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Mohave County, AZ Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Mohave County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Superior Court of Arizona in Mohave County (A.R.S. § 14-1302) |
| Primary filing office | Clerk of the Superior Court, Kingman office |
| Walk-in address | 415 E. Spring Street, Kingman, AZ 86401 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 7000, Kingman, AZ 86402 |
| Phone | (928) 753-0713 |
| Fax | (928) 718-4930 |
| [email protected] | |
| Hours | Kingman: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Lake Havasu City and Bullhead City: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The court closes on published court holidays. |
| Filing fee | $371.00 for an application for informal probate (A.R.S. § 14-3301) or a petition for formal testacy (A.R.S. § 14-3401), on Mohave County's schedule effective December 28, 2024. The statewide base is set under A.R.S. § 12-284. |
| Local forms | Yes. Mohave County publishes nine probate forms and kits, including informal probate (A.R.S. § 14-3301), formal probate, real property affidavit forms under A.R.S. § 14-3971, proof of authority, claim against estate, demand for notice and probate miscellaneous forms. |
| E-filing status | A probate case cannot be opened electronically. Under Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 1-901, wills and documents used to initiate a probate case must be filed on paper. Mohave County marks probate on eFileAZ as non-initiating, subsequent filing only. |
| Case search | Arizona's statewide public case search excludes probate cases. Mohave County does not publish a separate probate case portal, but the clerk publishes ways to request probate copies. |
| Remote appearance | Ask early. R-21-0007 authorized virtual appearances in Arizona probate proceedings, and Mohave County publishes Zoom conferencing information for its superior court courtrooms. |
| Website | https://www.mohavecourts.com/court-departments/clerk-superior-court |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Kingman, gather the account balances, real property information, lien payoffs, debts and beneficiary information. Sunset can help with estate settlement by searching for assets across more than 2,300 financial institutions, so you are not guessing before you call the clerk's office.
Arizona's small-estate rules under A.R.S. § 14-3971 use separate net calculations for personal property and Arizona real property, so the asset list matters before you choose a court filing or an affidavit route. Arizona imposes no estate tax for decedents dying after 2004, and the Legislature repealed the state estate tax provisions in Laws 2006, Ch. 262, § 3; the federal estate tax is a separate question for large estates.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate in Mohave County is heard in the Superior Court of Arizona in Mohave 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 Mohave County estate is filed with the Clerk of the Superior Court in Mohave County.
Mohave County publishes three superior court offices: Kingman at 415 E. Spring Street, Lake Havasu City at 2001 College Drive and Bullhead City at 2225 Trane Road. Kingman is the office whose mailing address the court publishes for filings. If Lake Havasu City or Bullhead City is closer, call that office first before taking opening probate papers there.
The jurisdiction process
- Work out what the person who died owned and what is owed against it. In Arizona, that arithmetic affects whether a court case is needed at all, and the small-estate affidavit rules are governed by A.R.S. § 14-3971.
- Confirm venue. Mohave County is the right county if the person who died was domiciled here (A.R.S. § 14-3201(A)(1)).
- Complete the Arizona Supreme Court's non-licensed fiduciary training under A.R.S. § 14-5651 before you expect letters to issue. The requirement comes from Arizona Rules of Probate Procedure Rule 42 and Administrative Order No. 2012-62, with modules published by the Administrative Office of the Courts, including AOCPBPZ2 for the overview and AOCPBPZ6 for personal representatives. Mohave County links the training from its own probate pages and tells you to print the certificates of completion and file them with the rest of the paperwork with the Clerk of the Superior Court.
- Download the Mohave County kit. The county publishes probate forms and kits, including a three-part informal probate kit under A.R.S. § 14-3301, a formal probate kit, a real property affidavit kit under A.R.S. § 14-3971 and a proof of authority kit. Each opening kit includes a Probate Information Form alongside the application or petition.
- Bring or send the original will if there is one. A 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 with the application for informal probate.
