Back to Arizona
Cochise County, AZ Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Court for probate | Superior Court of Arizona in Cochise County, with probate jurisdiction under A.R.S. § 14-1302 |
| Filing office and Probate Registrar | Office of the Clerk of the Superior Court. Cochise County says the Clerk is also the Probate Registrar in Cochise County (A.R.S. § 14-1307). |
| Bisbee office | 100 Quality Hill Road, Bisbee, AZ 85603 |
| Sierra Vista office | 100 Colonia de Salud, Suite 200, Sierra Vista, AZ 85635. Call before driving if you plan to start a new probate there. |
| Mailing address | Clerk of the Superior Court, P.O. Box CK, Bisbee, AZ 85603 |
| Phone | Bisbee: 520-432-8600. Sierra Vista: 520-803-3060. |
| Fax | Bisbee clerk fax: 520-432-4850 |
| [email protected] | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at both clerk offices, closed on court holidays. Ask about any same-day filing cutoff before you travel. |
| Filing fee | The county's posted, undated schedule lists $241.00 for an application for informal probate (A.R.S. § 14-3301) or a petition in formal testacy (A.R.S. § 14-3401). The statewide baseline it builds on is in Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 3-404, effective December 28, 2024. Ask the clerk for today's total before bringing payment. |
| Payment note | Cochise County says personal checks are not accepted. |
| Local forms | Yes. Cochise County publishes probate forms in English and Spanish, including an informal probate packet (A.R.S. § 14-3301), small estate transfer forms (A.R.S. § 14-3971), a Probate Information Cover Sheet and a Declaration of Completion of Training. |
| E-filing | You cannot open probate online. Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 1-901 bars e-filing for wills and for documents used to initiate a probate case. The Judicial Branch chart lists Cochise probate eFileAZ availability as subsequent filings only. |
| Case search | Arizona's statewide public case search excludes probate cases. Ask the Clerk of the Superior Court in Cochise County for probate and guardianship case records. |
| Remote appearance | Arizona's probate rules authorize virtual appearances at probate proceedings by interested parties under R-21-0007, effective January 1, 2022, but permission is not automatic. Cochise County publishes superior court remote procedures on its court calendars page. |
| Website | https://www.cochise.az.gov/179/Clerk-of-the-Superior-Court |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you go to the clerk's counter in Bisbee or Sierra Vista, build a clear list of what the person who died owned and what is owed. Sunset can search across more than 2,300 financial institutions to help identify accounts, balances and missing assets for estate settlement.
That asset work matters in Arizona because A.R.S. § 14-3971 measures personal property and Arizona real property separately, and both are measured net of liens and encumbrances. For a Cochise County family, knowing account balances, lien payoffs and home information before the first call can be the difference between a focused estate settlement plan and multiple trips or mailings.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate in Cochise County is heard in the Superior Court of Arizona in Cochise County (A.R.S. § 14-1302). Arizona has one superior court, sitting in every county; Arizona's justice courts and city courts are courts of limited jurisdiction and do not hear decedents' estates.
Venue for a first probate proceeding is the county where the person who died was domiciled (A.R.S. § 14-3201(A)(1)), so a Cochise County estate is filed with the Clerk of the Superior Court in Cochise County. The clerk publishes offices in Bisbee and Sierra Vista, and numbered superior court divisions sit in both cities. The county's court calendars page also names justice court precincts in Bisbee, Douglas, Benson and Sierra Vista, but those courts are not the probate forum.
The clerk's mailing address for probate papers is P.O. Box CK, Bisbee, AZ 85603. Cochise County publishes the Bisbee office as having most records available onsite, while the Sierra Vista office has a limited selection of records, so call the office you plan to use before you travel.
The jurisdiction process
- Inventory the assets and debts first. In Arizona, A.R.S. § 14-3971 measures personal property and Arizona real property separately and net of liens and encumbrances, so the asset list drives the estate settlement path.
- Confirm venue. Cochise County is the right county if the person who died was domiciled here (A.R.S. § 14-3201(A)(1)).
- Complete the required fiduciary training before you expect letters to issue. A person serving as personal representative without a fiduciary licence is a non-licensed fiduciary under A.R.S. § 14-5651, and Arizona Rules of Probate Procedure Rule 42 and Administrative Order No. 2012-62 require training before the court issues letters. The Administrative Office of the Courts publishes modules AOCPBPZ2 and AOCPBPZ6, and Cochise County publishes a Declaration of Completion of Training among its Step 1 informal probate papers.
