Yuma general practice serving Yuma and La Paz counties plus neighboring Imperial County, California, in practice since 1920. Handles probate and probate litigation alongside estate planning, wills and trusts, real estate, business, and agricultural law. Firm members are licensed in Arizona, California, Texas, and New Mexico.
Estate Planning for La Paz County, Arizona Property Owners
For most La Paz 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 La Paz 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 La Paz 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.
Without a recorded beneficiary designation or a trust, La Paz County property passes through the Superior Court — even simple Arizona probates run 4+ months and start with $251 in filing fees. Arizona also lets owners name a transfer-on-death beneficiary on vehicle titles, which keeps cars out of the same process.
Record a Transfer-on-Death Deed in La Paz County
A beneficiary deed names a beneficiary who receives La Paz 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 Oct 18, 2026View source. The deed takes effect only if it is recorded before the owner's deathA.R.S. 33-405Verified Oct 18, 2026View source.
Where to Record Property Documents
Deeds and other real property documents for La Paz County are recorded with the County Recorder at 1112 Joshua Avenue, Suite 201, Parker, AZ 85344. Phone: 1-928-669-6136. Hours: Monday-Thursday 7:00 AM-6:00 PM.
The County Recorder charges $30 flat, regardless of page count. Recording a 2-page beneficiary deed in La Paz County comes to $30. No transfer tax applies to a beneficiary deed.
La Paz County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile.
Recording Office Record
County Recorder
La Paz County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Thursday 7:00 AM-6:00 PM
Office
1112 Joshua Avenue, Suite 201, Parker, AZ 85344
Website
E-recording
available via Simplifile
Fax
1-928-669-5638
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
Estate Planning Attorneys Serving La Paz County
Tri-state firm with offices in Bullhead City, Kingman, and Lake Havasu City, serving Mohave and La Paz County communities along the Colorado River plus Nevada and California. Guides executors and administrators through Arizona probate - inventory, appraisal, and distribution - and prepares wills, living trusts, and beneficiary deeds. Keith S. Knochel founded the firm in 1989.
Law Office of John C. Churchill
Parker solo practice serving La Paz County and western Arizona, admitted to the Arizona bar in 1982 and to the Colorado River Tribal Court. The State Bar lists wills, probate, trusts and estates among his practice areas, alongside real estate, business, family law, and appellate work.
Bullhead City firm serving Mohave County — Bullhead City, Fort Mohave, Kingman, and Lake Havasu City — along with La Paz County and the greater Phoenix area. Its estate practice covers probate, guardianship, and conservatorship proceedings as well as wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and health care directives; initial consultations carry a nominal fee.
The Law Offices of Heather C. Wellborn, P.C.
500 N Lake Havasu Ave, Suite B100, Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403
Lake Havasu City practice serving Mohave and La Paz counties from offices in Lake Havasu City, Kingman, and Parker. Prepares wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and advance directives, and handles guardianship and conservatorship proceedings alongside family law, criminal defense, and personal injury work. Heather C. Wellborn is a Certified Mediator.
Multi-attorney Mohave County firm with offices in Kingman and Lake Havasu City, handling matters in Mohave County Superior Court. Files probate petitions, inventories estate assets, manages creditor notification and disputes, and establishes guardianships and conservatorships, plus wills and trusts that plan around probate. Probate consultations begin at $200 for up to one hour of attorney time.
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
(2)·
Data sourced from Arizona statutes and official state code. How we research.
Forms for Planning Your Estate in Arizona
Free forms for planning your estate in Arizona: will, living trust, pour-over will, powers of attorney and TOD deed. Prepare each form for Arizona.
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Last Will and Testament
In Arizona, a will is signed before 2A.R.S. § 14-2502Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses, and a self-proving affidavit signed with it lets the court admit it without witness testimonyA.R.S. § 14-2502Verified Oct 18, 2026View source.
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Codicil to a Will
In Arizona, a codicil is signed before 2A.R.S. § 14-2502Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses, like a will, and the self-proving affidavit signed with it lets the court admit it without witness testimonyA.R.S. § 14-2504Verified Oct 25, 2026View source.
