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Maricopa County, AZ Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Maricopa County probate information |
|---|---|
| Court | Superior Court of Arizona in Maricopa County, Probate and Mental Health Department (A.R.S. § 14-1302) |
| Probate filing counters | Central Court Building, 201 W Jefferson St, 1st floor, Phoenix, AZ 85003; Southeast Regional Center, 222 E Javelina Ave, 1st floor, Mesa, AZ 85210; Northwest Regional Center, 14264 W Tierra Buena Ln, Surprise, AZ 85374; Northeast Regional Center, 18380 N 40th St, Suite 120, Phoenix, AZ 85032 |
| Clerk office address | Clerk of the Superior Court, 620 West Jackson Street, Phoenix, AZ 85003. This is the clerk's administrative address, not a probate filing counter. |
| Mailing for probate filings | Clerk of the Superior Court's Office, Probate File Counter, 201 W. Jefferson, Phoenix, AZ 85003. Include original documents, copies and a self-addressed stamped envelope. |
| Court department mailing | Probate and Mental Health Department, 201 W Jefferson St., Phoenix, AZ 85003 |
| Probate department phone | (602) 506-3668 |
| Clerk phone | (602) 372-5375, also published as (602) 37-CLERK |
| Fax | Probate and Mental Health Department, (602) 506-0702 |
| [email protected] | |
| Hours | Probate filing counter Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, and the court closes on the court holidays it publishes. If you are filing late in the day, call the clerk first to make sure the counter can still take your papers. |
| Filing fee | $306.00 to open a probate, per the clerk's probate fee schedule dated March 1, 2026 (A.R.S. § 12-284) |
| Local forms | Yes. Free Law Library Resource Center packet series, including PB10f Probate Cover Sheet and PB11f Probate Information Form for Decedent's Estate |
| E-filing | You cannot open a probate online. Under Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 1-901, eFileAZ carries Maricopa probate post-initiation filings only. |
| Case search | Maricopa County probate docket: https://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/docket/probatecourtcases/ |
| Remote appearance | Ask early. Arizona probate rules allow virtual appearances under R-21-0007, and Maricopa publishes PBMAT4, Motion to Appear Telephonically. |
| Court website | https://superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/departments/superior-court/probate/ |
| Clerk website | https://www.clerkofcourt.maricopa.gov/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a packet or go to a filing counter, identify what is in the estate and what is owed against it. In Maricopa County, the forms are easy to download and the counters are clearly named, but the expensive estate settlement mistake is choosing the wrong route before the numbers are known.
Arizona measures personal property and Arizona real property as two separate net calculations, with liens and encumbrances mattering to both. A family cannot know which local packet fits until it knows what the accounts hold and what is owed against the house. Sunset's asset discovery searches more than 2,300 financial institutions so the estate settlement plan starts with the asset picture, not a guess.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate in Maricopa County is heard in the Superior Court of Arizona in Maricopa 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 Maricopa County estate is filed with the Clerk of the Superior Court in Maricopa County. Maricopa County communities include Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Scottsdale, Tempe, Surprise, Peoria, Avondale, Goodyear, Queen Creek, Fountain Hills, Cave Creek and Sun City. The published probate filing counters are not assigned by city; any Maricopa probate filing counter can take the filing.
The jurisdiction process
- Build the asset and debt list first. Arizona's local probate path depends on the estate's property and liabilities, so do the estate settlement arithmetic before choosing a packet.
- Download the Maricopa packet you need from the Law Library Resource Center. PBIP1 is the informal appointment packet for informal probate under A.R.S. § 14-3301, and PBSE1 revision 092625 is the local packet for small-estate affidavits under A.R.S. § 14-3971.
- Complete the required fiduciary training before filing. Arizona Rules of Probate Procedure Rule 42 and Administrative Order No. 2012-62 require a non-licensed fiduciary under A.R.S. § 14-5651 to complete training before letters can issue. For a personal representative, use the AOC overview module and personal representative module, then file the certificate or Maricopa form PBDT10f, Declaration of Completion of Training.
- Assemble the originals the clerk keeps for PBIP1. The packet names PB10f Probate Cover Sheet, PB11f Probate Information Form for Decedent's Estate, PBIP19f Informal Checklist, PBDT10f Declaration of Completion of Training, PBIP13f Application for Appointment as Personal Representative, PBIP16f Statement of Informal Appointment, PBIP17f Letters and Acceptance of Appointment, PBIP18f Order to Personal Representative, and the original will if there is one.