- Use the county's papers. Cochise County publishes probate forms in English and Spanish, including an informal probate packet (A.R.S. § 14-3301), small estate transfer forms (A.R.S. § 14-3971), and a Probate Information Cover Sheet, Form 11392, revised January 2026, for new cases. The county's local rules say completed papers must be in English and forms must be printed single sided.
- Bring or mail the original will if there is one. The original will cannot be e-filed under Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 1-901, and A.R.S. § 14-3301(B)(2)(a) requires the original will to be in the court's possession or to accompany the application.
- File on paper with the Clerk of the Superior Court in Cochise County. Use 100 Quality Hill Road in Bisbee, 100 Colonia de Salud, Suite 200, in Sierra Vista, or mail papers to P.O. Box CK, Bisbee, AZ 85603. Call the office you plan to use before driving, especially if you want to start a new case in Sierra Vista.
- Pay the filing fee, or ask for help with fees. The county's posted, undated schedule lists $241.00 for an application for informal probate (A.R.S. § 14-3301) or a petition in formal testacy (A.R.S. § 14-3401). The statewide baseline is set under A.R.S. § 12-284 and Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 3-404, effective December 28, 2024, with possible county additions under A.R.S. § 11-251.08. Cochise County says personal checks are not accepted. Fee deferral or waiver may be available under A.R.S. § 12-302.
- Give notice as Arizona requires. Cochise County's packet includes notice, publication and proof forms; the statewide creditor notice rules are in A.R.S. § 14-3801.
- If a hearing is needed, get the date promptly. Rule 18(a), as amended effective January 1, 2026, gives the petitioner thirty days to obtain an initial hearing date before the court must notify the petitioner that the petition may be dismissed. Ask early whether the hearing can be remote under R-21-0007.
- Get letters after appointment and qualification. A personal representative's authority begins when the person is appointed, qualifies and letters issue (A.R.S. § 14-3103). Letters cannot be e-filed under Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 1-901.
- Administer and close the estate. Cochise County's Step 2 informal probate forms include inventory, notice, accounting, distribution and claim forms, while the statewide creditor and closing rules govern the rest of the administration.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Cochise County
Arizona publishes a statewide set of probate forms through the Administrative Office of the Courts, but that statewide set covers fiduciary orders, conservator accounts and adult guardianship and conservatorship petitions, not the application that opens a decedent's estate. The Judicial Branch says its forms are generic and that each court might have its own preferred forms. In Cochise County, the forms that open a decedent's estate come from the county.
Cochise County publishes a local probate forms hub in English and Spanish. Its informal probate page (A.R.S. § 14-3301) includes an Informal Probate Packet and individual Step 1 and Step 2 forms. Step 1 includes the Probate Cover Sheet, Informal Checklist, Declaration of Completion of Training, waivers, application, notice, publication support, statement of appointment, Letters of Appointment of Personal Representative and related acknowledgement forms. Step 2 includes mailing proof, notice of appointment, notice to creditors under A.R.S. § 14-3801, inventory, deed or distribution forms, accounting forms, objection forms and claim forms.
The Cochise County Probate Information Cover Sheet is Form 11392, revised January 2026. Its instruction is to submit it with new cases only, not into an existing Cochise County probate case number. The sheet asks the filer to mark one case-type number, including estate, formal appointment of personal representative, informal appointment of personal representative, ancillary administration, succession to realty under A.R.S. § 14-3971, trust administration, formal probate of will, informal probate of will, proof of authority and other listed categories.
Cochise County also publishes small estate transfer forms under A.R.S. § 14-3971 in English and Spanish. The county labels the personal property set as not filed with the clerk's office, and labels the real property set as filed with the clerk's office. The statewide dollar figures and waiting periods are covered on the Arizona probate page.
Two local filing rules are worth following exactly: Cochise County says completed papers must be completed in English, and forms printed from the county's site must be single sided. The county also cautions that using a legal form is not a substitute for legal advice.
