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Greenlee County, AZ Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Greenlee County detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Superior Court of Arizona in Greenlee County (A.R.S. § 14-1302) |
| Courthouse address | 223 5th Street, Clifton, AZ 85533 |
| Mailing address for filings | Clerk of the Superior Court, P.O. Box 1027, Clifton, AZ 85533 |
| Clerk phone | (928) 865-4242 |
| [email protected] | |
| Fax | (928) 865-5358, published by the superior court, not separately as the clerk's fax. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed on state holidays. Greenlee County does not publish a filing cutoff or lunch closure, so call before a long trip. |
| Filing fee | The statewide probate filing fee is $191.00 effective December 28, 2024, 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 under A.R.S. § 12-284 and a $15.00 document storage fund under A.R.S. § 12-284.01. Greenlee County's own posted fee sheet is effective October 7, 2022 and lists Informal Probate with cert copy, Formal Probate with cert copy, and Affidavit of Succession with cert copy at $234.50 each. Call (928) 865-4242 before paying because the county sheet predates the statewide revision. |
| Local forms | No Greenlee County probate packet is published. The county's courts page points self-represented filers to the Arizona Judicial Branch Self-Service Center, AZCourtHelp, and Maricopa County self-service materials. |
| E-filing | You cannot open probate online. Under Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 1-901, Attachment A, a will and any document used to initiate a probate case cannot be e-filed. The Judicial Branch's eFileAZ chart lists Greenlee probate as subsequent filings only. |
| Case search | Arizona's statewide public case search at https://apps.azcourts.gov/publicaccess/ excludes probate cases in the Judicial Branch's own words and uses randomly generated verification words. For a Greenlee County probate file, contact the clerk. |
| Remote appearance | R-21-0007 amended Rules 2, 12 and 16 of the Arizona Rules of Probate Procedure "to specifically authorize and facilitate virtual appearances at probate proceedings by interested parties," effective January 1, 2022. Greenlee County's courts page publishes a remote and in-person hearings guide, but remote appearance is permission, not a right. |
| Website | https://greenlee.az.gov/clerk-of-the-courts-home/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you call the clerk in Clifton, identify the accounts, real estate, debts, liens and payoffs that belong in the estate settlement. Sunset searches for assets across more than 2,300 financial institutions, which helps you avoid filing first and discovering later that the estate settlement should have taken a different path.
Arizona's small-estate affidavit statute measures personal property and Arizona real property separately, and both are net of liens and encumbrances (A.R.S. § 14-3971). In Greenlee County, where the filing counter is one office in Clifton, having the balances and lien information ready before the first call can save a second trip or a corrected mailing.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate in Greenlee County is heard in the Superior Court of Arizona in Greenlee 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.
One superior court location serves the county: 223 5th Street in Clifton. Greenlee County's own site names the Town of Clifton, the Town of Duncan and the Town of Morenci, and its justice court precincts are Clifton and Duncan, but those precincts are not probate filing locations.
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 Greenlee County estate is filed with the Clerk of the Superior Court in Greenlee County.
The jurisdiction process
- Work out what the person who died owned and what is owed against it. In Arizona, that arithmetic can decide whether a court case is needed at all because small-estate affidavit rules measure separate net categories under A.R.S. § 14-3971.
- Confirm venue. Greenlee County is the right county if the person who died was domiciled there (A.R.S. § 14-3201(A)(1)).
- Complete the Arizona Supreme Court's non-licensed fiduciary training before you expect letters to be issued (A.R.S. § 14-5651). Arizona Rules of Probate Procedure Rule 42 and Administrative Order No. 2012-62 require the training, and the Administrative Office of the Courts publishes module AOCPBPZ2 for the overview and AOCPBPZ6 for personal representatives. Ask the Greenlee County clerk how proof of completion should be filed.