- File on paper. You cannot open an Arizona probate electronically because Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 1-901, Attachment A, bars e-filing for wills and documents used to initiate a probate case. In Maricopa County, take the papers to one of the four probate filing counters, book a file-counter appointment if you want to be seen ahead of walk-ins, mail them to the Probate File Counter at 201 W Jefferson in Phoenix, or use a 24-hour filing depository box that accepts probate filings. No personal checks are accepted at the boxes.
- Pay the filing fee or apply for help with fees. The filing fee is $306.00 per the clerk's probate fee schedule dated March 1, 2026 (A.R.S. § 12-284). A deferral or waiver request is available under A.R.S. § 12-302, using the statewide application and the supplemental application at the end of the case, and a deferral requires a consent to judgment. Maricopa also publishes an online deferral and waiver portal and a one-time $35.00 charge added to deferred fees if a deferral is granted.
- Give the notice the packet requires. For PBIP1, use PBIP14f Notice of Application in Informal Proceeding if it applies, and PBIP15f Proof of Delivery or Mailing Notice of Application in Informal Proceeding.
- Wait for the Probate Registrar under A.R.S. § 14-1307. The Probate Registrar will tell you that the documents are ready or explain how to correct them. Return to the same counter where you filed and pick up the documents within five business days of notification.
- Collect the appointment papers. For authority to act, a personal representative needs letters under A.R.S. § 14-3103. Maricopa says the two documents you receive from the Probate Registrar are the Statement of Informal Appointment and a certified copy of the Letters of Appointment and Acceptance of Appointment. Extra Certified Letters of Appointment cost $35.00 per the clerk's probate fee schedule dated March 1, 2026.
- If a hearing is set, ask early about remote participation. R-21-0007 amended Arizona probate rules to authorize and facilitate virtual appearances by interested parties, but permission is not automatic. Maricopa publishes PBMAT4, Motion to Appear Telephonically. If a petition requires an initial hearing, Ariz. R. Prob. P. 18(a), effective January 1, 2026 through R-25-0021, gives the petitioner thirty days to obtain an initial hearing date before the court must notify the petitioner that the petition may be dismissed.
- Administer and close the estate. Maricopa's informal probate packet series includes PBIP3 for a claim against the estate if needed, PBIP4 for appointment, notice, inventory and appraisement, and PBIP8, Closing the Estate of the Person who Died. After the case is open, eligible post-initiation probate filings go through eFileAZ under ACJA § 1-901.
- Track the case on Maricopa's probate docket. The statewide Arizona public access portal excludes probate cases, but Maricopa County provides its own probate docket at https://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/docket/probatecourtcases/.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Maricopa County
Arizona publishes statewide probate forms through the Administrative Office of the Courts, but the statewide set does not include 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, so Maricopa filers should start with the Maricopa Law Library Resource Center forms.
| Form or packet | What it is used for | Local note |
|---|---|---|
| Forms index | Maricopa probate packet and form library | https://superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/llrc/probate-court-forms/ |
| PBIP1 | Application and Notice, Appointment of Personal Representative/Admission of Will, Part 1, for informal probate under A.R.S. § 14-3301 | Packet cover PBIP1 - 5270 - 061926. Most inner instruction and form sheets are stamped 040225. |
| PB10f | Probate Cover Sheet | Named among the originals the Clerk of the Superior Court keeps. The PB10f sheet in PBIP1 is stamped 093022. |
| PB11f | Probate Information Form for Decedent's Estate | Named among the originals the clerk keeps. The PB11f sheet in PBIP1 is stamped 021320. |
| PBDT10f | Declaration of Completion of Training | Maricopa's local proof option for Arizona Rules of Probate Procedure Rule 42 training. |
| PBIP3 | Claim Against the Estate | Use only if a claim needs to be filed. Check the clerk's current fee schedule before paying a claim or demand fee. |
| PBIP4 | Appointment, Notice of Appointment, Inventory and Appraisement | Part of the Maricopa informal probate packet path. |
| PBIP8 | Closing the Estate of the Person who Died | Use for closing an informal probate estate. |
| PBSE1 revision 092625 | Small Estate Transfer / Affidavit packet under A.R.S. § 14-3971 | Includes PBSE11f for collection of personal property, PBSE12f for transfer of title to real property, and PB10f for the real-property filing. |
| PBMAT4 | Motion to Appear Telephonically | Maricopa's published probate form for asking to appear remotely under R-21-0007. |
The Law Library Resource Center publishes forms for informal probate and small-estate affidavit work, but it states that forms and instructions for the more complex formal probate process are not available from the court.
