Arizona Inheritance: Plan an Estate or Settle One

Arizona has adopted the Uniform Probate Code, has enacted the Uniform Trust CodeA.R.S. § 14-10101 et seq. (Title 14, Chapter 11)Verified Oct 17, 2026View source, and has not adopted the Uniform Power of Attorney ActA.R.S. § 14-5501 through § 14-5506; A.R.S. §§ 14-13109, 14-13110 (RUFADAA)Verified Sep 18, 2026View source.

Probate of a simple estate in Arizona runs 4 months to 6 months; an average estate takes 6 months to 9 months. The court filing fee is $306A.R.S. § 12-284(A) (class C); A.R.S. § 12-284.01 (document storage fund); A.R.S. § 11-251.08 (county fees); Ariz. Sup. Ct. Admin. Order 2024-210 (eff. Dec. 28, 2024)Verified Sep 8, 2026; attorney fees are reasonable compensationA.R.S. §§ 14-3719, 14-3721 (reasonable compensation; court review of reasonableness)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source; executor compensation typically runs 2.2%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.8%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate. On a $500,000 estate the estimated total comes to $27,670A.R.S. §§ 14-3719, 14-3721 (reasonable compensation; court review of reasonableness)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. The personal representative must post a bondA.R.S. § 14-3603Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, which the will may waiveA.R.S. § 14-3603Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. Informal, unsupervised probate is availableA.R.S. § 14-3301Verified Sep 8, 2026View source for uncontested estates.

Certified death certificates come from the Arizona Department of Health Services - Bureau of Vital RecordsArizona Department of Health Services - Bureau of Vital RecordsVerified Oct 15, 2026View source at $20Arizona Department of Health Services - Bureau of Vital RecordsVerified Oct 15, 2026View source a copy. Processing time: 5 business days for mail ordersArizona Department of Health Services - Bureau of Vital RecordsVerified Oct 15, 2026View source. Once appointed, the personal representative files the estate inventory within 90 daysA.R.S. §§ 14-3706, 14-3707, 14-3708Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment and publishes the notice to creditors for 3A.R.S. §§ 14-3801, 14-3803, 14-3804, 14-3805, 14-3806Verified Oct 18, 2026View source consecutive weeks.

Arizona has no elective shareN/A - Community Property State (A.R.S. § 25-211)Verified Sep 15, 2026View source for a spouse left out of the will. The family allowance during administration is capped at $12,000A.R.S. §§ 14-2402(A), 14-2404, 14-2405(C)Verified Sep 15, 2026View source. Property left to a minor under the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act is released at 21 yearsA.R.S. §§ 14-7651, 14-7656, 14-7657, 14-7670Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of age. Arizona taxes incomeA.R.S. § 43-1011Verified Sep 20, 2026View source at a flat 2.5%A.R.S. § 43-1011Verified Sep 20, 2026View source. An heir's capital gains on inherited assets: state tax on the 75% of long-term gain left after a 25% exclusion, only for assets acquired after December 31, 2011A.R.S. § 43-1022(22)(c)Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.