Arizona Crematory is the crematory at 3880 South 4th Avenue in Yuma, the address of Sanchez Dombrowski Funeral Home. The funeral home's site states its crematory is on site, so the person in its care stays in its custody throughout the cremation.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Yuma County, Arizona
How probate works in Yuma County: the Superior Court record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Yuma County Superior Court
Yuma County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Office
250 West 2nd Street, Suite B, Yuma, AZ 85364
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 acceptedThe Clerk of the Superior Court, on the first floor of the Yuma County Justice Center, is the first stop to initiate a probate action. Informal probate papers are filed at the filing counter of any Superior Court location in Yuma County (the Clerk counter is at 250 W. 2nd Street, Suite B, Yuma).
Self-represented filing
AllowedThe Self-Service Center publishes Yuma County probate forms in English and Spanish: Small Estate Transfers, Informal Probate, guardianship and conservatorship of adults and minors, conservatorship accounting forms, and frequently used forms. Printed copies are sold at the Yuma County Law Library. The court does not accept ez-Courtforms.
Accepted payment
- At the counterCash, Check, Money order, Credit card.Payments to the Clerk's office are accepted by cash, money order, personal check, Visa or Mastercard; for a personal check or card, the account holder must be present. A personal check must carry a pre-printed name, address and phone number, out-of-state checks are not accepted, and two forms of picture identification are required. A returned check carries a $25.00 fee.
Self-help center
- Yuma County Law Library, Historic Courthouse, 168 S. 2nd Avenue, Suite L, Yuma (entrance through the Yuma County Justice Center, 250 W. 2nd Street)1-928-817-4165 · yumasclawlibrary@courts.az.gov · Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM · Assistance in Spanish in addition to EnglishThe Law Library and Self-Service Center provides Yuma County court forms, printed form packets for sale, and Westlaw access, and staff help self-represented litigants understand court process. The Law Library gives legal information, not legal advice.
County forms
- Informal Probate Packet 1: Application for Appointment as Personal Representative, the Application and NoticeYuma County forms and instructions to apply for informal appointment as personal representative, including the Probate Cover Sheet, Probate Information Form, Informal Checklist, waivers, application, statement, letters and order.
- Informal Probate Packet 2: The Appointment, Notice of Appointment, Inventory and AppraisementYuma County forms for the steps after appointment: notice of appointment, inventory and appraisement.
- Informal Probate Packet 4: Closing the Estate as Personal RepresentativeYuma County forms to close an informally probated estate.
Fax
1-928-817-4211
Departments
- Superior Court Main1-928-817-4083 · Suite E · Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
- Court Administration1-928-817-4088
- Clerk of Superior Court1-928-817-4222Office of the Clerk of the Superior Court, Suite B
- Copies of Documents1-928-817-4234The Clerk's line for copies of court documents, marriage licenses and passports.
- Clerk Financials1-928-817-4255
- Judicial Assistance Unit1-928-817-4150 · 250 West 2nd Street, Suite A, 2nd Floor · Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PMProcesses fee deferral and waiver applications and sets up monthly payment contracts for Superior Court cases.
- Jury Clerk1-928-817-4258
About the court
- The Clerk of the Superior Court, which takes probate filings, is on the first floor of the Yuma County Justice Center at Suite B; the Superior Court courtrooms and administration are at Suite E, main line 928-817-4083. The Yuma County Law Library is next door in the Historic Courthouse, entered through the Justice Center.
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Yuma 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 Yuma, probate runs through the Superior Court at 250 West 2nd Street, Suite B, Yuma.
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 Yuma County
What probate costs in Yuma 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 250 West 2nd Street, Suite B, Yuma.
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 Yuma 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, Court Administration, Clerk of Superior Court, and Copies of Documents.
The Law Library and Self-Service Center provides Yuma County court forms, printed form packets for sale, and Westlaw access, and staff help self-represented litigants understand court process. The Law Library gives legal information, not legal advice.
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 Yuma County Self-Filing Assessment.
