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Gila County, AZ Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Gila County detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Superior Court of Arizona in Gila County, probate matters under A.R.S. § 14-1302 |
| Globe filing location | 1400 E Ash St, 3rd Floor, Globe, AZ 85501 |
| Payson filing location | 714 S Beeline Hwy, Suite 104, Payson, AZ 85541 |
| Mailing | Call the clerk before mailing an opening probate packet. |
| Globe phone and fax | (928) 425-3231, fax (928) 425-7802 |
| Payson phone and fax | (928) 474-7131, fax (928) 468-2895 |
| Hours | Globe is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding holidays. New filings must arrive before 4:30 p.m. Payson is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to noon and 1:15 p.m. to 4 p.m., excluding holidays. New filings must arrive before 3:30 p.m. |
| Probate filing fee | $291.00 for new probate filings after July 1, 2025, tied to the statewide probate fee structure under A.R.S. § 12-284 and Gila County's $20.00 probate increase effective July 1, 2025. |
| Fee help | Deferral or waiver of court fees may be requested under A.R.S. § 12-302 using AOCDFGF1F, with the supplemental AOCDFGF9F later in the case and the consent to judgment required by A.R.S. § 12-302(F). |
| Local forms | Gila County publishes local probate materials, including an informal probate packet under A.R.S. § 14-3301, inventory and appraisement, and closing forms. Its small-estate links under A.R.S. § 14-3971 are broken, so ask the clerk for the current version. |
| E-filing status | You cannot open a probate online. Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 1-901 does not permit e-filing of a will or any document used to initiate a probate case. The Judicial Branch county chart lists Gila probate e-filing as subsequent filings only. |
| Case search | The Arizona public case search at https://apps.azcourts.gov/publicaccess/ excludes probate cases. Ask the Gila County clerk for probate case information. |
| Remote appearance | Some probate hearings may allow a remote appearance under R-21-0007, effective January 1, 2022, but permission is not automatic. Ask the court early. |
| Website | https://www.gilacountyaz.gov/government/courts/clerk_of_the_court/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a Gila County probate path, list the accounts, real property, debts, liens, vehicles, and any beneficiary designations. Arizona estate settlement often turns on whether an asset can pass outside probate, whether a small-estate procedure under A.R.S. § 14-3971 fits, or whether someone must ask for appointment as personal representative.
Sunset's 2,300-institution asset discovery helps families find accounts before they pay a filing fee or prepare a packet. That matters in Arizona because estate settlement depends on both the personal property picture and any debt against a home.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate in Gila County is heard in the Superior Court of Arizona in Gila County under A.R.S. § 14-1302. Arizona has one superior court, sitting in every county, and Arizona's justice courts and city courts are courts of limited jurisdiction that do not hear decedents' estates.
Venue for a first probate proceeding is the county where the person who died was domiciled, so a Gila County estate is filed with the Clerk of the Superior Court in Gila County (A.R.S. § 14-3201(A)(1)). Gila County families may use the Globe filing location or the Payson filing location, but should plan around each office's filing cutoff.
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the property, debts, heirs, devisees, and any will before starting the estate settlement. If you are using Gila County's local informal probate packet, remember that an application for informal probate is directed to the registrar under A.R.S. § 14-3301, and the registrar role is governed by A.R.S. § 14-1307.
- Choose the Gila County forms. The county publishes a local informal probate packet under A.R.S. § 14-3301, inventory and appraisement, and closing forms. If you need a small-estate affidavit under A.R.S. § 14-3971, ask the clerk for the current form because the county's small-estate links are broken.
- File the opening papers on paper with the Clerk of the Superior Court in Globe or Payson. Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 1-901 does not allow e-filing of a will or any document used to initiate a probate case, and letters in probate cases cannot be e-filed.
- Bring the filing fee. Gila County's new probate filing amount is $291.00 for filings after July 1, 2025, under the A.R.S. § 12-284 fee structure and the county's $20.00 probate increase effective July 1, 2025. If payment is a problem, file the fee deferral or waiver of court fees request under A.R.S. § 12-302 using AOCDFGF1F, with the supplemental AOCDFGF9F due later and the consent to judgment required by A.R.S. § 12-302(F).
- Use the correct office cutoff. New filings must arrive before 4:30 p.m. at the Globe office and before 3:30 p.m. at the Payson office. Payson also closes for lunch from noon to 1:15 p.m.
- If a hearing is required, obtain an initial hearing date within the court rule deadline. Arizona Rules of Probate Procedure Rule 18(a), and the same rules include the Rule 42 training requirement, 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 about remote attendance. R-21-0007 amended Arizona probate rules to authorize and facilitate virtual appearances at probate proceedings by interested parties, but a remote appearance is permission, not a right.