- Gather the papers. Greenlee County does not publish its own probate forms, so use the Judicial Branch Self-Service Center, AZCourtHelp, and the self-service materials Greenlee County links to, then call (928) 865-4242 to ask which papers, originals, copies, cover sheet and training proof the Clifton office wants.
- Bring or mail the original will if there is one. Under Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 1-901, Attachment A, the will cannot be e-filed, 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 for informal probate.
- File on paper with the Clerk of the Superior Court in Greenlee County (A.R.S. § 14-1302): in person at 223 5th Street, Clifton, or by mail to P.O. Box 1027, Clifton, AZ 85533. A probate case cannot be opened electronically anywhere in Arizona under Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 1-901.
- Pay the filing fee, or ask for help with court costs. The statewide probate filing fee is $191.00 effective December 28, 2024, under A.R.S. § 12-284 and A.R.S. § 12-284.01, while Greenlee County's own posted sheet is effective October 7, 2022 and lists probate lines at $234.50. Call the clerk before paying. Fee deferral and waiver are governed by A.R.S. § 12-302, using AOCDFGF1F and, at the end of the case, AOCDFGF9F.
- Give notice as Arizona requires. Notice to creditors, publication and mailing deadlines are statewide rules under A.R.S. § 14-3801.
- If a hearing is needed, get the date. Under Arizona Rules of Probate Procedure Rule 18(a), amended effective January 1, 2026, the petitioner has thirty days after filing to obtain an initial hearing date or the court must warn that the petition may be dismissed. Ask the Greenlee County court whether the hearing can be held remotely; R-21-0007 authorizes virtual appearances, and the county's courts page treats probate initial hearings as hearings that can be held remotely.
- After the registrar's statement or the court's order is entered and you qualify, letters testamentary or letters of administration are issued (A.R.S. § 14-3103). Letters cannot be e-filed under Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 1-901, so ask the clerk how to obtain certified copies.
- Administer and close the estate. Inventory, creditor claims, distribution and closing are statewide steps, and your estate settlement file is held by the Clerk of the Superior Court in Greenlee County.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Greenlee County
Arizona publishes a statewide set of probate forms through the Administrative Office of the Courts, but the 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 own forms "are generic and may be accepted by courts statewide" and that "each court might have their own preferred forms." The forms that open a probate come from the county.
Greenlee County does not publish its own probate forms. Its courts page sends self-represented filers to the Arizona Judicial Branch Self-Service Center, to AZCourtHelp, and to the Maricopa County Superior Court self-service materials. Call the clerk's office in Clifton before filing to ask which papers it wants.
| Resource | How to use it for Greenlee County |
|---|---|
| Arizona Judicial Branch Self-Service Center | Statewide legal information and forms for people representing themselves. Court staff can provide legal information, not legal advice. |
| AZCourtHelp | Statewide self-help starting point linked by Greenlee County, with self-help tools and form-finding resources. It does not provide a Greenlee-specific probate packet. |
| Maricopa County Superior Court self-service site | Greenlee County's own self-help link points to these materials. They are another county's materials, and venue for a Greenlee County estate stays in Greenlee County (A.R.S. § 14-3201). |
| Clerk of the Superior Court in Greenlee County, (928) 865-4242 | Call before filing to ask which papers, originals, copies, cover sheet and proof of training the Clifton office wants. |
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 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, a county board of supervisors may add local fees under A.R.S. § 11-251.08.
Greenlee County posts its own superior court fee sheet, titled "GREENLEE COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT FILING FEES," and the sheet is effective October 7, 2022. That date is before the statewide revision effective December 28, 2024, so do not assume the posted county sheet tells you the amount payable today. Call the clerk at (928) 865-4242 before writing the check.