Yuma 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 on paper with the Clerk. Later documents in an open probate case may be e-filed through eFileAZ; a self-represented filer e-files under a registered eFileAZ login.
SourceInformal appointment papers are filed as two sets and picked up within five business days
The Yuma County informal probate packet has the filer complete the forms in black ink and bring two sets to the filing counter at any Superior Court location in Yuma County: the originals for the Clerk and a set of copies for the filer. The Probate Registrar then gives notice that the documents are ready, or what to correct and resubmit; the documents are picked up at the same counter within five business days of that notice. A fee deferral or waiver is requested when the papers are filed.
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 Yuma County
In Arizona a death is registered locally, and in Yuma County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Public Health Services District Vital Records, Yuma County as well as by Arizona Department of Health Services - Bureau of Vital Records.
Vital Records Office Record
Local Health Department
Yuma County · Public Health Services District Vital Records
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
Office
2200 West 28th Street, Suite 256, Yuma, AZ 85364
Website
Certified copies
At the counter; copies are not issued the same day
Fax
1-928-317-4678
Local rule
- A death certificate requested in person is processed in 7 business days, and one requested by mail in 10 to 15 business days. Customers who arrive after 4 p.m. receive information only.
Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $20 |
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
Medical Examiner
Yuma County · Medical Examiner Department
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Funeral Homes in Yuma County
3 funeral homes and crematories in Yuma County, each listed with the services it offers, the faiths it serves, the languages its staff speak, its address and its phone.
Funeraria del Angel Kammann is on West 28th Street in Yuma and is part of the Dignity Memorial network. Its page names a team of bilingual funeral directors, hospitality rooms, extended visitation hours, in-home visitation and private family rooms, and it posts its itemized general list of goods and services.
Sanchez Dombrowski Funeral Home is on South 4th Avenue in Yuma. It states it arranges burial and cremation, with a crematory on site, and a remodeled chapel that holds 80 guests for services or receptions. The site states the home is associated with the Cremation Association of North America and the National Funeral Directors Association.
Funeral homes by city: Yuma
Listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any funeral home or crematory.
Transferring Property in Yuma 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 Yuma County are recorded with the County Recorder at 298 South Main Street, Yuma, AZ 85364. Phone: 1-928-373-6020. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM.
The County Recorder charges $30 flat, regardless of page count.
Yuma County accepts electronic recording through Data Services, ePN, Indecomm, CSC and Simplifile.
Recording Office Record
County Recorder
Yuma County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Office
298 South Main Street, Yuma, AZ 85364
Website
Fax
1-928-373-6024
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 Yuma County
Arizona allows informal probate, so many families settle straightforward estates in Yuma 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 Yuma 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.
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.
Yuma firm serving Yuma County families, practicing exclusively in estate planning since 1991. Handles probate, trust administration, wills, and Medicaid planning, and gives successor trustees a complimentary consultation on administering the trust; other consultations are free for estate planning seminar attendees.
Yuma firm on West 24th Street handling estate planning and estate administration for Yuma County families. The same attorneys practice real estate development, agribusiness, banking and lending, and business transactions.
Yuma firm serving clients before the Yuma County Superior Court for more than 30 years, handling probate of Arizona estates, trust administration, and estate planning. Pairs estate work with tax planning for closely held businesses and real-property transfers, and serves clients across several western states. Video-conference appointments available.
Litigation-focused firm with offices in Yuma and Phoenix, handling contested trust and estate matters for southwestern Arizona families. Its probate practice centers on litigation — will contests and disputes over asset distribution, trust management, and personal-representative performance — alongside trust and estate planning and will preparation.
Yuma firm appearing in Yuma County Superior Court probate matters, with attorneys Pamela Walsma, Araceli Rodriguez, and Ryan Hengl. Handles probate and trust administration, guardianship and conservatorship (protective) proceedings, and will and trust drafting, alongside real estate and business work.
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)
- Yuma Superior Court, official page
- Yuma County Recorder, official page
- Yuma 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
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