- File on paper with the Clerk of the Superior Court in Mohave County, in person at 415 E. Spring Street in Kingman or by mail to P.O. Box 7000, Kingman, AZ 86402. A probate case cannot be opened electronically anywhere in Arizona under Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 1-901. Mohave's own clerk page marks probate on eFileAZ as non-initiating, subsequent filing only.
- Pay the fee or apply for help with court costs. Mohave County's filing fee for an application for informal probate (A.R.S. § 14-3301) or a petition for formal testacy (A.R.S. § 14-3401) is $371.00 on the court's schedule effective December 28, 2024, with the statewide fee authority in A.R.S. § 12-284. Fee deferral and waiver are governed by A.R.S. § 12-302, and Mohave County publishes the forms, including AOCDFGF1F and the Supplemental Application AOCDFGF9F.
- Give notice as Arizona requires. Mohave's kit includes Notice to Creditors, a letter to the publisher, an affidavit of publication under A.R.S. § 14-3971 when applicable, and proofs of delivery or mailing. Statewide creditor notice rules, including publication once a week for three successive weeks and the four-month claim period, are in A.R.S. § 14-3801.
- If a hearing is needed, get the date. Arizona Rules of Probate Procedure Rule 18(a), amended effective January 1, 2026, gives the petitioner thirty days after filing to obtain an initial hearing date before the court must warn that the petition may be dismissed. Ask whether you may appear remotely; R-21-0007 authorized virtual appearances in probate proceedings, and Mohave County publishes Zoom conferencing information for its Kingman, Lake Havasu City and Bullhead City courtrooms.
- After the registrar's statement or the court's order is entered, qualify and obtain letters testamentary or letters of administration (A.R.S. § 14-3103). Letters cannot be e-filed under Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 1-901. Certified copies cost $35.00 per document on Mohave County's fee schedule effective December 28, 2024.
- Administer and close the estate. Mohave's informal probate kit includes inventory and appraisement forms, closing statement papers and discharge of fiduciary papers, so your estate settlement file stays with the Clerk of the Superior Court in Mohave County.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Mohave 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 forms are generic and that each court might have its own preferred forms. In Mohave County, the forms that open probate come from the county.
Mohave County publishes nine probate forms and kits: Appointment of Special Administrator, Claim Against Estate, Demand For Notice, Formal Probate, Informal Probate, Informal Probate Objection, Probate Miscellaneous, Proof of Authority and Real Property Affidavit. The informal probate kit under A.R.S. § 14-3301 is divided into three parts: opening the estate, administering the estate and closing the estate.
Mohave's opening kits include a Probate Information Form with the application or petition. The court also publishes forms for a real property affidavit under A.R.S. § 14-3971, proof of authority, notices, inventory and appraisement, closing statement, fiduciary discharge and authorization to obtain certified letters. Forms are free to download; printed copies are $0.15 per page on Mohave County's fee schedule effective December 28, 2024. The law library will email available requested forms free or arrange pickup at a local superior court location.
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, and most Arizona counties do, so the figure at the counter in Mohave County is $371.00, on the schedule the court dates December 28, 2024. Check the clerk's own fee schedule before you write the check.
| Probate filing or service | Mohave County fee | Effective date |
|---|---|---|
| Application for informal probate (A.R.S. § 14-3301) | $371.00 | December 28, 2024 |
| Petition for formal appointment or formal testacy (A.R.S. § 14-3401) | $371.00 | December 28, 2024 |
| Petition for supervised administration (A.R.S. § 14-3501) | $371.00 | December 28, 2024 |
| Opposing petition | $371.00 | December 28, 2024 |
| Person opposing a contested petition if no prior payment | $282.00 | December 28, 2024 |
| Transfer of real property by affidavit under A.R.S. § 14-3971(E), including certification | $406.00 | December 28, 2024 |
| Proof of authority, including certification | $406.00 | December 28, 2024 |
| Certified copy of letters or another certified document | $35.00 per document | December 28, 2024 |
| Copies | $0.50 per page | December 28, 2024 |
| Printed court forms and packets | $0.15 per page, with online forms free | December 28, 2024 |
Court fees can be deferred or waived. Under A.R.S. § 12-302, the court shall grant a deferral if you receive TANF, 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. Mohave County publishes the Application for Deferral or Waiver of Court Fees and Costs (AOCDFGF1F), a table of income levels, a confidential personal financial affidavit and the Supplemental Application (AOCDFGF9F) that is filed when there is a final order. A deferral is not forgiveness: it requires consent to judgment for anything still unpaid thirty days after final judgment.