| Published fee line | Amount and date |
|---|---|
| Statewide application for informal probate or petition in formal testacy | $191.00, effective December 28, 2024, under A.R.S. § 12-284 and A.R.S. § 12-284.01 |
| Greenlee County "Informal Probate with cert copy" | $234.50, on Greenlee County's fee sheet effective October 7, 2022 |
| Greenlee County "Formal Probate with cert copy" | $234.50, on Greenlee County's fee sheet effective October 7, 2022 |
| Greenlee County "Affidavit of Succession with cert copy" | $234.50, on Greenlee County's fee sheet effective October 7, 2022 |
| Greenlee County "Guardian/Conservator with cert copy" | $234.50, on Greenlee County's fee sheet effective October 7, 2022 |
| Greenlee County "Opposing Petition in Testacy" | $204.50, on Greenlee County's fee sheet effective October 7, 2022 |
| Greenlee County "Demand Notice" | $30.00, on Greenlee County's fee sheet effective October 7, 2022 |
Court fees can be deferred or waived. Under A.R.S. § 12-302 the court shall grant a deferral if you receive TANF or food stamp benefits or supplemental security income, or if your gross monthly income is 150 percent or less of the federal poverty level, and shall waive fees on proof that you are permanently unable to pay. Ask the clerk's office for the Application for Deferral or Waiver of Court Fees and Costs (AOCDFGF1F); a supplemental application (AOCDFGF9F) is filed when there is a final order, and a deferral requires you to consent to judgment for anything still unpaid thirty days after final judgment.
Local nuance
Greenlee County-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Published filing office name | Greenlee County lists the filing office as "Clerk of the Court & Probate Registrar." Use that label with care: A.R.S. § 14-1307 says registrar acts may be performed by a judge, the clerk of the court, a court commissioner or any of them as designated by the presiding judge. |
| One location in Clifton | Probate is handled at 223 5th Street in Clifton through the Superior Court of Arizona in Greenlee County (A.R.S. § 14-1302). Probate filings go to the clerk at P.O. Box 1027, Clifton, AZ 85533. |
| Friday court hours | Greenlee County publishes general county business hours of Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., but superior court hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call before going to ask about any same-day filing cutoff. |
| Dated county fee sheet | Greenlee County posts its own probate fee lines, but the sheet is effective October 7, 2022. The statewide $191.00 amount took effect December 28, 2024 under A.R.S. § 12-284 and A.R.S. § 12-284.01, so confirm the current amount before paying. |
| eFileAZ after opening only | The Judicial Branch's Greenlee row lists probate as subsequent filings only under Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 1-901. The opening application, petition and will go on paper. |
| Justice court eFiling notice | Greenlee County posted a notice that eFiling became available in all Greenlee County justice courts on March 30, 2026 for civil, small claims and eviction cases. Those courts do not hear decedents' estates. |
| Public fiduciary | Greenlee County publishes a public fiduciary office phone number, (928) 865-2323. A public fiduciary may be the applicant of last resort if nobody else is qualified and willing to serve as personal representative (A.R.S. § 14-3301(A)(8)). |
Recent updates
| Date | Update |
|---|---|
| December 28, 2024 | The Arizona Supreme Court's superior court fee schedule took effect, setting the statewide probate filing fee at $191.00, made up of a $176.00 base under A.R.S. § 12-284 plus the $15.00 document storage fund under A.R.S. § 12-284.01. |
| January 1, 2026 | Arizona Rules of Probate Procedure Rule 18(a), through R-25-0021, now gives the petitioner thirty days after filing to obtain an initial hearing date before the court must notify the petitioner that the petition may be dismissed. |
| March 30, 2026 | Greenlee County posted a notice that eFiling became available in all Greenlee County justice courts for civil, small claims and eviction cases. It does not reach probate: probate is heard in the Superior Court of Arizona in Greenlee County (A.R.S. § 14-1302), and no Arizona probate case can be opened electronically under Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 1-901. |
