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Pinal County, AZ Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Pinal County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Superior Court of Arizona in Pinal County (A.R.S. § 14-1302) |
| Filing officer | Clerk of the Superior Court |
| Main filing address | 971 N Jason Lopez Circle, Building A, Florence, AZ 85132 |
| Mailing address for filings | Clerk of the Superior Court, P.O. Box 2730, Florence, AZ 85132 |
| Clerk phone | 520-509-3555, main clerk line. The clerk's page also lists 311. |
| Toll free phone | 888-431-1311 |
| Fax | 520-866-5320 |
| Main office hours | Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| Satellite offices | Casa Grande is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Apache Junction and the Pinal County city of Maricopa are open Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. All three satellites close from noon to 1 p.m. and do not accept new cases from 11:30 a.m. to noon or from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Emergency filings go to Florence. |
| Filing fee | $251.00, effective December 28, 2024, for an application for informal probate under A.R.S. § 14-3301 or a formal probate petition, under the Pinal County fee schedule and A.R.S. § 12-284. |
| Local forms | Yes. Pinal County publishes a local application packet, a Probate Cover Sheet, notice forms, waivers, letters forms and A.R.S. § 14-3971 affidavit forms. |
| E-filing status | You cannot open probate online. Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 1-901 bars e-filing of wills and documents that initiate a probate case. Pinal County lists eFileAZ under Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 1-901 for subsequent probate documents only after the case is open. |
| Case lookup | The statewide public search at https://apps.azcourts.gov/publicaccess/ excludes probate cases. The Superior Court of Pinal County's Court Date Finder at https://pinalcourtsaz.com/calendarsdockets/calendar2.php searches by last name or case number and returns Pinal County probate court dates. |
| Remote appearance | Some probate hearings may be held remotely under R-21-0007. Pinal County also lists AO 2022-00037, Adoption and Implementation of presumptive Standards for Remote and In-Person Hearings for the Superior Court in Pinal County. Ask the court early. |
| Website | Clerk: https://www.coscpinalcountyaz.gov/. Court: https://www.pinalcourtsaz.gov/. |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose forms, list the accounts, real property, vehicles, debts and secured loans. Arizona's A.R.S. § 14-3971 affidavit rules turn on separate net values for personal property and Arizona real property, so a Pinal County family needs the asset and liability picture before deciding whether estate settlement needs a court case.
Sunset's 2,300-institution asset discovery helps build that picture before you drive to Florence, mail papers to the clerk or use one of the Pinal County satellite counters. In Pinal County, the real-property Affidavit of Succession under A.R.S. § 14-3971 costs the same $251.00 filing fee, effective December 28, 2024 under A.R.S. § 12-284, as opening probate, so the route decision is about authority, timing and notice, not only cost.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate in Pinal County is heard in the Superior Court of Arizona in Pinal 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 Pinal County estate is filed with the Clerk of the Superior Court in Pinal County. Pinal County communities include Florence, Apache Junction, Casa Grande, Coolidge, Eloy, the city of Maricopa, San Tan Valley, Gold Canyon, Superior and Oracle.
The main clerk filing counter is in Florence. Pinal County also publishes open clerk satellite offices in Casa Grande, Apache Junction and the Pinal County city of Maricopa, with the satellite hours and new-case cutoffs listed in the court-contact table above.
The jurisdiction process
- Work out what the estate holds and what is owed before choosing a route. Arizona's A.R.S. § 14-3971 affidavit rules use separate net values for personal property and Arizona real property, and that arithmetic affects whether estate settlement needs a court case.
- Download the current Pinal County packet from the Clerk of the Superior Court's forms page. The Application for Appointment as Personal Representative packet is a local instructions-and-forms packet, and the Affidavit to Collect Personal Property packet is tied to A.R.S. § 14-3971. The packet says to use only the most current version.
- Complete the Arizona Supreme Court training for non-licensed fiduciaries under A.R.S. § 14-5651 before you file. Arizona Rules of Probate Procedure Rule 42 and Administrative Order No. 2012-62 require the training, and Pinal County's checklist asks whether the training certificate for the proposed personal representative is included.