Local nuance
Mohave County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means in Mohave County |
|---|---|
| Probate Registrar | The Clerk of the Superior Court is also described by Mohave County as the Probate Registrar. Under A.R.S. § 14-1307, registrar acts may be performed by a judge, the clerk of the court, a court commissioner or another designated officer. |
| Three offices | Mohave County publishes superior court offices in Kingman, Lake Havasu City and Bullhead City. The Lake Havasu City and Bullhead City offices close over the middle of the day. Use Kingman for the mailing address, and call before taking opening probate papers to another location. |
| Different ZIP codes | The walk-in address is 415 E. Spring Street, Kingman, AZ 86401. The mailing address is P.O. Box 7000, Kingman, AZ 86402. |
| Local kits | Mohave County publishes nine probate kits, including informal probate under A.R.S. § 14-3301, formal probate, real property affidavit forms under A.R.S. § 14-3971 and proof of authority. The informal kit covers opening, administration and closing. |
| Training proof | Arizona Rules of Probate Procedure Rule 42 requires training for a non-licensed fiduciary under A.R.S. § 14-5651 before letters issue. Mohave County tells filers to print the certificates of completion and file them with the rest of the paperwork with the Clerk of the Superior Court. |
| Real property affidavit fee | Mohave County prices the real property affidavit under A.R.S. § 14-3971(E) at $406.00 on its fee schedule effective December 28, 2024, because the line includes the $371.00 filing amount under A.R.S. § 12-284 and a $35.00 certification fee. |
| eFileAZ after opening only | Mohave County's clerk page and the Judicial Branch chart list probate on eFileAZ as subsequent filings only under Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 1-901. Opening papers and wills are filed on paper. |
| Law library and document preparers | The court's law library is open to the public, carries Arizona Court Rules including probate and will email available forms free. Mohave County's court law library also publishes a courtesy list of certified legal document preparers with a Mohave County address. A legal document preparer is governed by Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 7-208 and cannot give legal advice. |
Recent updates
| Date | Change |
|---|---|
| September 6, 2022 | Mohave County Superior Court Administrative Order 2022-28 was entered with the published title adopting presumptive standards for remote and in-person hearings for the Superior Court of Arizona in Mohave County (A.R.S. § 14-1302). Ask the court how the standards apply to any probate hearing. R-21-0007 is the statewide authority for virtual appearances in probate proceedings. |
| December 28, 2024 | The current statewide superior court fee schedule took effect under Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 3-404, with authority under A.R.S. § 12-284. Mohave County's own schedule, effective December 28, 2024, sets an application for informal probate (A.R.S. § 14-3301) or a petition for formal testacy (A.R.S. § 14-3401) at $371.00. |
| January 1, 2026 | Arizona Rules of Probate Procedure Rule 18(a) changed through R-25-0021. The petitioner now has thirty days after filing to obtain an initial hearing date before the court must warn that the petition may be dismissed. |
| February 17, 2026 | Mohave County Superior Court entered Administrative Order 2026-12, published as an order appointing deputy probate registrars. Registrar authority is governed by A.R.S. § 14-1307. |
| April 17, 2026 | The Arizona Judicial Branch eFileAZ availability chart was last updated. It lists Mohave 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 co-owned home | Start with Mohave County's probate kits and the Probate Information Form. If a court filing is needed, file with the Clerk of the Superior Court in Kingman or by mail to P.O. Box 7000. The Clerk of the Superior Court is also the Probate Registrar under A.R.S. § 14-1307. | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts and liens so the spouse can see whether estate settlement needs a court case or can use an affidavit route under A.R.S. § 14-3971. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | Opening papers cannot be filed online. Under Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 1-901, probate initiation papers and wills go on paper, and Mohave County marks eFileAZ probate as subsequent filings only. Mail the packet to Kingman and ask early whether any hearing can be handled remotely under R-21-0007. | Sunset helps assemble the asset list and probate packet from out of state so one mailing does the work of several calls and trips. