Arizona Probate Cost: Court Fees and Estate Expenses
Arizona probate court fees are set statewide and do not scale with estate value. The $149 base filing fee applies to informal probate, formal administration, and the real-property affidavit. The personal-property affidavit has no court filing fee. Arizona has no state estate or inheritance tax.
Arizona probate cost planning is simpler than in statutory-percentage states because court filing fees do not scale with estate value. A.R.S. 12-284 and the Arizona Judicial Branch fee schedule set a $149 statewide base fee for applications for informal probate, petitions in formal testacy or appointment proceedings, petitions for supervised administration, and the real-property affidavit of succession filed in Superior Court. County Superior Courts may add local amounts, so confirm the current total with the county before filing.
The personal-property affidavit under A.R.S. 14-3971 (up to $200,000 net of liens) has no court filing fee because it is presented directly to the asset holder and does not open a court case. Personal representative compensation is reasonable compensation under A.R.S. 14-3719, with no fixed statutory percentage, and family members often waive it. Arizona has no state estate tax and no inheritance tax. Publication, certified copies, bond, real estate recording, and professional help add separately to the total.
Quick Summary
- Personal Property Affidavit
- $0Up to $200K net (A.R.S. 14-3971)
- Base Filing Fee
- $149Informal / formal probate (A.R.S. 12-284)
- PR Compensation
- ReasonableA.R.S. 14-3719, no statutory %
- Estate / Inheritance Tax
- $0Arizona has none
The $149 base fee is statewide under A.R.S. 12-284, but each county Superior Court may add local amounts, copy fees, e-filing surcharges, and fee-waiver details. Counties can also offer fee deferral or a fee waiver for filers who qualify. Confirm the current total, payment methods, and filing counter instructions with the county Superior Court before filing.
Typical Total Cost Ranges
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| Procedure | Estate Size | Court Fee | Timeline | Attorney? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small Estate Affidavit: Personal Property (A.R.S. 14-3971) | $200,000 or less in personal property, net of liens and encumbrances | $0 (affidavit presented to the asset holder; no court filing) | 30+ days after death | No | Personal-property estates where the value fits the $200,000 cap and no PR is pending |
| Affidavit of Succession: Real Property (A.R.S. 14-3971) | $300,000 or less in Arizona real property, net of liens and encumbrances | $149 statutory base fee (A.R.S. 12-284); confirm current county total | 6+ months (183+ days) after death | No (often useful for recorder steps) | Estates where the key asset is Arizona real estate valued at $300,000 or less net |
| Informal Probate | No dollar cap; uncontested estates | $149 statutory base fee (A.R.S. 12-284); confirm current county total | May not open until 5 days after death; unsupervised once opened | No (often useful) | Uncontested estates, with or without a will, needing a personal representative |
| Formal / Supervised Administration | No dollar cap; contested or supervised matters | $149 statutory base fee (A.R.S. 12-284); confirm current county total | Several months or longer, including the four-month creditor-claim period | No statewide requirement; strongly recommended | Will contests, unclear heirs, supervised administration, or matters needing a judge |
Additional Costs to Expect
Personal Representative Compensation
Arizona does not use a statutory percentage schedule for personal representative compensation. Under A.R.S. 14-3719, a personal representative is entitled to reasonable compensation for services, judged by the size and complexity of the estate, the time required, and the result. Many family members who serve waive compensation entirely.
Publication and Notice to Creditors
A personal representative publishes notice to creditors once a week for three successive weeks; known creditors receive written notice (A.R.S. 14-3801). The creditor-claim period is four months from first publication. Expect a typical range of roughly $50 to a few hundred dollars depending on the paper and the county, with metro papers at the higher end.
Certified Copies and Death Records
A.R.S. 12-284 sets a $30 fee for a certified copy or certificate and $0.50 per page for copies. The same schedule lists $74 for postjudgment activities in a probate case and $30 for filing a power of attorney. Certified death certificates for banks, transfer agents, and title work carry separate fees from the Arizona Department of Health Services. The number of copies needed depends on the estate assets.
Bond Premium
The court may require a fiduciary bond unless the will waives it or interested persons agree to waive it. Informal appointment often does not require bond. When a bond is required, you buy it from a surety company and pay an annual premium; premiums generally run about 0.5% to 1% of the bond amount per year, so a $150,000 bond at 0.75% costs roughly $1,125 per year, often with a minimum premium.
Inventory, Appraisal, and Recording
A personal representative generally prepares an inventory within 90 days after appointment (A.R.S. 14-3706). Real estate, business interests, or unusual assets may need separate appraisal. County recorder fees apply when recording the certified real-property affidavit or deed transfers.
State Estate and Inheritance Tax
Arizona has no state estate tax and no inheritance tax. The Arizona estate tax was decoupled from the federal estate tax in 2005 and no longer applies. Only the federal estate tax can apply, and that affects only very large estates above the federal exemption. Confirm the current status with a tax professional.
One more cost source to check: if the person who died received Medicaid long-term care benefits, the state may file a recovery claim against the estate. The Arizona Medicaid estate recovery guide explains when that applies.