- Fill out the papers Pinal's packet tells you to file, including the Probate Cover Sheet, the Application for Informal Appointment of Personal Representative under A.R.S. § 14-3301, the Probate Information Sheet and the original will if there is one. Ask the clerk whether they want anything else with your filing.
- Choose a filing location. The main office is in Florence. Casa Grande takes filings Monday through Friday. Apache Junction and the Pinal County city of Maricopa take filings Monday, Wednesday and Friday. All three satellites close from noon to 1 p.m. and do not accept new cases from 11:30 a.m. to noon or from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Emergency filings go to Florence.
- File on paper. You cannot open an Arizona probate electronically because Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 1-901 bars e-filing of wills and documents that initiate a probate case. File at a counter, mail the papers to the Clerk of the Superior Court at P.O. Box 2730 in Florence or use the after-hours drop box at the Florence courthouse or Apache Junction office.
- Pay the $251.00 filing fee, effective December 28, 2024 under A.R.S. § 12-284, or file the Pinal County deferral application and ask for deferral or waiver under A.R.S. § 12-302. A deferral requires consent to judgment for amounts still unpaid thirty days after final judgment.
- Give the notice the packet calls for. Pinal's packet includes notice and proof of delivery or mailing forms, and A.R.S. § 14-3801 governs notice to creditors.
- Wait for the Probate Registrar to act under A.R.S. § 14-1307. Pinal's forms use the Probate Registrar title and provide for a statement of informal appointment under A.R.S. § 14-3301 and letters under A.R.S. § 14-3103.
- After letters issue under A.R.S. § 14-3103, administer the estate, collect assets, pay proper expenses and file later papers as needed. In Pinal County, eFileAZ may be used for subsequent probate documents under Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 1-901, but self-represented filers are not required to use it.
- Close the estate using the closing forms Pinal County publishes or the papers the court directs. If a bank, title company or recorder needs a certified copy, the clerk charges $35.00 per certified document, effective December 28, 2024 under A.R.S. § 12-284.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Pinal County
Arizona publishes statewide probate forms through the Administrative Office of the Courts, but that statewide set covers fiduciary orders, conservator accounts and adult guardianship and conservatorship petitions, not the application that opens a decedent's estate. The Judicial Branch says its forms are generic and may be accepted statewide, and that each court might have its own preferred forms. Pinal County publishes local probate forms.
| Form or packet | What Pinal County publishes |
|---|---|
| Application packet | Application for Appointment as Personal Representative, a local instructions-and-forms packet for an informal appointment under A.R.S. § 14-3301. The packet includes an informal checklist, training notice, notice forms, waivers, letters and an order to the personal representative. |
| Probate Cover Sheet | Pinal publishes an Arizona Superior Court, Pinal County, Probate Cover Sheet. Its own packet tells the applicant to file the cover sheet with the application, but the clerk's forms page lists it under optional forms. Ask the clerk how they want it submitted. |
| Training notice | The Pinal packet includes a notice about Arizona Supreme Court training. Arizona Rules of Probate Procedure Rule 42 requires training for non-licensed fiduciaries under A.R.S. § 14-5651 before letters issue. |
| Small-estate forms | Pinal publishes an Affidavit to Collect Personal Property packet and an Affidavit of Succession for Transfer of Real Property under A.R.S. § 14-3971. The Affidavit of Succession is priced at $251.00, effective December 28, 2024 under A.R.S. § 12-284. |
| Notice forms | Pinal publishes Notice of Application in Informal Proceeding, Proof of Delivery or Mailing, publication affidavits and notice to creditors materials. A.R.S. § 14-3801 governs notice to creditors. |
| Later administration and closing | Pinal's forms page separately publishes inventory, accounting, distribution, objection, claim and closing materials. Download the current version rather than reusing a saved packet. |
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 under A.R.S. § 14-3301 or a petition in formal testacy under A.R.S. § 14-3401, meaning $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 Pinal County is $251.00, effective December 28, 2024. Check the clerk's own fee schedule before you write the check.
