Standard processing in Arizona takes 5 business days for mail ordersArizona Department of Health Services - Bureau of Vital RecordsVerified Oct 15, 2026View source. A funeral home's order at the time of death usually arrives first.

Arizona sets a statutory order for who controls the disposition of remains: surviving spouse, then surviving parents of a minor decedent, then surviving adult childrenARS § 36-831(A)Verified Sep 10, 2026View source. The state allows you to name your own agent in a signed, written documentARS § 32-1365.01Verified Sep 10, 2026View source, and that designation takes priority over the default order. Those wishes can be recorded alongside the rest of an estate plan when you create a revocable living trust.

Arizona imposes no statutory minimum waiting periodARS § 32-1399Verified Sep 10, 2026View source before cremation. A medical examiner or coroner authorizes the cremation before it proceeds. Prior written consent of the authorizing agent per ARS § 32-1365.02, or a pre-need written statement by the decedent per ARS § 32-1365.01. The county medical examiner must review the death certificate and certify that there is no evidence of foul play or violence (§ 11-599), and a crematory may not cremate before it obtains that certification (§ 32-1398(A)(3)).

Arizona allows estates with personal property of $200,000A.R.S. § 14-3971Verified Sep 8, 2026View source or less to use the Collection of Personal Property by AffidavitA.R.S. § 14-3971Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, which avoids full probate administration. The Collection of Personal Property by Affidavit is presented directly to the bank, employer, or other holder of the property — it is not filed with a court. The waiting period is 30 daysA.R.S. § 14-3971Verified Sep 8, 2026View source after death.