Is there a way to avoid probate appointment in Arizona?

Yes. A revocable living trust passes assets to beneficiaries without any court appointment — no petition, no Letters, no bond. A revocable trust built with SimplyTrust takes about 15 minutes.

How Do I Get Appointed as Executor in Arizona?

See the appointing court, the petition that opens the estate, what to file, and bond rules to be appointed in your state.

Got the Letters? Run the whole estate from here.

State

Document Type

Getting Appointed in Arizona

Personal Representative

Where you file

Superior Court (Probate); informal appointments handled by the court Registrar

The form that opens the estate

No statewide fill-in form · County-issued formStart this petition for Arizona — we pre-fill it with your information. You review, sign, and file it with the court.

What the court issues (with a will)

Letters of Appointment of Personal Representativeissued by The Registrar (informal track) or the Superior Court after a judge order (formal track); Letters issue once the representative qualifies

Letters are an output — the court issues them after granting the petition.

At a glance

UPC adoptedInformal trackE-filingSelf-represented filingLocal/county forms

A.C.J.A. § 1-901 makes e-filing MANDATORY for attorneys and legal paraprofessionals filing in Superior Court — the mandate does not reach self-represented filers, who may still file on paper. Applications are e-filed through eFileAZ / AZTurboCourt depending on county. Arizona also requires the proposed personal representative to complete a training declaration before Letters issue in many counties (the statewide AOC notice is AOCPBT10I, "Notice - Training Requirement for Customer(s) Filing Probate and Guardianship Matters").

Arizona has no statewide AOC fillable decedent-estate appointment petition. Each county Superior Court publishes its own informal/formal packet; Maricopa County LLRC PBIP-series (PBIP13f Application, PBIP14f Notice, PBIP16f Statement of Informal Appointment, PBIP17f Letters + Acceptance, PBIP18f Order to PR) is the de facto template many counties mirror. Filers must use the forms of the county where the decedent was domiciled. The statewide AOC “Probate Forms” page is the fiduciary (guardian/conservator) and post-appointment duty packet, not the decedent appointment form.

Bond

Required before Letters: Yes
Waivable by will: Yes
Waivable by beneficiaries: Yes

Other official forms

Informal application: PBIP13fView source
Letters form: PBIP17fView source

What to file with the petition

Certified copy of the death certificate
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)
Notice of Application to anyone who has demanded notice and to any personal representative whose appointment has not been terminated (A.R.S. § 14-3306(A); Maricopa PBIP14f Notice of Application + PBIP15f Proof of Mailing). No other notice is required before the Registrar issues the Statement of Informal Appointment; within 30 days after it issues, written information and a copy of the will go to all heirs and devisees (§ 14-3306(B); Maricopa PBIP18f)
Acceptance of Appointment as Personal Representative (combined with Letters on Maricopa PBIP17f)
Declaration of Completion of Personal Representative Training (where required by county)
Bond unless waived by will or by all heirs/devisees (A.R.S. § 14-3603; Maricopa Waiver of Bond PBIP12f)

Small-estate alternative

Bypasses full Letters: Yes
Form: PBSE11fView source
Form name: Affidavit for Collection of All Personal Property (PBSE11f); Affidavit for Transfer of Title to Real Property (PBSE12f)

State-specific notes

Arizona uses ONE Personal Representative title and ONE Letters document regardless of testacy (no separate Letters Testamentary vs. Administration). The everyday path is INFORMAL before the Registrar (no hearing); formal litigated appointment is reserved for contests. The personal-property small-estate affidavit (A.R.S. § 14-3971, $200,000 limit) is given directly to the asset holder and is NOT filed with the court, fully bypassing Letters; the real-property succession affidavit ($300,000 limit) is filed but waits six months after death. Limits were updated by 2025 legislation (HB2116). Many counties require the proposed PR to complete a training declaration before Letters issue.

A revocable living trust passes assets to your family without this court appointment process — no petition, no Letters, no bond.