| Item | Pinal County amount |
|---|---|
| Application for Informal Probate of Will or without Will | $251.00, effective December 28, 2024, under A.R.S. § 12-284 and A.R.S. § 14-3301 |
| Petition for Formal Probate of Will or without Will | $251.00, effective December 28, 2024, under A.R.S. § 12-284 |
| Petition for supervised administration | $251.00, effective December 28, 2024, under A.R.S. § 12-284 and A.R.S. § 14-3501 |
| Affidavit of Succession | $251.00, effective December 28, 2024. This is Pinal County's A.R.S. § 14-3971 real-property affidavit line, and A.R.S. § 14-3971(F) says the normal filing fee is charged unless waived. |
| Claim Against the Estate | $35.00, effective December 28, 2024, under A.R.S. § 12-284 |
| Demand for Notice | $35.00, effective December 28, 2024, under A.R.S. § 12-284 |
| Petition to Reopen Probate | $162.00, effective December 28, 2024, under A.R.S. § 12-284 |
| Post Judgment Probate Activity | $162.00, effective December 28, 2024, under A.R.S. § 12-284 |
| Copies | $0.50 per page, effective December 28, 2024, under A.R.S. § 12-284 |
| Certification | $35.00 per document, effective December 28, 2024, under A.R.S. § 12-284 |
| Research fee | $35.00 per year searched, effective December 28, 2024, under A.R.S. § 12-284 |
| Shipping and handling | $8.00, effective December 28, 2024, under A.R.S. § 12-284 |
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. Pinal County publishes the deferral application with its probate forms and a supplemental application for the final order stage; Pinal's packet says to supply proof of income. A deferral requires consent to judgment for anything still unpaid thirty days after final judgment.
Local nuance
Pinal County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means in Pinal County |
|---|---|
| Filing counters | Pinal County has a main Florence counter and open satellite counters in Casa Grande, Apache Junction and the Pinal County city of Maricopa. The San Tan Valley satellite is closed until further notice. Emergency filings must go to Florence. |
| Satellite cutoffs | Casa Grande, Apache Junction and the Pinal County city of Maricopa close from noon to 1 p.m. and do not accept new cases from 11:30 a.m. to noon or from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Florence main office publishes Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| After-hours drop boxes | Pinal County offers after-hours boxes at the Florence courthouse and Apache Junction office. The clerk says to time stamp the originals, place stamped originals in the documents slot, attach the fee and not deposit cash. |
| Local packet | The Application for Appointment as Personal Representative packet includes an informal checklist, training notice, notice forms, waivers, letters and an order to the personal representative. It says to use only the most current version. |
| Probate Cover Sheet | Pinal publishes its own Probate Cover Sheet with Pinal case-type codes, and its packet tells the applicant to file it with the application. Because the forms page lists it under optional forms, ask the clerk how they want it submitted. |
| Probate Registrar | Pinal's forms use the Probate Registrar title, and A.R.S. § 14-1307 allows registrar acts to be performed by a judge, the clerk of the court, a court commissioner or a designated officer chosen by written order. |
| Court dates | The statewide public search excludes probate, but the Superior Court of Pinal County's Court Date Finder returns Pinal County probate dates by last name or case number. It is a date finder, not a document portal. |
| Remote hearings | Pinal County lists AO 2022-00037 for presumptive standards for remote and in-person hearings in the Superior Court of Arizona in Pinal County (A.R.S. § 14-1302), and the statewide probate rule change in R-21-0007 allows virtual appearances in some probate proceedings. Ask early because permission is not automatic. |
| Later e-filing | The opening papers and original will must be filed on paper under Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 1-901. After the case is open, Pinal lists eFileAZ under Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 1-901 for subsequent probate filings. |
Recent updates
| Change | Effective date |
|---|---|
| Pinal County's current fee schedule took effect, including $251.00 for an application for informal probate under A.R.S. § 14-3301 or a formal probate petition under A.R.S. § 12-284. | December 28, 2024 |
| Arizona Rules of Probate Procedure Rule 18(a), with Arizona Rules of Probate Procedure Rule 42 also governing fiduciary training, was amended so that a petitioner has thirty days to obtain an initial hearing date before the court must notify the petitioner that the petition may be dismissed. | January 1, 2026 |
| The Judicial Branch's eFileAZ availability chart lists Pinal County probate under Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 1-901 as subsequent filings only. | April 17, 2026 |
