What Happens to Jointly Owned Property in Arizona When an Owner Dies?
When a joint owner dies in Arizona, what the survivor records is the “Affidavit Evidencing Termination of Joint TenancySuperior Court of Arizona in Pima County, Probate procedures: Affidavit Evidencing Termination of Joint Tenancy (Form PR-132)Verified Oct 26, 2026View source”.
Arizona names the “Affidavit Evidencing Termination of Joint TenancySuperior Court of Arizona in Pima County, Probate procedures: Affidavit Evidencing Termination of Joint Tenancy (Form PR-132)Verified Oct 26, 2026View source”. Title held in joint tenancy with right of survivorship vests in the survivor at the death. Arizona law lets one or more surviving joint tenants evidence the death by recording an affidavit with the death certificate attachedA.R.S. § 33-431(F)Verified Oct 26, 2026View source. The affidavit of death is prepared to the Arizona statute's requirements.
Who may sign, in the statute's words: One or more of the surviving joint tenantsA.R.S. § 33-431(F)(1)Verified Oct 26, 2026View source. The document is sworn before a notary public, who completes the juratA.R.S. § 41-251(16); A.R.S. § 33-431(F)(1)Verified Oct 26, 2026View source.
What the statute has it state: the name of the deceased joint tenant; the date of death of the deceased joint tenant; a description of the instrument by which the right of survivorship was created; the date that instrument was recorded and the county recorder's book and page or instrument reference number; the legal description of the real property affected by the affidavit; the cause of death of the deceased joint tenantA.R.S. § 33-431(F)(1)Verified Oct 26, 2026View source. Attached when recorded: death certificate of the deceased joint tenant (An attached death certificate of the deceased joint tenant)A.R.S. § 33-431(F)(2)Verified Oct 26, 2026View source.
Arizona has two survivorship vestings: joint tenancy with right of survivorship, and community property with right of survivorship between spouses. Each must be expressly declared in the grant, transfer or devise; a grant to two or more persons without that declaration creates an estate in common, except a grant to a husband and wifeA.R.S. § 33-431(B), (F)Verified Oct 26, 2026View source.
No Arizona statute names an instrument for the beneficiary to record after the owner dies; the beneficiary deed transfers the interest effective on the death. The assessor mails notices to the owner's address until the beneficiary gives written notice with a certified copy of the death certificateA.R.S. § 33-405; Titles 33 and 14; §§ 11-401 to 11-499 and 11-1131 to 11-1137; §§ 36-301 to 36-349; Title 42, chs. 11 to 19Verified Oct 26, 2026View source.
Is this your situation?
Get a complete guide for your specific circumstances.
Loss of a Spouse
What a surviving spouse needs to do: death certificates, survivor benefits, whether probate is even required, and the tax election that expires.
Learn more
Death of a Parent
A step-by-step guide to what happens after a parent dies: the documents to find, the certificates to order, and whether probate is even required.
Learn more
New Home
How to put your house in a revocable trust: the deed you record, what it does to your mortgage and property taxes, and when a TOD deed is simpler.
Learn moreForms for Settling an Estate in Arizona
Free forms for settling an estate in Arizona: the probate petition, small estate affidavit, notice to creditors, inventory, and closing forms.
Affidavit of Death
In Arizona, a surviving joint owner records the “Affidavit Evidencing Termination of Joint TenancySuperior Court of Arizona in Pima County, Probate procedures: Affidavit Evidencing Termination of Joint Tenancy (Form PR-132)Verified Oct 26, 2026View source”.
IRS Form 56
Notify the IRS that you are the fiduciary of an estate, a trust or a person, or end a notice filed before, on the official form.
Digital Assets Recovery Letter
Prepare a letter requesting a deceased person's online accounts, points, and balances from the program that holds them.
Petition for Probate and Letters
In Arizona, the petition asks the Superior Court to appoint the personal representative, whose authority is proved by Letters of Appointment of Personal Representative; an informal (registrar) track is availableA.R.S. § 14-3301Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.
Notice to Creditors
In Arizona, the notice to creditors is published for 3A.R.S. §§ 14-3801, 14-3803, 14-3804, 14-3805, 14-3806Verified Oct 18, 2026View source weeks in a local newspaper, and creditors have 4 monthsA.R.S. § 14-3801Verified Sep 8, 2026View source from first publication to present claims.
Renunciation of Executor
In Arizona, a person named as personal representative may renounce the right to serveA.R.S. § 14-3203(C), (E)Verified Sep 22, 2026View source before anyone is appointed.
Small Estate Affidavit
In Arizona, the Collection of Personal Property by AffidavitA.R.S. § 14-3971Verified Sep 8, 2026View source covers estates with personal property of $200,000A.R.S. § 14-3971Verified Sep 8, 2026View source or less, 30 daysA.R.S. § 14-3971Verified Sep 8, 2026View source after death, presented directly to the bank or other holder, not filed with a court.
Estate Inventory
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.
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 inheritance taxes.
How Many Death Certificates Do I Need?
In Arizona, certified death certificates come from the Arizona Department of Health Services - Bureau of Vital RecordsArizona Department of Health Services - Bureau of Vital RecordsVerified Oct 15, 2026View source; the first copy costs $20Arizona Department of Health Services - Bureau of Vital RecordsVerified Oct 15, 2026View source.
Do I Need Probate?
In Arizona, estates with personal property of $200,000A.R.S. § 14-3971Verified Sep 8, 2026View source or less skip probate with the Collection of Personal Property by AffidavitA.R.S. § 14-3971Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, 30 daysA.R.S. § 14-3971Verified Sep 8, 2026View source after death.
Do I Have to File Tax Returns for Someone Who Died?
Arizona requires a final state income tax return for the decedent alongside the federal Form 1040A.R.S. § 43-1011Verified Sep 20, 2026View source; a federal estate tax return (Form 706) is required only for estates above $15,000,00026 USC 2001(c), 2010; P.L. 119-21 §70106Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
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.
What Do I Do When Someone Dies?
After a death in Arizona, the estate either qualifies for the simplified procedure for estates under $200,000A.R.S. § 14-3971Verified Sep 8, 2026View source or goes through probate, where creditors have 4 monthsA.R.S. § 14-3801Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to file claims after notice.
How Much Are Estate & Inheritance Taxes?
Arizona levies no estate or inheritance taxNo state estate or inheritance tax. Arizona's estate and generation-skipping tax (A.R.S. Title 42, Chapter 4) was repealed outright by Laws 2006, Ch. 262, § 3 (S.B. 1170), retroactive to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 2005 — Title 42 has no Chapter 4 today. Arizona imposes no inheritance or gift tax (ADOR Publication 900).Verified Sep 15, 2026View source; only the federal estate tax applies above $15,000,00026 USC 2001(c), 2010; P.L. 119-21 §70106Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
What Taxes Apply to My Inheritance?
Arizona imposes no inheritance or estate taxNo state estate or inheritance tax. Arizona's estate and generation-skipping tax (A.R.S. Title 42, Chapter 4) was repealed outright by Laws 2006, Ch. 262, § 3 (S.B. 1170), retroactive to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 2005 — Title 42 has no Chapter 4 today. Arizona imposes no inheritance or gift tax (ADOR Publication 900).Verified Sep 15, 2026View source; probate assets arrive when the estate closes, 4 months to 6 months for a simple estate.
Hire an Arizona Probate Attorney
Browse 79 probate firms in Arizona with addresses, contact info, and practice details.
Your kids shouldn't have to do this.
Arizona Estate Settlement Resources
In-depth guides covering Arizona probate, estate administration, and settling an estate.