Messinger Payson Funeral Home is on South Westerly Road in Payson, in Gila County, one of the locations of Messinger Mortuaries, family owned since 1959. The operator's site states it arranges burial and cremation, in crematories it owns and operates, and transportation of a loved one within the country or abroad.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Gila County, Arizona
How probate works in Gila County: the Superior Court record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Gila County Superior Court
Gila County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Office
1400 East Ash Street, 3rd Floor, Globe, AZ 85501
Website
E-filing
Filing in person
Walk-ins accepted
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
E-filing
OptionalACJA § 1-901, Attachment A (version effective June 1, 2026): e-filing through eFileAZ is authorized for probate post-initiation documents in every county other than Pima, and is not mandatory in probate cases. Wills, any document used to initiate a probate case, and letters in probate cases may not be e-filed. On paper: Wills; Documents that initiate a probate case; Letters in probate cases.
Filing in person
Walk-ins acceptedPrepared forms are printed and filed with the Clerk of the Superior Court, and the Self Service Center asks filers to arrive at least two hours before the office closes. New cases are taken before 4:30 p.m. at the Globe office and before 4:00 p.m. at the Payson office. Filings may also be mailed to the Clerk with a self-addressed stamped envelope for the conformed copies.
Self-represented filing
AllowedThe Clerk's Self Service Center publishes probate packets for small estates (collection of personal property and transfer of real property), informal probate, inventory and appraisement, accounting before closing, claims and objections, closing the estate and status reports. Each packet contains the instructions and the official documents, and court staff do not give legal advice.
Accepted payment
- At the counterCash, Money order, Credit card, Debit card.The Clerk of the Superior Court accepts cash, certified or cashier's checks, in-state business checks, money orders, and VISA/MasterCard debit or credit cards, payable to "Clerk of Superior Court"; the card account holder must be present. Personal checks are not accepted. Coin payments may not exceed $5.00 and must be wrapped and show the payer's name and phone number.
County forms
- Informal Probate - Application for Informal Probate PacketGila County instructions, Probate Information Cover Sheet and forms for applying for informal appointment of a Personal Representative.
- Affidavit of Transfer of Real Property (with instructions)Gila County checklist and affidavit for succession to real property under A.R.S. § 14-3971.
- Small Estate Affidavit for Collection of Personal PropertyGila County forms and instructions for the small estate affidavit that collects a decedent's personal property under A.R.S. § 14-3971(B).
Fax
1-928-425-7802
Departments
- Office of the Clerk1-928-402-8866
- Gila County courthouse toll-free line (in state only)1-800-304-4452
- Clerk of the Superior Court, Payson Satellite Office1-928-474-7131 · 714 South Beeline Highway, Suite 104, Payson, AZ 85541 · Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-noon and 1:15 PM-4:30 PMThe customer service window closes for lunch from noon to 1:15 p.m. New cases are taken before 4:00 p.m.
About the court
- The Superior Court's Payson courthouse line is 928-474-3978. The Clerk takes payments by telephone at 844-310-0743 or online at gilasuperiorcourtpay.com.
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Gila County
Probate is the court-supervised process of settling someone's estate after they die — validating the will, paying debts and taxes, and transferring what's left to the heirs. In Gila County, probate runs through the Superior Court at 1400 East Ash Street, 3rd Floor, Globe.
The personal representative opens the case, gives notice to heirs and creditors, files an inventory of the estate's assets, settles outstanding debts and taxes, and then distributes the remainder under the will — or under Arizona intestacy law when there is no will.
Most Arizona estates take 6 months to 9 months to move through this process. Creditors have 4 monthsA.R.S. §§ 14-3801, 14-3803, 14-3804, 14-3805, 14-3806Verified Oct 18, 2026View source to present a claim, counted from the first publication of the notice to creditors.
What Probate Costs in Gila County
What probate costs in Gila County, Arizona comes down to a handful of line items — the court filing fee, attorney and executor compensation, publication, and sometimes a bond — scaled by the estate's size and whether the will is contested. The case itself runs through the Superior Court at 1400 East Ash Street, 3rd Floor, Globe.
The Superior Court charges $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 Oct 17, 2026 to open a probate case. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Attorney fees in Arizona are negotiated, typically 2.2%Modeled estimate under A.R.S. §§ 14-3719, 14-3721 (reasonable compensation; court review of reasonableness): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.5%Modeled estimate under A.R.S. §§ 14-3719, 14-3721 (reasonable compensation; court review of reasonableness): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.
Arizona allows executors 'reasonable compensation' — around 2.2%–3.8% of a $500,000 estate, judging by what the states with statutory schedules payA.R.S. § 14-3719 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. Family members who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
Arizona requires publishing notice to creditors in a local newspaper, and the estate pays for it.
A surety bond may be required unless the will waives it or all beneficiaries consent. Premiums run roughly 0.5%Industry surety premium estimate; the bond itself under A.R.S. § 14-3603Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value annually.
Probate in Arizona typically runs 6 months to 9 months, and costs accrue throughout that period.
How to File Probate at the Superior Court
Probate documents in Gila County can be filed in person at the Superior Court, by mail, or electronically. Most families handling probate themselves prefer paper filing, though e-filing is available.
Beside the filing office, the court lists separate lines for Office of the Clerk, Gila County courthouse toll-free line (in state only), and Clerk of the Superior Court, Payson Satellite Office.
Can You File Without an Attorney?
In Arizona, informal probate is availableA.R.S. § 14-3301Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, and a self-represented executor can usually handle it for a simple, uncontested estate.
For a full cost comparison and filing checklist, see the Gila County Self-Filing Assessment.