Fees
Arizona's probate filing fee has two parts. The statewide base is set by A.R.S. § 12-284 and raised by the Supreme Court under A.R.S. § 12-284(L). The current statewide amount is in Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 3-404, effective December 28, 2024, and comes to $191.00 for an application for informal probate (A.R.S. § 14-3301) or a petition in formal testacy (A.R.S. § 14-3401), made up of a $176.00 base plus the $15.00 document storage fund under A.R.S. § 12-284.01.
On top of that statewide amount, a county board of supervisors may add local fees under A.R.S. § 11-251.08. Cochise County's posted fee schedule is undated and lists $241.00 for an application for informal probate (A.R.S. § 14-3301), $241.00 for a petition in formal testacy (A.R.S. § 14-3401), $241.00 for supervised administration (A.R.S. § 14-3501), $152.00 for an objection opposing a petition, $276.00 for a petition for transfer of real property by affidavit under A.R.S. § 14-3971(F), $137.00 for post-judgment activities in probate cases, and $35.00 for a demand for notice. Ask the clerk for today's total before bringing payment.
Cochise County's schedule says personal checks are not accepted. The county's FAQ says it accepts cash, credit card with payment-service fees, business checks and cashier's checks.
Court fees can be deferred or waived under A.R.S. § 12-302. The forms are the Application for Deferral or Waiver of Court Fees and Costs, AOCDFGF1F, and the Supplemental Application, AOCDFGF9F, filed when there is a final order, decree or judgment. A deferral is not forgiveness: A.R.S. § 12-302(F) requires a consent to judgment for deferred fees still unpaid thirty days after final judgment. Cochise County publishes its fee deferral and waiver packet in English and Spanish and tells readers to contact the clerk at 520-432-8600 or 520-803-3060 for hard copies or questions.
Local nuance
Cochise County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means |
|---|---|
| Two clerk offices | The Clerk of the Superior Court publishes a Bisbee office at 100 Quality Hill Road and a Sierra Vista office at 100 Colonia de Salud, Suite 200. Both are listed as open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The county says the Bisbee office has most records onsite, while the Sierra Vista selection is limited. Call the office you plan to use before driving. |
| Clerk as Probate Registrar | Cochise County says that in Cochise County the Clerk is also the Probate Registrar. That local arrangement fits A.R.S. § 14-1307, which allows registrar acts to be performed by a judge, the clerk of the court, a court commissioner or any of them as designated. |
| Local form set | Cochise County publishes a local probate form set in English and Spanish, including informal probate forms (A.R.S. § 14-3301), small estate transfer forms (A.R.S. § 14-3971), guardianship and conservatorship forms, and fee deferral and waiver forms under A.R.S. § 12-302. |
| Cover sheet for new cases | The county's Probate Information Cover Sheet, Form 11392, revised January 2026, is submitted with new cases only. It asks the filer to mark one case-type number. |
| Training proof | Cochise County publishes a Declaration of Completion of Training in its Step 1 informal probate forms. That local form connects to the statewide non-licensed fiduciary training under A.R.S. § 14-5651 and Arizona Rules of Probate Procedure Rule 42 before letters issue. |
| Payment rule | The county's posted, undated schedule lists $241.00 for an initial informal probate or formal testacy filing, while the statewide baseline is set under A.R.S. § 12-284 and Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 3-404, effective December 28, 2024. Cochise County says personal checks are not accepted. |
Recent updates
| Date | Update |
|---|---|
| December 28, 2024 | The statewide superior court filing fee schedule under Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 3-404 took effect. It sets the statewide probate filing fee baseline under A.R.S. § 12-284 at $191.00, made up of $176.00 plus the $15.00 document storage fund under A.R.S. § 12-284.01. Cochise County's posted fee schedule is undated and lists $241.00 for an application for informal probate (A.R.S. § 14-3301) or a petition in formal testacy (A.R.S. § 14-3401), so ask the clerk for today's total before bringing payment. |
| January 1, 2026 | Rule 18(a), as amended by R-25-0021, now gives a petitioner thirty days to obtain an initial hearing date before the court must notify the petitioner that the petition may be dismissed. |
| January 2026 | Cochise County's Probate Information Cover Sheet, Form 11392, carries a January 2026 revision stamp and is used with new probate filings. |
