What Is the Estate's Personal Property Worth for Probate in Arizona?
Estimate the fair market value of household items for the Arizona estate inventory — what furniture, electronics, and appliances would sell for today, not what was paid.
Personal property in Arizona is valued at fair market value: what the item would sell for on the open market as of the date of death, not what it cost. Most household goods (furniture, electronics, clothing) resell for a small fraction of their purchase price. Art, collectibles, jewelry and other high-value items are valued by a professional appraisal. Arizona requires a formal appraisal of estate propertyA.R.S. §§ 14-3706, 14-3707, 14-3708Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
No. An executor in Arizona can group low-value household goods into a single inventory line, such as "household furnishings and personal effects", while jewelry, art, vehicles and collectibles are listed individually. Each value is fair market value as of the date of death.
In Arizona, the executor files the estate inventory within 90 daysA.R.S. §§ 14-3706, 14-3707, 14-3708Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment. Arizona requires a supplemental inventory for assets discovered laterA.R.S. §§ 14-3706, 14-3707, 14-3708Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
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. The test is the value of the personal property, so an inventory at fair market value is what decides eligibility.
High-value items such as art, antiques, jewelry and collectibles are appraised by a qualified professional, while ordinary household items (furniture, electronics, appliances, clothing) are valued from comparable sales. Arizona requires a formal appraisal of estate propertyA.R.S. §§ 14-3706, 14-3707, 14-3708Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
Is this your situation?
Get a complete guide for your specific circumstances.
Forms 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.
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.
Estate Closing
In Arizona, the personal representative is discharged automatically once the statutory period runsA.R.S. §§ 14-3933(B), 14-3935Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, and a final accounting is required.
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 Much Can an Executor Charge?
Arizona pays executors reasonable compensationA.R.S. § 14-3719 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, typically 2.2%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.8%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate.
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.
How Do I Get Appointed as Executor?
In Arizona, the Superior Court appoints the personal representative and the The Registrar issues Letters of Appointment of Personal Representative; an informal (registrar) track is availableA.R.S. § 14-3301Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.
What Are the Creditor Claim Deadlines?
In Arizona, creditors have 4 monthsA.R.S. § 14-3801Verified Sep 8, 2026View source from first publication of the creditor notice to present claims; late claims are barred.
What Happens When an Estate Is Insolvent?
When an estate owes more than it holds, Arizona pays the claims in 6A.R.S. § 14-3805Verified Sep 23, 2026View source classes in statutory order, beginning with costs and expenses of administration.
How Do I Open an Estate Account When Someone Dies?
Compare estate-account opening requirements bank by bank: channels, required documents, and steps.
How Much Does Probate Cost?
Probate on a $500,000 estate in Arizona costs an estimated $27,670A.R.S. §§ 14-3719, 14-3721 (reasonable compensation; court review of reasonableness)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. Attorney fees run 2.2%A.R.S. §§ 14-3719, 14-3721 (reasonable compensation; court review of reasonableness)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.5%A.R.S. §§ 14-3719, 14-3721 (reasonable compensation; court review of reasonableness)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate under a reasonable-compensation standard.
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.