Marana Mortuary & Cemetery on West Barnett Road in Marana has its funeral home, crematory and cemetery on one property. It states traditional burial, cremation and green burial, offers burial estates for families, and its chapel and reception center hold up to 200 guests.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Pima County, Arizona
How probate works in Pima County: the Superior Court record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Pima County Superior Court
Pima County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Office
110 West Congress Street, 1st Floor, Tucson, AZ 85701
Website
Filing in person
Walk-ins accepted
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
Filing in person
Walk-ins acceptedPaper filing in person runs Mon-Fri 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM in Civil, Child Support, Probate, and Criminal Services on the first floor of 110 W. Congress, and services may be limited after 4:45 PM. Deputy clerks carry no forms, so paperwork arrives completed. Filings are also accepted by mail or delivery service to the Clerk at 110 W. Congress, Tucson, AZ 85701-1317, and in the courthouse depository boxes; case documents are not accepted by email.
Self-represented filing
AllowedThe Superior Court posts its own probate packets and forms, and only forms issued by the Arizona Superior Court in Pima County are valid for use in that court. Some guides, including Representing Yourself in Probate Court, are also posted in Spanish. Probate Support Services deputy clerks explain how and where to file but give no legal advice.
Accepted payment
- At the counterCash, Check, Money order, Credit card, Debit card.The Clerk accepts cash, money orders, cashier's checks, personal checks, Mastercard, Visa, Discover and debit cards for filing fees, and returned checks are referred to the County Attorney's Office for collection. Filings sent by mail include a money order or a personal or business check payable to "Clerk of the Court". Probate payments are made in person or by mail at Room 152, 110 W. Congress St.
Self-help center
- Law Library and Resource Center, 110 W. Congress Street, Room 2561-520-724-8456 · lawlibrary@sc.pima.gov · Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-5:00 PM · Assistance in Spanish in addition to EnglishThe Superior Court's Law Library and Resource Center helps with legal forms, legal research and representing yourself in court, with links to lawyer referral services and free legal clinics. Its brochure is published in English and Spanish.
County forms
- Informal Probate Packet 01 - Appointment of Personal Representative ExecutorPima County Superior Court packet for informal appointment of a personal representative and admission of a will: checklist, probate cover sheet, application, waivers, statement of informal appointment, letters and order to personal representative, and the training manuals.
- Informal Probate Packet 02 - Appointment of Personal RepresentativePima County Superior Court packet: application for appointment as personal representative.
- Informal Probate Packet 03 - Administration of the EstatePima County Superior Court packet on administering and accounting for the estate after appointment.
- Informal Probate Packet 04 - Closing the EstatePima County Superior Court packet for closing an informally probated estate.
- Informal Probate Packet 05 - Claims or ObjectionsPima County Superior Court packet for a claim against the estate or an objection.
- Form 07 - Probate Information SheetPima County Superior Court Probate Information Cover Sheet filed with a new probate, guardianship or conservatorship case.
- Form 01 - Small Estate AffidavitPima County Superior Court packet for transferring a small estate by affidavit.
Fax
1-520-879-9314
Departments
- Probate Support Services1-520-724-3230 · Room 152 · cocprobateweb@sc.pima.gov · Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PMThe Clerk's probate filing counter, which also finds the case number for a will already filed with the court.
- Probate Registrar1-520-724-3247
- Probate Accountant1-520-724-3286Reviews the annual accountings filed in conservatorships, decedents' estates and trust administration; 520-724-3541 also reaches the office.
- Public Records Services1-520-724-3240 · Room 241 · coclegalrecordsweb@sc.pima.gov
- Financial Services1-520-724-3270 · Room 131 · cocfinance@sc.pima.gov · Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
- Superior Court General Information1-520-724-4200
About the court
- 520-724-3200 reaches the Clerk of the Superior Court; the Superior Court general information line is 520-724-4200. The El Presidio parking garage, entered from Pennington or Alameda Street, connects at its southeast corner to the courthouse by a ramp and walkway over Pennington Street; the Pima County Public Works garage is at 50 W. Alameda Street.
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Pima 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 Pima County, probate runs through the Superior Court at 110 West Congress Street, 1st Floor, Tucson. Unlike most Arizona probate courts, which accept electronic filing, Pima County remains one of 1 counties that file on paper.
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 Pima County
What probate costs in Pima 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 110 West Congress Street, 1st Floor, Tucson.
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 cases in Pima County are filed at the Superior Court. File in person during business hours or by mail.
Beside the filing office, the court lists separate lines for Probate Support Services, Probate Registrar, Probate Accountant, and Public Records Services.
The Superior Court's Law Library and Resource Center helps with legal forms, legal research and representing yourself in court, with links to lawyer referral services and free legal clinics. Its brochure is published in English and Spanish.
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 Pima County Self-Filing Assessment.
Pima 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
Every probate document is filed on paper
Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 1-901, Attachment A, § I(A)(6) authorizes e-filing of probate post-initiation documents in counties other than Pima, and § III(F) bars e-filing of wills and case-initiating probate documents everywhere. In Pima County every probate document is filed in person at Probate Support Services (520-724-3230), by mail, or in the depository boxes.
SourceProbate filings by mail return one conformed copy
Mailed filings include the originals, copies and a self-addressed stamped envelope; for probate documents no more than one conformed copy is returned at no additional cost. The filing date is the date the Clerk's Office receives the documents.
SourceDepository boxes with optional time stamps
One depository box outside the glass doors on the east side of 110 W. Congress is open any day, any time; a second is inside the Civil and Family Support Services lobby, Room 131A, during office hours. A document stamped on the attached time-stamp machine is filed at that date and time; an unstamped document is filed the next court business day.