Fees
Maricopa County charges more than Arizona's statewide probate baseline. The statewide amount is $191.00 for an application for informal probate or a petition in formal testacy under A.R.S. § 14-3401 and A.R.S. § 12-284, effective December 28, 2024 through Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 3-404. That statewide total is $176.00 plus the $15.00 document storage and retrieval fund under A.R.S. § 12-284.01. Maricopa's clerk schedule dated March 1, 2026 adds $115.00 in local fees under A.R.S. § 11-251.08, including a $5.00 docket fee effective September 26, 2008, for a $306.00 probate filing fee.
| Fee item | Amount | Authority or date |
|---|---|---|
| Probate - Informal / Affidavits | $306.00 | Clerk's probate fee schedule dated March 1, 2026, under A.R.S. § 12-284 |
| Probate - Other | $306.00 | Clerk's probate fee schedule dated March 1, 2026, under A.R.S. § 12-284 |
| Statewide base portion | $176.00 | Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 3-404, effective December 28, 2024, under A.R.S. § 12-284 |
| Document storage and retrieval fund portion | $15.00 | A.R.S. § 12-284.01, included in the clerk's probate fee schedule dated March 1, 2026 |
| Maricopa local fee portion | $115.00 | Board of Supervisors local fees under A.R.S. § 11-251.08, shown in the clerk's probate fee schedule dated March 1, 2026 |
| Certified Letters of Appointment | $35.00 | Clerk's probate fee schedule dated March 1, 2026, tied to letters under A.R.S. § 14-3103 |
| Probate - Answer | $217.00 | Clerk's probate fee schedule dated March 1, 2026 |
| Post-judgment activities in probate cases | $102.00 | Clerk's probate fee schedule dated March 1, 2026 |
| One-time charge added if a fee deferral is granted | $35.00 | As published on the clerk's deferral and waiver of court fees page, under A.R.S. § 12-302 |
If you cannot afford the filing fee, Arizona law allows a deferral or waiver request under A.R.S. § 12-302. The statewide process uses AOCDFGF1F at the start and AOCDFGF9F at the end, and a deferral includes a consent to judgment for unpaid deferred fees. Maricopa also provides an online deferral and waiver portal through the clerk.
Local nuance
Maricopa County-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Probate and Mental Health Department | The Superior Court of Arizona in Maricopa County has a Probate and Mental Health Department for decedents' estates and related matters (A.R.S. § 14-1302). Its probate department phone is (602) 506-3668 and its fax is (602) 506-0702. |
| Four clerk probate filing counters | The clerk names probate filing counters at 201 W Jefferson in Phoenix, 222 E Javelina in Mesa, 14264 W Tierra Buena in Surprise, and 18380 N 40th St, Suite 120, in Phoenix. The court's probate packets also direct filers to the Old Courthouse filing counter at 125 W Washington Street in Phoenix; call the clerk before travelling there for a probate filing. |
| 24-hour filing depository boxes | Maricopa has external depository boxes available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and the clerk says they are available for probate filings. This matters because Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 1-901 does not allow a probate case to be opened by e-filing. Do not deposit cash or personal checks in the boxes. |
| Local packet series | The Law Library Resource Center publishes a free packet series for informal probate under A.R.S. § 14-3301 and small-estate affidavits under A.R.S. § 14-3971. The packet path includes PBIP1, PBIP3, PBIP4 and PBIP8, Closing the Estate of the Person who Died. |
| Local cover and training proof forms | Maricopa's PBIP1 packet includes PB10f Probate Cover Sheet, PB11f Probate Information Form for Decedent's Estate, and PBDT10f Declaration of Completion of Training for Arizona Rules of Probate Procedure Rule 42. |
| Own probate docket | The statewide public access portal excludes probate cases. Maricopa runs its own probate docket at https://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/docket/probatecourtcases/. |
| Post-initiation eFileAZ | In Maricopa County, eFileAZ carries probate post-initiation filings only under ACJA § 1-901. The clerk states that wills and informal resubmissions are not permitted. AZTurboCourt is not the Maricopa probate channel. |
| Probate Registrar pickup | After filing, the Probate Registrar under A.R.S. § 14-1307 tells you whether the papers are ready or need correction. The packet says to return to the same counter where you filed and pick up the documents within five business days after notification. |
| Probate Lawyers Assistance Program | The court publishes a Probate Lawyers Assistance Program for eligible low-income self-represented people, offering up to a 30-minute phone consultation with a volunteer attorney by appointment on Wednesday mornings. The court also publishes a $40.00 cash fee for people who do not meet the eligibility requirements. Call (602) 732-2834 to confirm the schedule before relying on it. |
| Case Center for evidentiary hearings | The probate department uses Case Center for evidentiary hearings and trials. Lawyers and non-lawyer representatives must use it, and a self-represented litigant may opt out by contacting the judicial officer's division listed on the notice. Scanners are available at the regional Law Library Resource Centers. |
Recent updates
| Change | Date |
|---|---|
| The Clerk of the Superior Court in Maricopa County publishes a probate fee schedule showing $306.00 for Probate - Informal / Affidavits and Probate - Other under A.R.S. § 12-284, and $35.00 for Certified Letters of Appointment under A.R.S. § 14-3103. | Schedule dated March 1, 2026 |
| Ariz. R. Prob. P. 18(a) 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, through R-25-0021. | Effective January 1, 2026 |