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale often requires letters testamentary or letters of administration (A.R.S. § 14-3103). Complete the non-licensed fiduciary training under A.R.S. § 14-5651 and Arizona Rules of Probate Procedure Rule 42, print the completion certificates and file them with the rest of the paperwork. Certified copies cost $35.00 per document on Mohave County's fee schedule effective December 28, 2024. | Sunset helps put the training, letters and certified copies on the critical path early, so estate settlement does not stall when the home is ready to sell. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Clerk of the Superior Court in Mohave County | Takes filings, holds the court file and provides certified copies. The clerk's page says the Clerk of the Superior Court also serves as the Probate Registrar under A.R.S. § 14-1307. The clerk cannot give legal advice. | (928) 753-0713; [email protected]; 415 E. Spring Street, Kingman, AZ 86401; mailing P.O. Box 7000, Kingman, AZ 86402 |
| Mohave County probate forms and kits | Nine free probate kits, including informal probate under A.R.S. § 14-3301, formal probate, real property affidavit forms under A.R.S. § 14-3971 and a three-part informal probate kit covering opening, administration and closing. | https://www.mohavecourts.com/forms-form-kits-page/probate-forms-kits |
| Mohave County Superior Court Law Library | Open to the public with Arizona Revised Statutes, Arizona Court Rules including probate, self-help forms and packets, informational pamphlets and an attorney list. The law library will email available forms free or arrange pickup at a local superior court location (A.R.S. § 14-1302). | (928) 753-0790, extension 4044. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. |
| Community Legal Services, Kingman office | The Mohave clerk refers readers to Community Legal Services after explaining that the clerk cannot give legal advice. The provider lists the Kingman office for Kingman, Mohave and La Paz counties. A decedent's estate is not listed among its published practice areas, so call and ask whether it can help with your issue. | 2701 E. Andy Devine, Suite 400, Kingman, AZ 86401; (928) 681-1177; 1-800-852-9075 |
| Arizona Judicial Branch Self-Service Center | Statewide legal information and court forms for people representing themselves. Court staff provide legal information, not legal advice. The Branch also offers El Centro de Autoservicio in Spanish. | 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. | https://azcourthelp.org/ |
| Mohave County Public Fiduciary | May be involved when no qualified and willing person can serve. Arizona lists the public fiduciary as the applicant of last resort for informal probate under A.R.S. § 14-3301(A)(8). | 700 W. Beale Street, Kingman, AZ 86402; (928) 718-4959; Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| Certified legal document preparer directory | Mohave County's court law library publishes a courtesy list of certified legal document preparers with Mohave County addresses. Under Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 7-208, a legal document preparer may prepare documents for a self-represented person but is not a lawyer, cannot give legal advice and cannot represent you in court. | County list through the Mohave County court law library; statewide directory at https://www.azcourts.gov/cld/Legal-Document-Preparers |
When to hire an attorney
Consider counsel if heirs disagree, the original will is missing, real property must be sold, a creditor issue appears, an out-of-state appointment needs to be coordinated with Mohave County, or you are unsure whether a small-estate affidavit under A.R.S. § 14-3971 is enough. Court staff can provide legal information, not legal advice, and Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families identify accounts, balances, debts, real property and other assets before the first court filing, which is often the difference between a smooth estate settlement and a packet that has to be redone.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset uses the information you provide to help assemble the documents and next-step checklist for the local process, including Mohave County's paper filing requirement and training-proof step.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate needs legal advice, a sale, a contested hearing or formal court work, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted probate attorney familiar with Arizona practice.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement, understand the local path and decide what help they need without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Mohave County?