| R-26-0002 will amend Arizona Rules of Probate Procedure Rule 3(d), with Arizona Rules of Probate Procedure Rule 42 still governing fiduciary training, so a non-probate proceeding inside a probate case must be started by a separate pleading. | January 1, 2027 |
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Pinal County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | First determine whether the home is part of the probate estate and what is owed against it. If a court case is needed, use Pinal County's local application packet, complete the training required by Arizona Rules of Probate Procedure Rule 42, file the Probate Cover Sheet, application, information sheet and original will if there is one, and pay the $251.00 filing fee effective December 28, 2024 under A.R.S. § 12-284. | Sunset identifies accounts, debts and property information so the spouse can choose the right estate settlement path before filing. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Pinal County packets are online, training is online under Arizona Rules of Probate Procedure Rule 42, and opening papers can be mailed to the Clerk of the Superior Court at P.O. Box 2730 in Florence. Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 1-901 bars e-filing to open the case, but later eligible documents may be filed through eFileAZ after the case is open. A.R.S. § 14-3971 controls affidavit options. | Sunset helps locate assets remotely, organize the Pinal County packet and decide whether a local attorney should handle any court appearance. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A parent may be eligible to apply under A.R.S. § 14-3301(A). If a sale requires letters under A.R.S. § 14-3103, complete the Arizona Rules of Probate Procedure Rule 42 training before filing and budget for certified copies. Pinal County charges $35.00 per certified document, effective December 28, 2024 under A.R.S. § 12-284. | Sunset builds the asset and liability picture needed for the home sale, the personal representative's work and the final estate settlement. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Pinal County Law Library Resource Center | The court's law library has a self-help counter, legal information, forms, legal research tools, workshops and videos. Staff provide legal information and resources, not legal advice. | 971 Jason Lopez Circle, Building A, 2nd Floor, Florence, AZ 85132. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed noon to 1 p.m. Phone: 520-866-5421. Email: [email protected]. Website: https://pinalcourtsaz.com/LawLib_Chat/index.html. |
| AZCourtHelp | Statewide self-help site run by the Arizona Bar Foundation, with a Self-Help Center, Form Finder, Find My Court, Legal Aid Options and live chat. | https://azcourthelp.org/ |
| Arizona Judicial Branch Self-Service Center | Statewide legal information and court forms for people representing themselves. The Branch says court staff can provide legal information, but not legal advice. | https://www.azcourts.gov/selfservicecenter |
| Arizona Judicial Branch probate training for non-licensed fiduciaries | Online training required before the court issues letters to a personal representative, guardian or conservator, under Arizona Rules of Probate Procedure Rule 42 and A.R.S. § 14-5651. | https://www.azcourts.gov/probate/Training/Non-Licensed-Fiduciaries-Training |
| Southern Arizona Legal Aid, Pinal County office | Legal aid provider that lists a Pinal County office and says it serves low-income individuals and families in southern and southeastern Arizona. Probate is not listed as a practice area, so call intake to ask what help may be available. | 1729 N. Trekell Road, Suite 101, Casa Grande, AZ 85122. Phone: 520-316-8076. Toll free: 1-877-718-8086. Administrative line: 520-623-9461. Website: https://www.sazlegalaid.org/connect-with-us/ |
When to hire an attorney
You can file many Pinal County probate papers yourself, but a lawyer makes sense when heirs disagree, the original will is missing, a house must be sold quickly, a creditor problem appears, a fiduciary is challenged or you are trying to decide whether an A.R.S. § 14-3971 affidavit is enough. A Pinal County attorney can also help you prepare for a hearing, request a remote appearance under R-21-0007 and avoid filing the wrong papers at a satellite counter. Sunset connects you to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families discover accounts, insurance, retirement plans, debts and property details so the Pinal County filing starts with a complete estate settlement picture.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you collect into an organized probate packet, including the local Pinal County steps you need to review before filing with the Clerk of the Superior Court.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate needs legal help, Sunset can connect you with a vetted Arizona probate attorney who understands Pinal County practice.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement, understand next steps and decide when professional help is needed.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Pinal County?