| The statewide base fee in Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 3-404 was amended by Administrative Order 2024-210. | Effective December 28, 2024 |
| R-26-0002 changes Ariz. R. Prob. P. 3(d) so a non-probate proceeding inside a probate case must be initiated by a separate pleading and may not be combined with a probate petition. | Effective January 1, 2027 |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Maricopa County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | First confirm how the home is titled and what is owed against it. If a court appointment is needed, use the Maricopa PBIP1 informal probate packet under A.R.S. § 14-3301, file at a probate filing counter, pay $306.00 per the clerk's probate fee schedule dated March 1, 2026 under A.R.S. § 12-284, and buy Certified Letters of Appointment at $35.00 per the same schedule for the mortgage servicer or title company. | Sunset finds accounts, debts and property details so the spouse can choose the estate settlement route with the numbers in hand. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | The Maricopa packets are downloadable, the Arizona Rules of Probate Procedure Rule 42 training is online, and opening papers can be mailed or placed in a 24-hour filing depository box. A probate case still cannot be opened by e-filing under ACJA § 1-901. If a hearing is set, ask early about remote participation under R-21-0007 using PBMAT4. | Sunset helps the child find accounts from out of state and organize the packet before mailing or filing paper originals. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A parent is one of the people who may apply for informal probate under A.R.S. § 14-3301. Selling the home usually requires letters under A.R.S. § 14-3103, and Maricopa can hold letters until tasks such as Ariz. R. Prob. P. 42 training are complete. Certified Letters of Appointment cost $35.00 per the clerk's probate fee schedule dated March 1, 2026. | Sunset builds the asset and liability picture that the sale, inventory and final accounting depend on. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | What it offers | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Maricopa County Law Library Resource Center | Court forms, live educational programs, recorded tutorials, self-help tools and staff who provide legal information but not legal advice. Locations include 101 W Jefferson in Phoenix, 222 E Javelina in Mesa, 18380 N 40th St in Phoenix, and 14264 W Tierra Buena in Surprise. | (602) 506-7353; [email protected]; https://superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/llrc/ |
| Probate Lawyers Assistance Program | Phone consultations by appointment for self-represented probate litigants. Eligible low-income people may receive up to a 30-minute consultation for free. The court also publishes a $40.00 cash fee for people who do not meet the eligibility requirements. | (602) 732-2834. Call to confirm the Wednesday morning schedule. |
| Lawyer in the Library | In-person clinic at the downtown and Mesa law libraries for many different legal issues. It is not published as a probate-only clinic, so check the events calendar. | https://superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/llrc/workshops/ |
| Community Legal Services | Publishes a Central Phoenix office serving Maricopa County. Its published practice areas do not list probate, estates or wills. | (602) 258-3434; 1 (800) 852-9075; https://clsaz.org/ |
| Maricopa County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service | Lawyer referral service listed by the Maricopa court's provider page. | (602) 257-4434 |
| AZCourtHelp | Arizona Bar Foundation self-help site with a Self-Help Center, Form Finder, Find My Court, Legal Aid Options and Live Chat. | https://azcourthelp.org/ |
| AZLawHelp | Statewide legal help site named by the Arizona Judicial Branch and by the Maricopa court's provider list. | https://www.azlawhelp.org/; 866.637.5341 |
| Certified legal document preparer program | Arizona certifies nonlawyers to prepare court documents for self-represented people under Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 7-208. A certified legal document preparer is not a lawyer, cannot give legal advice, cannot go to court with you, and communications are not privileged. | https://www.azcourts.gov/cld/Legal-Document-Preparer-Program |
When to hire an attorney
Maricopa's Law Library Resource Center draws a practical line: it publishes free packets for informal probate and small-estate affidavits, but it states that forms and instructions for the more complex formal probate process are not available from the court. Talk to a lawyer if there is no original will, an heir or will dispute, a timing problem under A.R.S. § 14-3108, a business, out-of-state property, or a sale that needs coordinated title work. Before paying for counsel, a low-income Maricopa reader can ask about the Probate Lawyers Assistance Program, and any reader can contact the Maricopa County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service. Sunset connects families to a vetted local probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches more than 2,300 financial institutions and helps build the asset and liability picture that drives estate settlement decisions in Arizona.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset helps organize the information needed for Maricopa forms, including the PBIP1 informal probate path, local cover forms and the training proof step.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs legal help, Sunset connects families with a vetted local probate attorney who can handle Maricopa County procedure.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to understand the estate settlement path, find assets and get connected to help without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Maricopa County?
