What to Do When Someone Dies in Maricopa County, Arizona
Probate in Maricopa County runs through the Superior Court: prove the will, settle the debts, and pass the house to the heirs. Here is how the local process works—and what each step actually costs.
When someone dies in Maricopa County, settling their estate runs through the Superior Court. This page covers the court record, whether probate is required, what it costs, how to file, transferring property, and the local attorneys who handle probate here.
Paper filing availableE-filing optionalWalk-ins acceptedSelf-filing allowed
Accepted paymentCheck, Money order, Credit card. Probate filings accept money order (with signature and address) or business check made payable to "Clerk of the Court", plus Visa, MasterCard, or American Express. Personal checks are generally not accepted for probate filings.
Departments
Information Center (Probate)602-506-3204
Probate and Mental Health Department602-506-3668
Fourth largest court system in the US. Probate filing at 201 W. Jefferson. Additional locations: Mesa (222 E. Javelina), Surprise (14264 W. Tierra Buena), NE Phoenix (18380 N. 40th St, Suite 120). ezCourtForms available for document preparation. Clerk general line: 602-372-5375 (602-37-CLERK).
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 Maricopa County, probate runs through the Superior Court at 201 W. Jefferson Street, Phoenix.
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. The 4 monthsA.R.S. § 14-3801Verified Sep 8, 2026View source creditor claim window is the largest fixed piece of that timeline — a mandatory wait regardless of how simple the estate is.
What Probate Costs in Maricopa County
What probate costs in Maricopa 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 201 W. Jefferson Street, Phoenix.
Probate matters are handled through Information Center (Probate) and Probate and Mental Health Department. Filing and payment go through these offices, not the main clerk window.
Maricopa County runs a probate self-help center, which is the single biggest cost-saver for families who can self-file. Staff can walk you through the paperwork and explain procedures, though they cannot give legal advice on your specific case. Call 602-732-2834.
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 Sep 8, 2026View source to open a probate case. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
The Superior Court accepts e-filing (https://efile.azcourts.gov/). Paper filing remains available for self-represented filers.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Attorney fees in Arizona are negotiated, typically 2.2%A.R.S. §§ 14-3719, 14-3721 (reasonable compensation; court review of reasonableness)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.5%A.R.S. §§ 14-3719, 14-3721 (reasonable compensation; court review of reasonableness)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.
Executor compensation is based on reasonable pay for time and effort — the states that do set a schedule pay 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 estate value. Family members who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
Arizona requires publishing creditor notice in a local newspaper, typically $200–$500. Professional appraisals for real estate or business interests add $300–$600 per asset.
A surety bond may be required unless the will waives it or all beneficiaries consent. Premiums run roughly 0.5%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 Maricopa 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.
Filings here are routed through Information Center (Probate) and Probate and Mental Health Department. Confirm with the office which intake handles the petition type you're filing.
How to File Your Documents
Paper Filing Available
You can file your probate documents in person at the court or by mail.
E-Filing Also Available
If you prefer, you can file electronically through the state's online system. This is optional for families filing without an attorney.
Not every estate requires an attorney. Estate size, asset types, and whether beneficiaries agree determine if self-filing at the Superior Court is realistic. Maricopa County has a self-help center that assists people filing without an attorney.
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Before You File
Probate case-initiating documents must be filed in paper
Per Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 1-901, electronic filing of case-initiating documents and original wills in probate cases is NOT permitted. Initial petitions must be filed in person at the Probate Filing Counter (602-506-3204), by mail, or via filing depository. Self-represented litigants may e-file subsequent documents after the case is open using a registered eFileAZ account.
You can file in person without an appointment. Probate Filing Counter accepts walk-ins, Mon-Fri 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM. The Clerk also offers appointments for non-criminal adult filing counters; appointments are served before walk-ins. Counters: 201 W. Jefferson (Phoenix), 222 E. Javelina (Mesa), 14264 W. Tierra Buena Lane (Surprise), 18380 N. 40th St., Suite 120 (NE Phoenix).
Accepted payment
Check, Money order, Credit card. Probate filings accept money order (with signature and address) or business check made payable to "Clerk of the Court", plus Visa, MasterCard, or American Express. Personal checks are generally not accepted for probate filings.
What to Bring
To file at the Superior Court you need: the original will (or proof there isn't one), a certified death certificate, contact information for all heirs and beneficiaries, and a summary of what the estate owns and owes.
Transferring Property in Maricopa 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 Maricopa County are recorded with the County Recorder at 301 W. Jefferson Street, Second Floor, Suite 200, Phoenix, AZ 85003. Phone: 602-506-3535. Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM.
The County Recorder charges $30 flat, regardless of page count.
Maricopa County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile / CSC / eRecording Partners Network.
Recording Office Record
County Recorder
Maricopa County
Address
301 W. Jefferson Street, Second Floor, Suite 200Phoenix, AZ 85003
Arizona allows informal probate, so many families settle straightforward estates in Maricopa 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 — typically 2.2%A.R.S. §§ 14-3719, 14-3721 (reasonable compensation; court review of reasonableness)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.5%A.R.S. §§ 14-3719, 14-3721 (reasonable compensation; court review of reasonableness)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate's value, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask a Maricopa 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.
Phoenix firm handling Maricopa County estate and probate matters from its North Central Avenue offices. The trusts-and-estates group administers revocable and irrevocable trusts, takes personal representatives and heirs through formal and informal probate, and litigates will contests and other testamentary disputes. Dedicated tax attorneys handle estate and gift tax planning.
Mesa firm handling probate across Maricopa and Pinal Counties (Casa Grande, San Tan Valley, Florence, Apache Junction), plus Cochise and La Paz. Led by Philip G. Cardis, it guides personal representatives through formal and informal proceedings — appointments, estate inventories, creditor claims, small estate affidavits, final accounting — and drafts wills, trusts, and powers of attorney.
PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationProbateAsset Protectionand 2 more
East Valley firm on West Main Street in Mesa, with offices in Peoria and Scottsdale, serving the greater Phoenix area. Handles informal probate, trust administration for successor trustees under the Arizona Trust Code, guardianships and conservatorships, and trust and estate litigation alongside estate planning. Free initial consultation with an attorney.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 5 more
Glendale firm on West Bell Road serving West Valley and Maricopa County clients. Prepares wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives, and pairs estate planning with business formation, succession, and transaction work. Patrick J. Monahan was admitted to the Arizona bar in 2007.
Goodyear firm founded in 1979 by Paul J. Faith, serving West Valley and Maricopa County families from offices in Goodyear and Surprise. Estate work covers wills, powers of attorney, and trusts with estate tax strategies, plus probate and estate administration and guardianship and conservatorship proceedings. Also handles real estate, business law, and bankruptcy.
PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationProbateConservatorshipand 3 more
Scottsdale business firm on North Scottsdale Road whose estate practice serves Maricopa County clients. Estate planning covers contingent trusts for children, administration of vacation property, gifting strategies, and general asset protection, coordinated with the firm's business, tax, and real estate attorneys.
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.
Living trust assets, and accounts with a named beneficiary or surviving joint owner. These skip probate; some states charge the court fee only on what remains.
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Probate fee bases vary by state and may use gross estate, personal property, inventory value, or net property after debts. This calculator provides educational estimates only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Actual costs vary significantly by county, attorney, and estate complexity. Consult a licensed attorney in your state for guidance specific to your situation.
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Maricopa County Guides
Step-by-step tools for families in Maricopa County, Arizona.