Create a Revocable Trust in 15 minutes

This tool provides general information about how a personal representative is appointed and is not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney in your state for guidance specific to your situation.Data verified 2026-07-20

Frequently Asked Questions

Arizona has no single statewide fill-in petition; the opening document is prepared to statute and filed with the Superior Court (Probate); informal appointments handled by the court Registrar. After the court grants the petition, The Registrar (informal track) or the Superior Court after a judge order (formal track); Letters issue once the representative qualifies issues your Letters of Appointment of Personal Representative (with a will) or Letters of Appointment of Personal Representative (without a will).

Along with the petition, Arizona generally requires: Certified copy of the death certificate; 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); Notice of Application to anyone who has demanded notice and to any personal representative whose appointment has not been terminated (A.R.S. § 14-3306(A); Maricopa PBIP14f Notice of Application + PBIP15f Proof of Mailing). No other notice is required before the Registrar issues the Statement of Informal Appointment; within 30 days after it issues, written information and a copy of the will go to all heirs and devisees (§ 14-3306(B); Maricopa PBIP18f); Acceptance of Appointment as Personal Representative (combined with Letters on Maricopa PBIP17f); Declaration of Completion of Personal Representative Training (where required by county); Bond unless waived by will or by all heirs/devisees (A.R.S. § 14-3603; Maricopa Waiver of Bond PBIP12f).

Yes. Arizona requires a bond by default before Letters issue. A will can waive it. Beneficiaries can also waive it in writing.

Arizona permits self-represented filers to open an estate. E-filing is available. The Self-File Probate Assessment compares self-filing and attorney costs for Arizona.

Yes. A revocable living trust passes assets to beneficiaries without any court appointment in Arizona — no petition, no Letters, no bond. A revocable trust built with SimplyTrust takes about 15 minutes.

Getting Appointed in Arizona

In Arizona, a personal representative is appointed by the Superior Court (Probate); informal appointments handled by the court Registrar. The Registrar (informal track) or the Superior Court after a judge order (formal track); Letters issue once the representative qualifies issues the Letters that prove authority over the estate — Letters of Appointment of Personal Representative when there is a will, Letters of Appointment of Personal Representative when there is not. Arizona's Uniform Probate Code adoption status: Yes.

Arizona publishes no single statewide fill-in petition; the opening document is prepared to statute and filed with the court. The court filing fee runs $306, and an informal appointment track for qualifying estates is available: Yes.

A bond is required by default before Letters issue in Arizona, though a will can waive it and the beneficiaries can waive it in writing.

Estates under $200,000 in Arizona may qualify for a simplified procedure that avoids a full appointment entirely (PBSE11f). See the self-file probate assessment for a Arizona cost comparison.

SimplyTrust Editorial·Updated July 15, 2026

Legal Sources

Data sourced from Arizona statutes and official state code. How we research.

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Arizona Estate Planning Resources

In-depth guides covering Arizona probate laws, trust requirements, and estate planning strategies.

How Do I Get Appointed as Executor in Arizona?

Getting Appointed in ArizonaA.R.S. §§ 14-3103 (necessity of letters), 14-3301 to 14-3311 (informal appointment), 14-3401 to 14-3414 (formal appointment)Verified Jul 20, 2026View source

At a glance

BondA.R.S. § 14-3603Verified Jul 20, 2026View source

Other official forms

What to file with the petition

Small-estate alternative

State-specific notes

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this your situation?

Named as Executor

Your kids shouldn't have to do this.

Arizona Estate Planning Resources

Getting Appointed in ArizonaA.R.S. §§ 14-3103 (necessity of letters), 14-3301 to 14-3311 (informal appointment), 14-3401 to 14-3414 (formal appointment)Verified Jul 20, 2026View source

At a glance

BondA.R.S. § 14-3603Verified Jul 20, 2026View source

Other official forms

What to file with the petition

Small-estate alternative

State-specific notes

Is this your situation?

Named as Executor

Getting Appointed in Arizona

Bond

Getting Appointed in Arizona

Bond