File with the Clerk of the Superior Court in Maricopa County. The clerk names four probate filing counters: 201 W Jefferson St in Phoenix, 222 E Javelina Ave in Mesa, 14264 W Tierra Buena Ln in Surprise, and 18380 N 40th St, Suite 120, in Phoenix. The court's probate packets also direct filers to the Old Courthouse filing counter at 125 W Washington Street in Phoenix; call the clerk before relying on that location. Venue is based on the decedent's domicile under A.R.S. § 14-3201.
Can I file probate online in Maricopa County?
No. You cannot open an Arizona probate online. Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 1-901 bars e-filing for wills and for any document used to initiate a probate case. In Maricopa County, eFileAZ carries post-initiation probate filings only after the case is already open.
How much does it cost to file probate in Maricopa County?
The filing fee is $306.00 for Probate - Informal / Affidavits and Probate - Other, per the clerk's probate fee schedule dated March 1, 2026 (A.R.S. § 12-284). That total includes a $176.00 statewide base effective December 28, 2024, a $15.00 document storage and retrieval fund under A.R.S. § 12-284.01, and $115.00 in Maricopa local fees under A.R.S. § 11-251.08 as shown on the clerk's schedule dated March 1, 2026.
How do I look up a probate case in Maricopa County?
Use Maricopa County's probate docket at https://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/docket/probatecourtcases/. The statewide Arizona public access portal excludes probate cases and uses randomly generated verification words. Maricopa's probate docket lets you search by name or case number and see case information, the court calendar and minute entries.
Does Maricopa County have its own probate forms?
Yes. The Law Library Resource Center publishes Maricopa probate forms at https://superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/llrc/probate-court-forms/. The local packet set includes PBIP1 for informal probate under A.R.S. § 14-3301, PBSE1 revision 092625 for small-estate affidavits under A.R.S. § 14-3971, PB10f Probate Cover Sheet, PB11f Probate Information Form for Decedent's Estate, PBDT10f Declaration of Completion of Training, and PBMAT4 Motion to Appear Telephonically.
Do I have to take training before I can be appointed personal representative in Maricopa County?
Yes. Arizona Rules of Probate Procedure Rule 42 requires training for a non-licensed fiduciary under A.R.S. § 14-5651 before letters can issue. Maricopa's PBIP1 packet says to complete the training before filing to avoid delays, and it includes PBDT10f, Declaration of Completion of Training, as a local proof form.
Can I attend a Maricopa County probate hearing remotely?
Ask the court early. R-21-0007 amended Arizona probate rules to authorize and facilitate virtual appearances by interested parties, but permission is not automatic. Maricopa publishes PBMAT4, Motion to Appear Telephonically, for probate matters.
Do I have to travel to Phoenix to settle a Maricopa County estate?
Not always. Maricopa has probate filing counters in Phoenix, Mesa and Surprise, plus 24-hour filing depository boxes that accept probate filings. You may also mail probate filings to the Probate File Counter at 201 W Jefferson in Phoenix. If a hearing is set, ask early about remote participation under R-21-0007.
What if I cannot afford the Maricopa County probate filing fee?
You can apply for a deferral or waiver under A.R.S. § 12-302. Maricopa's clerk provides an online deferral and waiver portal. The statewide process uses AOCDFGF1F at the start and AOCDFGF9F at the end of the case, and a deferral includes a consent to judgment. Maricopa publishes a one-time $35.00 charge added to deferred fees if a deferral is granted.
Does Arizona have an estate tax for a Maricopa County estate?
Arizona has no estate tax. The Arizona Department of Revenue publishes that Arizona no longer imposes an estate tax for estates of decedents dying after 2004, and the Legislature repealed the estate tax provisions in Laws 2006, Ch. 262, § 3. The Arizona Department of Revenue also publishes that Arizona does not impose an inheritance or gift tax. The federal estate tax is a separate question and can still apply 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.