Gila County Filing Requirements
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Before You File
Wills and case-initiating probate documents are filed on paper
Under Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 1-901, Attachment A, § III(F), wills and any document used to initiate a probate case may not be e-filed, so the application or petition and the original will are filed in person, by mail, or via filing depository. Later documents in an open probate case may be e-filed through eFileAZ; a self-represented filer e-files under a registered eFileAZ login.
SourceThe Probate Registrar reviews an informal application within three business days
The Gila County informal probate packet states that the Clerk accepts the originals for review by the Probate Registrar or Deputy Registrar within 3 business days after the date of submission, and that extra copies of all originals are presented for the Registrar to date-stamp and return as proof of filing.
SourceWhat to Bring
Filed with the opening petition at the Superior Court: Original will and any codicils, if testate (lodged/deposited with the court) (A.R.S. § 14-2516); Application for Informal Appointment with required § 14-3301 contents (heirs/devisees, domicile, priority)A.R.S. §§ 14-3103 (necessity of letters), 14-3301 to 14-3311 (informal appointment), 14-3401 to 14-3414 (formal appointment)Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.
Death Certificates and the Medical Examiner in Gila County
In Arizona a death is registered locally, and in Gila County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Office of Vital Records, Gila County as well as by Arizona Department of Health Services - Bureau of Vital Records.
Vital Records Office Record
Local Health Department
Gila County · Office of Vital Records
Phone
Office
5515 South Apache Avenue, Suite 100, Globe, AZ 85501
Website
Certified copies
Copies are not issued the same day
Fax
1-928-425-8817
Local rule
- Applications take 7 to 10 business days from receipt. The office does not accept temporary paper identification or the Arizona Mobile ID.
Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $20 |
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
Medical Examiner
Gila County · Medical Examiner's Office
Phone
Office
920 North Bowling Road, Florence, AZ 85132
Website
Serves this county
Pinal County Medical Examiner's Office
Mail and offices
P.O. Box 2728
Florence, AZ 85132
Fax
1-520-866-7296
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Funeral Homes in Gila County
1 funeral home or crematory in Gila County, each listed with the services it offers, the faiths it serves, the languages its staff speak, its address and its phone.
Funeral homes by city: Payson
Cremation Services in Gila County
1 listing
Burial Services in Gila County
1 listing
Funeral Transport in Gila County
1 listing
Listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any funeral home or crematory.
Transferring Property in Gila County
Clearing title to real estate after a death, whether by a personal representative’s deed, an affidavit of survivorship, or a court order, happens at the County Recorder.
Deeds and other real property documents for Gila County are recorded with the County Recorder at 1400 East Ash Street, Globe, AZ 85501. Phone: 1-928-402-8740. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM.
The County Recorder charges $30 flat, regardless of page count.
Gila County accepts electronic recording through CSC, Data Services, ePN and Simplifile.
Recording Office Record
County Recorder
Gila County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Office
1400 East Ash Street, Globe, AZ 85501
Website
Fax
1-928-425-9270
Recording fees
| Flat fee (any length) | $30 |
| Transfer tax on a TOD deed | No transfer tax applies to TOD deeds |
A.R.S. § 11-475(A)(1)
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Forms that put a death on the title
- Free forms: Affidavit of Death Form
Probate Attorneys Serving Gila County
Arizona allows informal probate, so many families settle straightforward estates in Gila County without hiring an attorney. A probate attorney earns the fee when the estate is contested, includes a business or out-of-state real estate, has unclear or insolvent debts, or when beneficiaries disagree.
Probate attorney fees in Arizona are based on reasonable compensation, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask a Gila County firm to quote a structure up front.
A probate attorney files the petition with the Superior Court, publishes the required creditor notices, prepares the inventory and accounting, handles creditor claims and tax filings, and guides the final distribution. They represent the personal representative — not the beneficiaries — a distinction that matters if a dispute develops.
Daisy Flores Law & Associates, P.C.
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.
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.
Law Office of Jerry B. DeRose, P.C.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Legal Sources
(9)·
- A.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)
- A.R.S. § 14-3301
- A.R.S. § 14-3719 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)
- A.R.S. §§ 14-3103 (necessity of letters), 14-3301 to 14-3311 (informal appointment), 14-3401 to 14-3414 (formal appointment)
- A.R.S. §§ 14-3801, 14-3803, 14-3804, 14-3805, 14-3806
- A.R.S. § 11-475(A)(1)
- Gila County Superior Court, official page
- Gila County Recorder, official page
- Gila County vital records and death investigation offices, official page
Data sourced from Arizona statutes and official state code. Fee percentages are modeled estimates; each figure's note says how. How we research.
Tools for Settling an Estate in Arizona
Free tools for settling an estate in Arizona: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines and taxes. Run each tool for Arizona.
How Do I Settle an Estate?
Settling an estate in Arizona: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 90 daysA.R.S. §§ 14-3706, 14-3707, 14-3708Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 4 monthsA.R.S. §§ 14-3801, 14-3803, 14-3804, 14-3805, 14-3806Verified Oct 18, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 4 months to 6 months.
See the Steps
How Do I Settle a Trust?
Settling a trust in Arizona happens outside court: the trustee acts under the state's Uniform Trust CodeA.R.S. § 14-10101 et seq. (Title 14, Chapter 11)Verified Oct 17, 2026View source, notifies the beneficiaries within 60 daysA.R.S. §§ 14-10813, 14-10109, 14-11005Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, then pays the debts and distributes under the trust's terms.
See the Steps
Can I Self-File Probate?
In Arizona, informal probate is availableA.R.S. § 14-3301Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, and a self-represented executor can usually handle it for a simple, uncontested estate.
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