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Free
Healthcare Power of Attorney
Arizona allows a choice for a healthcare power of attorney: 1ARS § 36-3224Verified Oct 15, 2026View source witness or a notary.
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Free
HIPAA Release
In Arizona, a HIPAA release names who may receive your records and, as the state requires, names HIV/AIDS-related informationAriz. Rev. Stat. § 36-664(F), (J)Verified Jun 10, 2026View source expressly before a provider releases it.
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Financial Power of Attorney
Arizona requires explicit durability language for a power of attorney to survive incapacityA.R.S. § 14-5501 through § 14-5506; A.R.S. §§ 14-13109, 14-13110 (RUFADAA)Verified Oct 21, 2026View source, and it is signed before 1A.R.S. § 14-5501 through § 14-5506; A.R.S. §§ 14-13109, 14-13110 (RUFADAA)Verified Sep 18, 2026View source witness and a notary.
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Transfer on Death Deed
In Arizona, a beneficiary deed is signed before a notaryA.R.S. 33-405Verified Oct 18, 2026View source, then recorded with the county before the owner's deathA.R.S. 33-405Verified Oct 18, 2026View source. Arizona does not recognize a Lady Bird deed.
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Vehicle Transfer on Death
Arizona allows a transfer-on-death beneficiary designation on a vehicle titleA.R.S. 28-2055(B)Verified Oct 21, 2026View source, filed through the Arizona Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) using Form 96-0561.
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Free
Living Will
In Arizona, the living will is the Living WillAriz. Rev. Stat. title 36, ch. 32, art. 5 (§§ 36-3261, 36-3262); general provisions art. 1 (§§ 36-3201 to 36-3211)Verified Sep 27, 2026View source, a document of its own, apart from the healthcare power of attorney.
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Tools for Planning Your Estate in Arizona
Free tools for planning your estate in Arizona: will and trust costs, trust or TOD deed, and the signing rules. Run each tool for Arizona and read its answer.
How Do I Sign Estate Documents?
In Arizona, a will is signed before 2A.R.S. § 14-2502Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses, and notarization is not requiredA.R.S. § 14-2502Verified Oct 18, 2026View source.
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Will My Estate Documents Transfer?
Arizona recognizes a will signed under the law of the place where it was signedA.R.S. § 14-2506Verified Oct 18, 2026View source; a will signed in Arizona itself needs 2A.R.S. § 14-2502Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses, and notarization is not requiredA.R.S. § 14-2502Verified Oct 18, 2026View source.
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Trust or Will: Which Costs Less?
In Arizona, a will-based plan pays probate attorney fees of 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 the estate; a funded revocable trust keeps those assets out of probate and off that fee.
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How Much Does a Revocable Living Trust Cost?
An attorney-prepared revocable living trust in Arizona runs $3,760Estimate: 10 hours at $376, Clio's Arizona Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $5,640Estimate: 15 hours at $376, Clio's Arizona Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source for an individual, against $0 to $549 up front plus a subscription with an online service.
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How Much Does a Will Cost?
An attorney-prepared will in Arizona runs $1,173Estimate: 3 hours at $391, Clio's Arizona Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $2,346Estimate: 6 hours at $391, Clio's Arizona Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source, against $0 to $299 up front with an online service, and probate on a $500,000 estate adds about $27,670A.R.S. §§ 14-3719, 14-3721 (reasonable compensation; court review of reasonableness)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.
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How Does SimplyTrust Compare to LegalZoom, Trust & Will, and Other Services?
Compare what it costs to make a trust official across SimplyTrust, LegalZoom, Trust & Will, Rocket Lawyer, and Quicken WillMaker.
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How Do I Name a Guardian for My Minor Children?
In Arizona, a parent names a guardian for a minor child in a willA.R.S. §§ 14-5202, 14-5203, 14-5204(B), 14-5410(A)(6)Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, and the nomination covers the child until the age of majority, 18A.R.S. § 1-215(19)Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
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Do I Need a Revocable Trust?
Probate in Arizona takes 4 months to 6 months for a simple estate and charges attorney fees of 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 the estate; assets held in a revocable trust skip both.
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Arizona Estate Planning Articles
Estate planning articles for Arizona.