- Complete the required fiduciary training before letters issue. Arizona Rules of Probate Procedure Rule 42 and Administrative Order No. 2012-62 require a non-licensed fiduciary under A.R.S. § 14-5651 who will serve as personal representative to complete the AOC training. The court cannot issue letters testamentary or letters of administration until the appointment requirements are met and letters issue under A.R.S. § 14-3103.
- After appointment, give notice to creditors as required by A.R.S. § 14-3801, administer the assets, file the required inventory and later closing documents, and keep copies of everything filed in Gila County.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Gila County
Gila County publishes a dedicated local probate form page for estate cases. The listed materials include a local informal probate application packet under A.R.S. § 14-3301, an inventory and appraisement, forms for administering and accounting before closing, claim and objection materials, closing forms, and a status report.
The county's small-estate links for A.R.S. § 14-3971 are broken. If your estate settlement may use a small-estate affidavit under A.R.S. § 14-3971, ask the Globe or Payson clerk for the current form rather than relying on the broken links.
Arizona also publishes generic probate materials through the Administrative Office of the Courts, but the statewide set does not supply the local application that opens a decedent's estate. The Judicial Branch says each court might have its own preferred forms, so use Gila County's local page first and ask the clerk about any missing or broken item.
Fees
Gila County charges more than the statewide probate baseline. The statewide starting point is $191.00 effective December 28, 2024, for an application for informal probate or a petition in formal testacy under A.R.S. § 14-3401 and A.R.S. § 12-284, made up of a $176.00 base and a $15.00 document storage fund under A.R.S. § 12-284.01.
Gila County's amount to bring for a new probate filing is $291.00 for filings after July 1, 2025. Gila County states that all new probate matters increased by $20.00 effective July 1, 2025. County boards may add local fees under A.R.S. § 11-251.08, so ask the clerk for the current check amount before filing.
If you cannot pay at filing, Arizona allows a deferral or waiver of court fees under A.R.S. § 12-302. The first form is AOCDFGF1F, and the supplemental form is AOCDFGF9F. A deferral includes the consent to judgment required by A.R.S. § 12-302(F).
Local nuance
Gila County-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Different filing cutoffs by office | Globe accepts new filings until 4:30 p.m. Payson accepts new filings until 3:30 p.m. A same-day paper filing can miss the cutoff even though the building has not reached its posted closing time. |
| Payson lunch closure | The Payson location is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to noon and 1:15 p.m. to 4 p.m., excluding holidays. Do not plan a filing during the noon to 1:15 p.m. closure. |
| Local form packet | Gila County has its own informal probate packet under A.R.S. § 14-3301, plus inventory and closing materials. The local small-estate links under A.R.S. § 14-3971 are broken, so ask the clerk for a current small-estate form. |
| Local fee increase | Gila County states that new probate matters increased by $20.00 effective July 1, 2025. The current new probate filing amount is $291.00 for filings after July 1, 2025, under the A.R.S. § 12-284 structure and local fee authority under A.R.S. § 11-251.08. |
Recent updates
| Change | What it means in Gila County | Effective date |
|---|---|---|
| Gila County probate fee increase | New probate matters increased by $20.00, making the current new probate filing amount $291.00 under the A.R.S. § 12-284 fee structure and local fee authority under A.R.S. § 11-251.08. | July 1, 2025 |
| Initial hearing deadline shortened | Arizona Rules of Probate Procedure Rule 18(a), and the same rules include the Rule 42 training requirement, 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 1, 2026 |
| Probate opening remains paper only | Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 1-901 continues to bar e-filing of a will and any document used to initiate a probate case. The Gila County row on the Judicial Branch chart lists probate e-filing as subsequent filings only. | June 1, 2026 version of the rule |
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Gila County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by checking title and beneficiary designations. If a court filing is needed in Gila County, file on paper in Globe or Payson because Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 1-901 does not allow e-filing to open probate. If an A.R.S. § 14-3971 small-estate affidavit is being considered, ask the clerk for the current form because the county links are broken. | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts, and title issues before the spouse spends money on a filing. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | Call the Globe or Payson clerk about current A.R.S. § 14-3971 forms and mailing instructions. If a probate case must be opened, plan for the $291.00 filing fee after July 1, 2025, under A.R.S. § 12-284, and ask early whether any hearing can be handled by remote appearance under R-21-0007. | Sunset organizes the estate settlement facts, generates a probate packet when probate is needed, and can connect the family with local counsel. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | Use Gila County's local forms if appointment is needed. An informal probate application is governed by A.R.S. § 14-3301, and letters testamentary or letters of administration issue under A.R.S. § 14-3103 only after the court's requirements, including Rule 42 training for a non-licensed fiduciary under A.R.S. § 14-5651, are satisfied. | Sunset helps find the accounts, prepare a working asset list, and coordinate attorney help when a sale or family disagreement makes the estate settlement more complex. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Clerk of the Superior Court in Gila County | Filing location, local probate forms, current small-estate forms under A.R.S. § 14-3971, fee amount, and case questions for the Superior Court of Arizona in Gila County under A.R.S. § 14-1302. | Globe: (928) 425-3231. Payson: (928) 474-7131. Website: https://www.gilacountyaz.gov/government/courts/clerk_of_the_court/ |