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 Pima County
In Arizona a death is registered locally, and in Pima County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Vital Records Office, Pima County as well as by Arizona Department of Health Services - Bureau of Vital Records.
Vital Records Office Record
Local Health Department
Pima County · Vital Records Office
Phone
Hours
Monday-Wednesday 8:00 AM-1:00 PM and 2:00 PM-4:00 PM; Friday 8:00 AM-1:00 PM and 2:00 PM-4:00 PM
Office
3950 South Country Club Road, Tucson, AZ 85714
Website
Certified copies
At the counter, issued while you wait
Order online
Local rule
- The office also serves the public at the Northwest Service Center on the same hours, and both offices are closed daily from 1 to 2 p.m. A notarized application brought in person is issued the same day only with another form of identification bearing the applicant's name; otherwise the certificate is mailed.
Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $20 |
Verified November 1, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
Medical Examiner
Pima County · Office of the Medical Examiner
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
Office
3050 East Milber Street, Tucson, AZ 85714
Website
Release of remains
1-520-724-8600 · Decedent release · (option 2) · Monday-Friday 12:30 PM-3:00 PM
Cremation authorization
Signed by this office
Verified November 1, 2026 · Source
Funeral Homes in Pima County
11 funeral homes and crematories in Pima County, each listed with the services it offers, the faiths it serves, the languages its staff speak, its address and its phone.
The crematory licensed at 12146 West Barnett Road in Marana sits on the property of Marana Mortuary & Cemetery, whose page states that its funeral home, crematory and cemetery are together there. The operator lists cremation among its services, beside traditional burial and green burial.
Adair Funeral Home Avalon is on North Northern Avenue in the Tucson area of Pima County (its operator places it in Oro Valley) and opened in 1984. It states burial and cremation services, pre-need planning, veterans services and certified celebrants, in a chapel seating 200.
Adair Funeral Homes – Dodge is a funeral home with an on-site crematory in the Miramonte neighborhood of Tucson, serving Tucson, Green Valley and the surrounding areas. It states cremation and burial services, pre-need planning and veterans services, and that Spanish-language services are available. The location was established in 1957, the original Adair location.
Bring's Broadway Chapel is a funeral home with an on-site crematory on East Broadway in Tucson, with multiple chapels and a Tahara Room for ritual washing. It states burial and cremation services, pre-need planning and veterans services, and that Spanish-language services are available. The business was founded in 1928 as Bring Funeral Home.
Funeraria Del Angel Catalina is on North First Avenue in Tucson and serves families from Catalina, Marana, Oro Valley, Green Valley and nearby areas. It specializes in cremation, with the option to attend a loved one's cremation, and also arranges funerals and burials. Its page lists Spanish among the languages spoken.
Funeral homes by city: Marana, Tucson
Cremation Services in Pima County
11 listings
Pre-Need Funeral Plans in Pima County
4 listings
Burial Services in Pima County
6 listings
Veterans Funeral Services in Pima County
3 listings
Funeral Transport in Pima County
1 listing
Spanish-Speaking Funeral Homes in Pima County
4 listings
Green Burial in Pima County
1 listing
Jewish Funeral Homes in Pima County
1 listing
Listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any funeral home or crematory.
Transferring Property in Pima 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 Pima County are recorded with the County Recorder at 240 North Stone Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85701. Phone: 1-520-724-4350. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM.
Documents submitted by mail go to P.O. Box 3145, Tucson, AZ 85702-3145.
The County Recorder charges $30 flat, regardless of page count.
Pima County accepts electronic recording through the Pima County Document Recording portal.
Recording Office Record
County Recorder
Pima County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Office
240 North Stone Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85701
Website
P.O. Box 3145
Tucson, AZ 85702-3145
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 Pima County
Arizona allows informal probate, so many families settle straightforward estates in Pima 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 Pima 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.
Tucson firm serving Pima County and southern Arizona since 1984 from its North Campbell Avenue office. Handles probate and trust administration for personal representatives and trustees, guardianships and conservatorships, and estate planning and elder law. The firm can also serve directly as trustee, guardian, conservator, or personal representative. Initial consultations are free.
Founded in Tucson in 1968 and now among Southern Arizona's largest multidisciplinary firms, with a second office in Phoenix. Its estates and trusts group represents clients in contested and uncontested estate and trust administration, including will contests, intestacy matters, and guardianships and conservatorships, and prepares wills and trusts with related tax planning.
Tucson firm on Oracle Road handling probate, estate planning, and probate litigation in Pima County. The firm guides personal representatives through estate administration and handles will contests and disputes among beneficiaries. Offers free consultations.
Tucson and Green Valley firm with 60+ years of continuous Southern Arizona practice, successor to Spaid, Fish, Briney & Duffield. Handles estate planning, probate and trust administration, and elder law including VA benefit planning for Pima and Santa Cruz County families, plus gift, estate, and generation-skipping tax work.
Green Valley practice on South La Canada Drive serving Pima County and southern Arizona. Handles probate, guardianships and conservatorships for minors and adults, and wills and trusts packages. Se habla espanol.
Tucson elder law firm on East River Road, a fixture in the city since 1994. The practice covers probate, estate and trust administration, guardianship and conservatorship, and special needs planning, and the firm serves as trustee and licensed fiduciary in select cases. Telephone and video conferences are accommodated in place of office meetings; initial consultations carry a fee.
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)
- Pima County Superior Court, official page
- Pima County Recorder, official page
- Pima 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.
Get the Answer
Hire an Arizona Probate Attorney
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