Estate planning practice on West Honeycutt Road in the City of Maricopa, with service-area pages for Casa Grande, Chandler, and Phoenix. Attorney Angel Raymond prepares wills, trusts, and estate tax planning documents; the office's other focus areas are personal injury and criminal defense. Free consultations.
Estate Planning for Pinal County, Arizona Property Owners
For most Pinal 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 Pinal 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 Pinal 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, Pinal 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 Pinal County
A beneficiary deed names a beneficiary who receives Pinal 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 Pinal County are recorded with the County Recorder at 31 North Pinal Street, Building E, Florence, AZ 85132. Phone: 1-520-866-6830. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM.
Documents submitted by mail go to P.O. Box 848, Florence, AZ 85132.
The County Recorder charges $30 flat, regardless of page count. Recording a 2-page beneficiary deed in Pinal County comes to $30. No transfer tax applies to a beneficiary deed.
Pinal County accepts electronic recording.
Recording Office Record
County Recorder
Pinal County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
Office
31 North Pinal Street, Building E, Florence, AZ 85132
Website
E-recording
available
P.O. Box 848
Florence, AZ 85132
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 Pinal County
Casa Grande firm serving Pinal County families (San Tan Valley, Coolidge, Apache Junction, Eloy, Maricopa) in probate and trust administration. Attorneys Ann Schrooten and Denis Fitzgibbons guide personal representatives and successor trustees through creditor claims, accountings, and beneficiary notice, and litigate will and trust challenges and breach-of-fiduciary-duty disputes.
Estate planning practice with offices in Casa Grande, Apache Junction, and Chandler, serving Pinal County and the East Valley. James J. Gentile has practiced estate planning law since 1988 and is a member of the State Bar of Arizona and the Iowa State Bar Association. Free consultation.
Florence solo practice one mile from the Pinal County Superior Court Justice Complex, practicing exclusively in Pinal County. Handles wills, simple trusts, financial and medical powers of attorney, beneficiary deeds, and surviving-spouse affidavits, alongside a family law practice. Free consultations in person, by phone, or by Zoom.
Queen Creek firm serving East Valley families in San Tan Valley, Gilbert, Mesa, and Chandler, with probate work in the Maricopa and Pinal County courts. Shane Peterson handles probate administration alongside wills, trusts, and powers of attorney. Free consultations; se habla espanol.
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.
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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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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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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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.