| Gila County probate forms page | Local informal probate materials under A.R.S. § 14-3301, inventory and appraisement, and closing forms. Ask the clerk for replacement small-estate forms under A.R.S. § 14-3971 when links do not work. | https://www.gilacountyaz.gov/government/courts/clerk_of_the_court/probate_of_an_estate.php |
| Arizona Judicial Branch Self-Service Center | Statewide legal information and court forms for self-represented people. Court staff can provide legal information, but not legal advice. | https://www.azcourts.gov/selfservicecenter |
| AZCourtHelp | Arizona Bar Foundation resource with a Self-Help Center, Form Finder, Find My Court, Legal Aid Options, Live Chat, and free legal talks and clinics. | https://azcourthelp.org/ |
| Southern Arizona Legal Aid, White Mountain Legal Aid office | The office lists Navajo, Apache, and Gila as counties served. Call and ask whether your estate issue is within current services. | 1052 E. Deuce of Clubs Suite C, Show Low, AZ 85901. 1-928-537-8383 or 1-800-658-7958. |
| AZLawHelp | Arizona legal information resource named by the Judicial Branch. | https://www.azlawhelp.org/ |
| Gila County Public Fiduciary | A public fiduciary may be the last-resort applicant when no qualified and willing person is available to serve as personal representative under A.R.S. § 14-3301(A)(8). | 5515 South Apache Ave, Suite 800, Globe, AZ 85501. (928) 425-3149. |
When to hire an attorney
A lawyer is especially useful if the original will is missing, family members disagree, a home must be sold, creditors are active, a late filing raises the two-year limit under A.R.S. § 14-3108, or you are unsure whether Gila County's local forms fit your facts. Sunset connects you to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families identify bank accounts, investments, insurance, retirement accounts, vehicles, and real property so the estate settlement starts with a reliable asset picture.
Generate the probate packet. When a Gila County filing is needed, Sunset can turn the family's information into a probate packet and help you understand what must be filed on paper under Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 1-901.
Find a local probate attorney. If the case needs legal judgment, a home sale, a contested issue, or a formal filing, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Arizona probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families use Sunset to organize estate settlement, locate assets, and get matched with the right next step without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Gila County?
File with the Clerk of the Superior Court in Gila County. Venue is the county where the person who died was domiciled under A.R.S. § 14-3201(A)(1), and probate is heard in the Superior Court of Arizona in Gila County under A.R.S. § 14-1302. The filing locations are Globe and Payson.
Can I open a Gila County probate case online?
No. Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 1-901 does not permit e-filing of a will or any document used to initiate a probate case. The opening application or petition must be filed on paper.
What is the Gila County probate filing fee?
The current new probate filing amount is $291.00 for filings after July 1, 2025. Arizona's baseline probate filing fee under A.R.S. § 12-284 is $191.00 effective December 28, 2024, including the $15.00 document storage fund under A.R.S. § 12-284.01, and Gila County states that new probate matters increased by $20.00 effective July 1, 2025. Fee deferral or waiver of court fees may be requested under A.R.S. § 12-302.
Does Gila County have local probate forms?
Yes. Gila County publishes a local informal probate packet under A.R.S. § 14-3301, inventory and appraisement, and closing forms. Its small-estate affidavit links under A.R.S. § 14-3971 are broken, so ask the clerk for the current small-estate form.
Can I use the Payson office for a probate filing?
Yes. The Payson filing location is 714 S Beeline Hwy, Suite 104, Payson, AZ 85541. It is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to noon and 1:15 p.m. to 4 p.m., excluding holidays, and new filings must arrive before 3:30 p.m.
Can I appear remotely for a Gila County probate hearing?
Possibly. R-21-0007 amended Arizona probate rules to authorize and facilitate virtual appearances at probate proceedings by interested parties, effective January 1, 2022. A remote appearance is not automatic, so ask the court early.
How do I look up a Gila County probate case?
The Arizona public case search at https://apps.azcourts.gov/publicaccess/ excludes probate cases. For a Gila County probate case, call the Globe clerk at (928) 425-3231 or the Payson clerk at (928) 474-7131.
Do I have to complete training before I can serve as personal representative?
Yes. Arizona Rules of Probate Procedure Rule 42 requires training for a non-licensed fiduciary under A.R.S. § 14-5651, including a personal representative. The Judicial Branch says training must be completed before the court can issue letters, and letters testamentary or letters of administration are the authority documents under A.R.S. § 14-3103.
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.