For most Gila County homeowners, the house is what drags an estate into probate. A transfer-on-death deed or a living trust keeps it out—here is how to set up either one and record it locally.
For a Gila County property owner, the biggest probate risk is the home itself. Real estate is what forces most families into the Superior Court. The two tools that keep a Gila County home out of probate are a transfer-on-death deed recorded with the County Recorder, and a revocable living trust that holds title to the property.
Skipping this planning step means the Superior Court decides who receives the property: a simple Arizona probate takes 4+ months and opens with about $306 in court filing fees. Arizona also lets owners name a transfer-on-death beneficiary on vehicle titles, which keeps cars out of the same process.
A beneficiary deed names a beneficiary who receives Gila County property automatically at the owner's death, without probate. It is recorded with the County Recorder during the owner's lifetime and can be revoked at any time.
Before recording, an Arizona beneficiary deed is signed with notary acknowledgmentA.R.S. 33-405Verified Aug 24, 2026View source. The deed takes effect only if it is recorded before the owner's deathA.R.S. 33-405Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.
Deeds and other real property documents for Gila County are recorded with the County Recorder, led by Wendy Mannigel-Smith, at 1400 E. Ash Street, Globe, AZ 85501. Phone: 928-402-8740. Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM.
The County Recorder charges $30 flat, regardless of page count. A 2-page beneficiary deed costs $30 to record in Gila County. A beneficiary deed is exempt from transfer tax.
Gila County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile / CSC / eRecording Partners Network / Data Services Inc.
Recording Office Record
Gila County · Wendy Mannigel-Smith
Address
Phone
Fax
Hours
E-recording
Recording fees
| Flat fee (any length) | $30 |
| Transfer tax on a TOD deed | Exempt |
A.R.S. § 11-475(A)(1)
Verified September 4, 2026 · Source
FirmGlobe, AZ
Globe practice serving Gila County families. Daisy Flores lists wills, probate, trusts and estates with the State Bar of Arizona alongside family law and criminal defense.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbate
FirmPayson, AZ
Payson office on the Beeline Highway serving Gila County and the wider Rim Country, part of a statewide Arizona estate-planning firm with ten additional offices across the Phoenix valley, Tucson, Prescott, and Sun City. Handles wills, living trusts, formal and informal probate, and trust administration. Offers free initial consultations.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate
Solo PracticeGlobe, AZ
Globe solo practitioner handling wills and probate for Gila County families, admitted to the Arizona bar in 1972. DeRose is admitted in Arizona, in federal court, and before the San Carlos Apache Tribal Court, and also handles criminal, family law, and real estate matters.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateReal Estate
FirmPayson, AZ
Payson firm (formerly Dana and Associates) serving Gila County and the Rim Country, with additional offices in Mesa, Scottsdale, and Flagstaff. Handles probate after a death, trust and estate administration, and wills and revocable living trusts, with attorney help funding the trust. Bills flat-rate fees and includes a Digital Asset Trust and digital vault in its plans.
PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbate
Solo PracticePayson, AZ
Payson firm serving Rim Country and Gila County families, with matters in Gila County Superior Court. Jared Owens handles probate, contested trust and probate litigation, and guardianship and conservatorship appointments, alongside estate planning. Free, no-obligation consultations with an attorney.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigationand 2 more
FirmShow Low, AZ
Estate planning and probate practice anchored in Show Low's White Mountains, serving Navajo and Apache County families, with seven other offices across the Phoenix metro, Tucson, and Payson. Attorneys draft wills and trusts, guide personal representatives through probate, and handle estate tax matters. Founding partners are Shad M. Brown and Scott T. Jensen.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateTax PlanningBusiness Law
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to verify their current practice areas and availability.
Data sourced from Arizona statutes and official state code. How we research.
Estate planning articles for Arizona.
Forms and tools for property owners in Gila County.
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
Create a free, state-specific will with witness and notarization requirements included.
Transfer assets to your existing trust. State execution requirements included.
Transfer real property to a beneficiary upon your death without probate.
Designate someone to make medical decisions on your behalf.
Designate someone to manage your financial affairs.
Answer questions about your estate size, real estate ownership, marital status, and family situation to see how a revocable trust compares to a will alone. Includes estimated probate costs for your state.
Answer questions about your property type, ownership structure, and estate plan to see if a TOD deed is the right approach. Includes state-specific availability, signing requirements, and recording fees.
Compare trusts vs wills for your specific situation. See probate costs, trust administration expenses, and whether your estate qualifies for simplified procedures based on your state and estate value.
Find out who inherits your estate and how much they get if you die without a will. Based on your state's intestate succession laws.
Compare the cost of creating a revocable living trust. See how SimplyTrust, Trust & Will, LegalZoom, and attorneys compare over 5 years including life events.
Estate planning articles for Arizona.