File with the Clerk of the Superior Court in Mohave County. Probate is heard in the Superior Court of Arizona in Mohave County (A.R.S. § 14-1302), and venue is in the county where the person who died was domiciled (A.R.S. § 14-3201(A)(1)). The Kingman filing address is 415 E. Spring Street, Kingman, AZ 86401, and the mailing address is P.O. Box 7000, Kingman, AZ 86402.
Can I file a probate case online in Mohave County?
No. You cannot open an Arizona probate online. Under Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 1-901, a will and any document used to initiate a probate case must be filed on paper, and letters in probate cases cannot be e-filed. Mohave County's clerk page marks probate on eFileAZ as non-initiating, subsequent filing only.
How much does it cost to file probate in Mohave County?
Mohave County's filing fee is $371.00 for an application for informal probate (A.R.S. § 14-3301) or a petition for formal testacy (A.R.S. § 14-3401), on the court's fee schedule effective December 28, 2024. The statewide base is governed by A.R.S. § 12-284, and county add-ons are allowed under A.R.S. § 11-251.08.
Do I have to take training before I can serve as personal representative in Mohave County?
Yes, if you are serving as a non-licensed fiduciary under A.R.S. § 14-5651. Arizona Rules of Probate Procedure Rule 42 requires training before letters issue, and the Administrative Office of the Courts publishes the modules, including AOCPBPZ2 and AOCPBPZ6. Mohave County tells filers to print the completion certificates and file them with the rest of the paperwork with the Clerk of the Superior Court.
Can I attend a Mohave County probate hearing remotely?
Possibly, but ask early. R-21-0007 amended Arizona probate rules to authorize and facilitate virtual appearances at probate proceedings, and Mohave County publishes Zoom conferencing information for its superior court courtrooms. Permission is case-specific, so contact the court before the hearing.
How do I look up a Mohave County probate case or get a copy of a probate file?
Arizona's statewide public case search excludes probate cases and uses randomly generated verification words. Mohave County does not publish a separate probate portal, but the clerk says the public may obtain probate copies in person at any of its three superior court offices (A.R.S. § 14-1302), by phone at (928) 753-0713 extension 4089, by fax to (928) 718-4930 attention Research Clerk, by mail with a records request form, or by email to [email protected]. Copies cost $0.50 per page and certification costs $35.00 per document on the fee schedule effective December 28, 2024.
Does Mohave County have its own probate forms?
Yes. Mohave County publishes nine probate kits, including informal probate under A.R.S. § 14-3301, formal probate, real property affidavit forms under A.R.S. § 14-3971, proof of authority and probate miscellaneous forms. The informal probate kit is split into opening, administration and closing parts.
Can I file at the Lake Havasu City or Bullhead City court instead of Kingman?
Call first. Mohave County publishes superior court offices in Lake Havasu City and Bullhead City (A.R.S. § 14-1302), and both are listed for in-person records copies. The court does not publish which locations take opening probate filings, so use Kingman for mail and ask the office nearest you before bringing an opening packet there.
What if I cannot afford the Mohave County filing fee?
Ask for deferral or waiver under A.R.S. § 12-302. Mohave County publishes the Application for Deferral or Waiver of Court Fees and Costs (AOCDFGF1F), a table of income levels, a confidential personal financial affidavit and the Supplemental Application (AOCDFGF9F). A deferral is not forgiveness because it includes consent to judgment for deferred amounts still unpaid after final judgment.
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.