File with the Clerk of the Superior Court in Pinal County. The main office is at 971 N Jason Lopez Circle, Building A, Florence, AZ 85132. Venue is the county where the person who died was domiciled (A.R.S. § 14-3201(A)(1)), and probate is heard in the Superior Court of Arizona in Pinal County (A.R.S. § 14-1302).
Can I file probate online in Pinal County?
No. You cannot open an Arizona probate online. Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 1-901 bars e-filing for wills and documents used to initiate a probate case. Pinal County lists eFileAZ under Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 1-901 for subsequent probate documents only after the case is open.
How much does it cost to file probate in Pinal County?
The Pinal County filing fee is $251.00, effective December 28, 2024 under A.R.S. § 12-284, for an application for informal probate under A.R.S. § 14-3301 or a formal probate petition. Pinal also prices the A.R.S. § 14-3971 Affidavit of Succession at $251.00, effective December 28, 2024 under A.R.S. § 12-284.
How do I look up a Pinal County probate case?
Arizona's statewide public search at https://apps.azcourts.gov/publicaccess/ excludes probate cases and uses randomly generated verification words before a search. Pinal County's local answer is the Superior Court of Pinal County's Court Date Finder at https://pinalcourtsaz.com/calendarsdockets/calendar2.php, which searches by last name or case number and returns probate court dates. For documents, ask the Clerk of the Superior Court for copies.
Does Pinal County have its own probate forms?
Yes. Pinal County publishes a local Application for Appointment as Personal Representative packet, a Probate Cover Sheet, notice forms, waiver forms, letters forms under A.R.S. § 14-3103 and A.R.S. § 14-3971 affidavit forms. The packet says to use only the most current version.
Do I have to take training before I can be appointed personal representative in Pinal County?
Yes. Arizona Rules of Probate Procedure Rule 42 requires training for a non-licensed fiduciary under A.R.S. § 14-5651 before letters issue, and Pinal County's own informal checklist asks whether the training certificate for the proposed personal representative is included. Ask the clerk how they want proof of completion filed.
Can I attend a Pinal County probate hearing remotely?
Possibly. R-21-0007 amended Arizona probate rules to authorize and facilitate virtual appearances by interested parties, and Pinal County lists AO 2022-00037 for remote and in-person hearing standards. It is permission, not an automatic right, so ask the court early.
Do I have to travel to Florence to settle a Pinal County estate?
Not always. Opening papers must be on paper under Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 1-901, but they can be mailed to the Clerk of the Superior Court at P.O. Box 2730 in Florence. Pinal County also has open clerk satellite counters in Casa Grande, Apache Junction and the Pinal County city of Maricopa. If a hearing is set, ask early whether a remote appearance is allowed under R-21-0007.
What if I cannot afford the Pinal County probate filing fee?
Ask for a deferral or waiver under A.R.S. § 12-302. Pinal County publishes a deferral application with its probate forms and a supplemental application for the final order stage. A deferral requires consent to judgment for any amount still unpaid thirty days after final judgment.
Can I file probate papers after hours in Pinal County?
Pinal County offers after-hours boxes at the Florence courthouse and the Apache Junction office. The clerk says to attach the fee and not deposit cash. Because opening probate cannot be e-filed under Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 1-901, the drop box can be useful when the counter is closed.
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.