1 witness or notarization to be valid. A financial power of attorney requires 1 witness and notarization. A financial power of attorney is not durable by default — it must include specific durability language to survive incapacity.

In Arizona, the executor must file an inventory of the estate's assets within 90 days of appointment. A revocable trust skips the court-supervised inventory entirely, so a trustee distributes assets without filing one.

In Arizona, divorce automatically revokes a beneficiary designation that names a former spouse on covered accounts, so the asset does not pass to the ex-spouse unless the designation is renewed after the divorce.

Estate Planning in Arizona

Estate planning in Arizona is shaped by community-property rules and remote online notarization. The choice between a will and a revocable trust depends on which of those features changes the cost or process for your situation, not on any single rule.

Probate in Arizona runs attorney fees on a reasonable-compensation standard, typically 2.2-3.5% of the estate value, with room to negotiate. A simple estate typically closes in 4-6 months, and the 4-month creditor-claim window sets the floor. Estates under $200K can use the Collection of Personal Property by Affidavit and avoid full probate administration. The Collection of Personal Property by Affidavit is presented directly to the bank, employer, or other holder of the property — it is not filed with a court.

For a revocable trust, Arizona does not require witnesses for trust execution. Notarization isn't required for validity, though banks and title companies typically expect a notarized trust before they'll work with it. Arizona has adopted the Uniform Trust Code, so trust administration follows the same baseline rules used in most states.

Arizona offers transfer-on-death deeds, which move real estate to a named beneficiary at death without probate and remote online notarization for estate documents, so signing can happen over secure video. Combined with beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and payable-on-death registrations, these can move significant value outside probate without setting up a trust.

SimplyTrust Editorial·Updated July 13, 2026

Sources

azleg.gov

Data sourced from Arizona estate law primary sources (4 pages reviewed). How we research.

Arizona Estate Planning Tools

Answer a specific Arizona question: How much does probate cost in Arizona? · Who inherits without a will in Arizona? · Do I need probate in Arizona? · How much does a will cost in Arizona? · How much does a trust cost in Arizona? · How do I sign a will in Arizona?

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