| April 17, 2026 | The Judicial Branch's eFileAZ availability chart was updated. Under Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 1-901, it lists Cochise County probate as subsequent filings only, not case initiation. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by identifying title, accounts and liens before deciding whether a court filing is needed. If a probate case is opened, venue is Cochise County if the person who died was domiciled here (A.R.S. § 14-3201). File on paper with the Clerk of the Superior Court in Cochise County, and include the county's Probate Information Cover Sheet for a new case. Cochise County says the Clerk is also the Probate Registrar (A.R.S. § 14-1307). | Sunset helps find accounts and lien information so the spouse can choose the right estate settlement path before filing. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 1-901 does not allow e-filing for a will or any document that opens probate. In Cochise County, eFileAZ is listed for probate subsequent filings only. Use the county's English or Spanish form set under A.R.S. § 14-3971, make sure completed papers are in English and printed single sided, and mail paper filings to P.O. Box CK, Bisbee, AZ 85603 if filing by mail. | Sunset helps assemble the asset list and probate packet from out of state so estate settlement can move with fewer returned papers. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | If a sale requires a personal representative, letters must issue after appointment and qualification (A.R.S. § 14-3103). Before letters issue, Arizona Rules of Probate Procedure Rule 42 requires non-licensed fiduciary training under A.R.S. § 14-5651. Cochise County publishes a Declaration of Completion of Training in its Step 1 informal probate papers. Certified copies and filing fees are handled through the clerk, and the county says personal checks are not accepted. | Sunset helps put the training proof, court packet, asset list and local attorney referral on the critical path so the home sale does not stall. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Clerk of the Superior Court, Cochise County | Filing office for probate matters in the Superior Court of Arizona in Cochise County (A.R.S. § 14-1302). Cochise County says the Clerk is also the Probate Registrar (A.R.S. § 14-1307). Court staff provide legal information, not legal advice. | Bisbee: 100 Quality Hill Road, P.O. Box CK, Bisbee, AZ 85603, 520-432-8600. Sierra Vista: 100 Colonia de Salud, Suite 200, Sierra Vista, AZ 85635, 520-803-3060. [email protected]. |
| Cochise County Superior Court Self-Help Center | Publishes the county's probate forms, including informal probate (A.R.S. § 14-3301), small estate transfer forms (A.R.S. § 14-3971), the Probate Information Cover Sheet, and fee deferral and waiver forms under A.R.S. § 12-302. It provides forms and legal information, not legal advice. | 520-432-8513, [email protected], https://www.cochise.az.gov/241/Superior-Court-Self-Help-Center |
| Cochise County probate forms | County form hub for probate forms in English and Spanish, including informal probate, small estate transfers under A.R.S. § 14-3971, guardianship and conservatorship, and miscellaneous forms. | https://www.cochise.az.gov/277/Probate-Forms |
| Arizona Judicial Branch Self-Service Center | Statewide legal information and court forms for people representing themselves. The Branch says court staff can provide legal information, but not legal advice. It also links El Centro de Autoservicio in Spanish. | https://www.azcourts.gov/selfservicecenter and https://www.azcourts.gov/elcentrodeautoservicio |
| AZCourtHelp | Arizona Bar Foundation self-help site with a Self-Help Center, Form Finder, Find My Court, Legal Aid Options and live chat. Do not rely on it for a county probate clinic unless one is listed when you check. | https://azcourthelp.org/ |
| Southern Arizona Legal Aid | SALA says it provides free legal aid services to low-income individuals and families in southern and southeastern Arizona, and its locations list includes a Cochise, Graham and Greenlee counties office. Call intake and ask whether it can help with a decedent's estate. | Sierra Vista office: 1601 Paseo San Luis, Suite 105, Sierra Vista, AZ 85635, 520-432-1639, 1-800-231-7106. Intake: 520-623-9461 or 1-800-248-6789. |
| AZLawHelp.org | Named by the Arizona Judicial Branch as a probate resource. | https://www.azlawhelp.org/ |
| Cochise County Public Fiduciary | May be appointed as personal representative of last resort when no one else is willing or able to serve, consistent with A.R.S. § 14-3301. | 520-432-9660, https://www.cochise.az.gov/483/Public-Fiduciary-Division |
When to hire an attorney
A lawyer is worth considering if there is no original will, family members disagree, creditor claims are expected, a home sale depends on quick letters under A.R.S. § 14-3103, or the county's informal probate forms (A.R.S. § 14-3301) do not fit the facts. Cochise County's own informal probate guidance points readers toward counsel for more complex formal probate proceedings under A.R.S. § 14-3401. Sunset connects families with a vetted attorney when legal help makes sense.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions to help identify accounts, balances and assets that affect the Cochise County estate settlement plan.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset helps turn the family information, asset list and local court requirements into a cleaner filing packet, including the county-specific details you need to check before filing on paper.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate needs formal probate, a home sale, creditor strategy or court representation, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Arizona probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement, find assets, prepare next steps and get matched with help without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Cochise County?