| April 17, 2026 | The Judicial Branch's eFileAZ availability chart was last updated; it lists Greenlee County probate as subsequent filings only under Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 1-901. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start with the Clerk of the Superior Court in Greenlee County at 223 5th Street in Clifton or by mail to P.O. Box 1027. The office Greenlee County calls "Clerk of the Court & Probate Registrar" is the filing office, and registrar acts are governed by A.R.S. § 14-1307. | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts and liens so the spouse can see whether estate settlement needs a court filing or can stay on an affidavit path under A.R.S. § 14-3971. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | Nothing that opens probate can be e-filed under Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 1-901. Mail paper filings to P.O. Box 1027, Clifton, AZ 85533, and ask whether any later hearing can be remote under R-21-0007 and the county's hearings guide. | Sunset helps assemble the asset list and probate packet from out of state so one mailing can do the work of multiple calls. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale may require letters testamentary or letters of administration, which are tied to appointment and qualification under A.R.S. § 14-3103. Complete the Arizona Rules of Probate Procedure Rule 42 training early, then ask the clerk how to obtain certified copies. | Sunset helps put training, letters and certified copies on the estate settlement checklist before the real estate sale stalls. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Clerk of the Superior Court in Greenlee County | Filing office for probate in the Superior Court of Arizona in Greenlee County (A.R.S. § 14-1302). The county also lists this office as "Clerk of the Court & Probate Registrar," and registrar acts are governed by A.R.S. § 14-1307. Court staff can provide legal information, not legal advice. | (928) 865-4242, [email protected], 223 5th Street, Clifton, AZ 85533, mailing P.O. Box 1027, Clifton, AZ 85533 |
| Arizona Judicial Branch Self-Service Center | Statewide legal information and court forms for people representing themselves, with a Spanish self-service counterpart. Greenlee County links both from its courts page. | https://www.azcourts.gov/selfservicecenter |
| AZCourtHelp | Arizona Bar Foundation self-help site with a Self-Help Center, Form Finder, Find My Court, Legal Aid Options and live chat. Greenlee County links it as a statewide starting point. | https://azcourthelp.org/ |
| Maricopa County Superior Court self-service probate materials | Greenlee County's own self-help link points to these free probate materials. They are another county's materials, so call Greenlee County before filing and keep venue in Greenlee County (A.R.S. § 14-3201). | https://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/ |
| Southern Arizona Legal Aid | SALA lists a Cochise, Graham and Greenlee office in Sierra Vista. Call and ask whether it can help with a decedent's estate; do not assume representation is available. | Sierra Vista office: 1601 Paseo San Luis, Suite 105, Sierra Vista, AZ 85635, 520-432-1639 or 1-800-231-7106. Intake: 520-623-9461 or 800-248-6789, open 8:15 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 4 p.m. |
| AZLawHelp.org | Named by the Arizona Judicial Branch as a probate resource. | https://www.azlawhelp.org/ |
| Greenlee County Public Fiduciary | May be appointed when nobody else is willing or capable of serving as personal representative; the public fiduciary is an applicant of last resort under A.R.S. § 14-3301(A)(8). | (928) 865-2323 |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a probate attorney if the original will is missing, heirs disagree, real property must be sold, creditor issues are unclear, or you are close to a deadline that affects estate settlement. The clerk can give legal information, not legal advice, and Greenlee County does not publish a local probate packet. Sunset connects families with a vetted attorney when legal help is the safer path.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families identify bank accounts, investments, insurance, retirement accounts, real property leads, debts and liens so the estate settlement starts with a complete picture instead of guesswork.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns what you know about the estate into an organized probate packet and checklist, including the Greenlee County filing address, paper-filing requirements and the training step Arizona requires before letters can be issued.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate needs legal advice, a hearing, a real property sale or help resolving conflict, Sunset can connect you with a vetted probate attorney familiar with Arizona procedure.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate, understand the next filing step and decide when a lawyer is needed. Sunset is free for families.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Greenlee County?
File with the Clerk of the Superior Court in Greenlee County. The walk-in address is 223 5th Street, Clifton, AZ 85533, and the mailing address for filings is P.O. Box 1027, Clifton, AZ 85533. Probate is heard in the Superior Court of Arizona in Greenlee County (A.R.S. § 14-1302), and venue is Greenlee County if the person who died was domiciled there (A.R.S. § 14-3201).
