Adair's Carroon Mortuary is a funeral home on North Grand Avenue in Nogales, which its site calls the gateway to Mexico, and the chapel states it serves the communities of Southern Arizona. The site says its staff is largely bilingual and that Jimenez Funeral Home LLC does business under the Adair's Carroon Mortuary name.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Santa Cruz County, Arizona
How probate works in Santa Cruz County: the Superior Court record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Santa Cruz County Superior Court
Santa Cruz County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Office
2160 North Congress Drive, Suite 2200, Nogales, AZ 85621
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 acceptedFile at the Clerk of the Superior Court counter, 2160 N. Congress Drive, Suite 2200, Nogales, or at the drop-box in front of the courthouse during office hours; the Clerk does not accept filings by email. The Clerk of the Court serves as the county's Probate Registrar.
Self-represented filing
AllowedThe court accepts the Arizona Self-Service Center forms and the Maricopa County Superior Court self-service forms, with the court name changed from Maricopa to Santa Cruz before filing. All forms and information are filed in English, including forms the state publishes in Spanish.
Accepted payment
- At the counterCash, Money order, Credit card, Debit card.In person the Clerk accepts cash, money orders, cashier's checks, business checks, and credit or debit cards with identification. Mailed and drop-box payments must be a money order, business check or cashier's check, and a drop-box payment is followed by a call to the Clerk at 520-375-7700. Card payments are also taken by phone at 520-375-7700 with a convenience fee of 2.5% or $1.50, and a dishonored business check carries a $25.00 charge.
Self-help center
- Court Administration, 2160 N. Congress Drive, Suite 2300, Nogales1-520-375-7740The Superior Court runs a self-help program for self-represented litigants through Court Administration, which also manages the court's law library.
P.O. Box 1265
Nogales, AZ 85628
Fax
1-520-375-7703
Departments
- Superior Court Main1-520-375-7730
- Court Administration1-520-375-7740 · Suite 2300
About the court
- The Clerk of the Superior Court is at Suite 2200 and Court Administration at Suite 2300 of the courthouse at 2160 N. Congress Drive. New probate cases are assigned to Division Two, and the Clerk of the Court is the county's Probate Registrar.
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz County, probate runs through the Superior Court at 2160 North Congress Drive, Suite 2200, Nogales.
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 Santa Cruz County
What probate costs in Santa Cruz 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 2160 North Congress Drive, Suite 2200, Nogales.
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 Santa Cruz 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 Superior Court Main and Court Administration.
The Superior Court runs a self-help program for self-represented litigants through Court Administration, which also manages the court's law library.
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 Santa Cruz County Self-Filing Assessment.
Santa Cruz 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.
SourceNo filing by email; a drop-box takes paper filings during office hours
Under Santa Cruz County Administrative Order 2021-026, the Clerk does not accept documents for filing by email. A drop-box document is filed on the date and time the Clerk accepts and file-stamps it, once any filing fee is paid, so the filer includes a phone number or email address for the Clerk to collect the fee. The Clerk emails a conformed copy of a drop-box filing to the filer and hands one back immediately for an in-person filing; the filing party serves the other parties.
SourceNew probate cases are assigned to Division Two
Under Santa Cruz County Administrative Order 2025-009, effective June 30, 2025, every new probate case (a PB case number) is assigned to Division Two of the Superior Court. New guardianship cases go to Division One.
SourceDocument Requirements
Documents are filed in English
The Superior Court accepts the state self-service forms and the Maricopa County forms with the court name changed to Santa Cruz, and all forms and information must be filed in English, including forms the state publishes in Spanish.
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 Santa Cruz County
In Arizona a death is registered locally, and in Santa Cruz County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Health Services Department, Santa Cruz County as well as by Arizona Department of Health Services - Bureau of Vital Records.
Vital Records Office Record
Local Health Department
Santa Cruz County · Health Services Department
Phone
Office
2150 North Congress Drive, Suite 204, Nogales, AZ 85621
Website
Certified copies
At the counter; copies are not issued the same day
Local rule
- Processing takes approximately one week after a completed request is received. The office accepts a driver's license from the State of Sonora, Mexico, and no other Mexican state.
Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $20 |
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
Medical Examiner
Santa Cruz 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
Serves this county
Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner
Release of remains
1-520-724-8600 · Decedent release · (option 2) · Monday-Friday 12:30 PM-3:00 PM
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Funeral Homes in Santa Cruz County
1 funeral home or crematory in Santa Cruz 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: Nogales
Listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any funeral home or crematory.
Transferring Property in Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz County are recorded with the County Recorder at 2150 North Congress Drive, Suite 101, Nogales, AZ 85621. Phone: 1-520-375-7990. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM.
The County Recorder charges $30 flat, regardless of page count.
Santa Cruz County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile.
Recording Office Record
County Recorder
Santa Cruz County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Office
2150 North Congress Drive, Suite 101, Nogales, AZ 85621
Website
E-recording
available via Simplifile
Fax
1-520-375-7996
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 Santa Cruz County
Arizona allows informal probate, so many families settle straightforward estates in Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz 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.
Tubac firm serving Santa Cruz County and southern Arizona from its Tubac Road office, in practice since 1987. Handles probate estates and guardianship and conservatorship estates alongside will and trust drafting, in a practice that also covers agricultural/PACA, commercial litigation, business, and real estate law.
Statewide firm with a Nogales office on Mariposa Road serving Santa Cruz County and cross-border Arizona-Mexico clients. Its trusts and estates group advises trustees, executors, and other fiduciaries through estate and trust administration, and represents fiduciaries, heirs, and beneficiaries in trust and estate litigation including fiduciary-duty claims.
Mesa estate firm on South Higley Road serving East Valley families and clients across Arizona, with 35+ years of practice. The attorneys work only in estate planning, trusts, probate, estate and trust administration, special needs planning, and elder law. Offers a free 30-minute session; not all consultations are free.
Flagstaff solo practice serving Coconino County and clients across Arizona, founded by Tony S. Cullum in 1975. Handles probate administration and estate planning built around probate avoidance, including living trusts and wills, plus guardianship matters. Cullum is certified as a real estate law specialist by the Arizona Board of Legal Specialization.
Scottsdale firm founded in 1982, with additional offices in Tucson and Show Low, handling Maricopa County estates from its East Cactus Road office. The practice covers formal and informal probate, trust administration, and trust litigation alongside estate planning.
Lake Havasu City practice focused on probate and trust administration, having guided 750+ Arizona families through probate. Richard Rahnema was raised in Lake Havasu City and is licensed to serve clients in every Arizona county, with Mohave and La Paz Counties the firm's specialty. Free 20-minute discovery call.
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)
- Santa Cruz County Superior Court, official page
- Santa Cruz County Recorder, official page
- Santa Cruz 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
Browse vetted Arizona attorneys handling probate matters.
Browse firms
Notify Banks & Financial Institutions
Each institution has a separate death claim process. Find yours below.
Is this your situation?
Get a complete guide for your specific circumstances.