File with the Clerk of the Superior Court in Cochise County. Probate is heard in the Superior Court of Arizona in Cochise County (A.R.S. § 14-1302), and venue is Cochise County if the person who died was domiciled there (A.R.S. § 14-3201). The Bisbee office is at 100 Quality Hill Road, Bisbee, AZ 85603. The mailing address is P.O. Box CK, Bisbee, AZ 85603.
Can I file probate at the Sierra Vista office instead of Bisbee?
Cochise County publishes a Clerk of the Superior Court office in Sierra Vista at 100 Colonia de Salud, Suite 200, Sierra Vista, AZ 85635, with the same regular hours as Bisbee. The county does not say in the same words whether every new probate opening can be started there. Call 520-803-3060 before you drive.
Can I file a probate case online in Cochise County?
No. You cannot open an Arizona probate online. Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 1-901 does not allow e-filing for a will or for any document used to initiate a probate case, and letters in probate cases cannot be e-filed either. The Judicial Branch chart lists Cochise County probate eFileAZ availability as subsequent filings only, after the case exists.
How much does it cost to file probate in Cochise County?
The county's posted, undated schedule lists $241.00 for an application for informal probate (A.R.S. § 14-3301) or a petition in formal testacy (A.R.S. § 14-3401). The statewide baseline underneath that local total is set under A.R.S. § 12-284 and Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 3-404, effective December 28, 2024. Ask the clerk for today's total before bringing payment, and do not bring a personal check.
Does Cochise County have its own probate forms?
Yes. Cochise County publishes probate forms in English and Spanish, including informal probate forms (A.R.S. § 14-3301), small estate transfer forms (A.R.S. § 14-3971), a Probate Information Cover Sheet, fee deferral and waiver forms under A.R.S. § 12-302, and a Declaration of Completion of Training for the statewide training requirement.
Do I have to take training before I can serve as personal representative in Cochise County?
Yes, if you are serving as a non-licensed fiduciary under A.R.S. § 14-5651. Arizona Rules of Probate Procedure Rule 42 and Administrative Order No. 2012-62 require training before letters issue. Cochise County publishes a Declaration of Completion of Training among its informal probate Step 1 papers, and letters issue only after appointment and qualification under A.R.S. § 14-3103.
Can I attend a Cochise County probate hearing remotely?
Maybe. R-21-0007 amended Arizona probate rules to authorize and facilitate virtual appearances at probate proceedings by interested parties, effective January 1, 2022. The Judicial Branch says some court hearings may be held virtually, and Cochise County publishes superior court remote procedures. Ask the court early when your hearing is set.
How do I look up a Cochise County probate case?
Arizona's statewide public case search excludes probate. The Judicial Branch says the excluded case types include mental health and probate cases, and the portal uses randomly generated verification words before a search. For a Cochise County probate case, ask the Clerk of the Superior Court, which lists probate and guardianship case records among the records it can supply.
What are the Cochise County clerk's hours, and how can I pay the filing fee?
The Bisbee and Sierra Vista clerk offices are open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed on court holidays. Cochise County says it accepts cash, credit card with payment-service fees, business checks and cashier's checks, and that personal checks are not accepted. Fee deferral or waiver may be available under A.R.S. § 12-302.
Do I have to travel to Bisbee to settle an estate in Cochise County?
Not always. Some filings can be mailed to the Clerk of the Superior Court at P.O. Box CK, Bisbee, AZ 85603, and Cochise County also publishes a Sierra Vista clerk office. A probate case cannot be opened online under Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 1-901. If a hearing is scheduled, ask early whether a remote appearance is possible under R-21-0007.
Shaped by the families we've helped
Thank you to the thousands of families who have trusted Sunset to help settle their loved ones' estates. This page is shaped by the questions they actually asked and the obstacles they actually hit — and that hard-won experience is what keeps it accurate, current, and genuinely useful to the families who come next.