Can I file a probate case online in Greenlee County?
No. You cannot open an Arizona probate online. Under Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 1-901, Attachment A, e-filing is not permitted for a will or for any document used to initiate a probate case, and letters in probate cases cannot be e-filed. The Judicial Branch's eFileAZ chart lists Greenlee probate as subsequent filings only.
How much does it cost to file probate in Greenlee County?
The statewide probate filing fee is $191.00 effective December 28, 2024, 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 under A.R.S. § 12-284 and a $15.00 document storage fund under A.R.S. § 12-284.01. Greenlee County's own posted fee sheet is effective October 7, 2022 and lists "Informal Probate with cert copy," "Formal Probate with cert copy," and "Affidavit of Succession with cert copy" at $234.50 each. Call (928) 865-4242 before paying because the posted county sheet predates the statewide revision.
Do I have to take training before I can serve as personal representative in Greenlee County?
Yes. Arizona Rules of Probate Procedure Rule 42 and Administrative Order No. 2012-62 require non-licensed fiduciary training before letters can be issued (A.R.S. § 14-5651). The Administrative Office of the Courts publishes module AOCPBPZ2 for the general overview and AOCPBPZ6 for personal representatives. Ask the Greenlee County clerk how to file proof of completion.
Can I attend a Greenlee County probate hearing remotely, or do I have to travel to Clifton?
The filing that opens the estate must be on paper at 223 5th Street in Clifton or by mail to P.O. Box 1027, Clifton, AZ 85533, because Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 1-901 bars e-filing for probate case initiation. For hearings, R-21-0007 amended Rules 2, 12 and 16 of the Arizona Rules of Probate Procedure "to specifically authorize and facilitate virtual appearances at probate proceedings by interested parties," effective January 1, 2022. Greenlee County's courts page publishes a remote and in-person hearings guide that treats probate initial hearings as hearings that can be held remotely, but permission is not automatic, so ask when the hearing is set.
How do I look up a Greenlee County probate case?
Arizona's statewide public case search at https://apps.azcourts.gov/publicaccess/ excludes probate. The Judicial Branch's own words are: "The following case types are excluded from search results: sealed cases, cases involving Orders of Protection, mental health and probate cases, victim and witness data." The portal also uses randomly generated verification words. For a Greenlee County probate file, call or email the Clerk of the Superior Court at (928) 865-4242 or [email protected].
Does Greenlee County have its own probate forms?
Greenlee County does not publish its own probate form set. Its courts page points self-represented filers to the Arizona Judicial Branch Self-Service Center, AZCourtHelp and Maricopa County self-service materials. Those materials can help you understand the paperwork, but call the Greenlee County clerk before filing to ask which papers, originals, copies, cover sheet and proof of Rule 42 training the Clifton office wants.
What are the Greenlee County clerk's hours, and is the courthouse open on Fridays?
The published superior court hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed on state holidays. Greenlee County's general business hours are Monday through Thursday, but the superior court's published schedule includes Friday. The county does not publish a filing cutoff or lunch closure, so call (928) 865-4242 before you go.
What if nobody is willing or able to serve as personal representative in Greenlee County?
Greenlee County publishes a Public Fiduciary office at (928) 865-2323. Under A.R.S. § 14-3301(A)(8), if nobody else is qualified and willing to serve as personal representative, the public fiduciary can be the applicant of last resort.
Does Arizona charge an estate tax on a Greenlee County estate?
Arizona does not impose an estate tax on estates of decedents dying after 2004. The Arizona Department of Revenue's wording is: "For estates of decedents dying after 2004, Arizona no longer imposes an estate tax." The Legislature repealed the estate tax provisions in Laws 2006, Ch. 262, § 3, and the same Department of Revenue publication says Arizona does not impose an inheritance or gift tax. The federal estate tax is a separate question and still applies to large estates.
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.