Back to Arizona
Yuma County, AZ Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Yuma County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Superior Court of Arizona in Yuma County, which hears probate matters under A.R.S. § 14-1302. |
| Filing office | Clerk of the Superior Court, Yuma County |
| Filing address | 250 West 2nd Street, Suite B, Yuma, AZ 85364 |
| Mailing | Yuma County publishes the same clerk address for the clerk's office. If you plan to mail an original will or opening papers, call the clerk's office first. |
| Phone | (928) 817-4210, clerk's office main line |
| Fax | (928) 817-4211 |
| [email protected] | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., closed weekends and court holidays. Yuma County posts a court holiday list that includes the Friday following Thanksgiving Day. |
| Filing fee | $281.00 for an application for informal probate under A.R.S. § 14-3301 or a petition in formal testacy under A.R.S. § 14-3401, as the Clerk of the Superior Court in Yuma County publishes in August 2026. A petition for supervised administration under A.R.S. § 14-3501 is also listed at $281.00 in August 2026. Confirm the current amount with the clerk before paying. |
| Local forms | Yes. Yuma County Superior Court maintains probate forms in English and Spanish through the Yuma County Law Library and Self-Service Center and AZCourtHelp. |
| E-filing | You cannot open probate online. Under Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 1-901, e-filing is not permitted for a will or for any document used to initiate a probate case. The Arizona Judicial Branch chart lists Yuma County probate on eFileAZ for subsequent filings only under ACJA § 1-901. |
| Case search | https://apps.azcourts.gov/publicaccess/ excludes probate cases. Ask the Yuma County clerk's office about a Yuma County probate case. |
| Remote appearance | Some court hearings may be held virtually under the probate-rule change in R-21-0007. Yuma County publishes courtroom teleconference information and a Motion to Appear Telephonically form, but you must ask the court early. |
| Website | https://www.yumacountyaz.gov/government/courts/clerk-of-superior-court |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you go to the counter at 250 West 2nd Street, identify the accounts, real property, debts, liens and payoffs. Sunset's asset discovery searches more than 2,300 financial institutions, which helps families begin estate settlement with a real asset list instead of guesses.
That matters in Arizona because A.R.S. § 14-3971 measures personal property and Arizona real property separately, and both are measured net of liens and encumbrances. In Yuma County, the real-property affidavit under A.R.S. § 14-3971(F) is listed at $281.00 as the Clerk of the Superior Court publishes in August 2026, the same amount the clerk publishes for opening an informal probate case under A.R.S. § 14-3301 in August 2026. Confirm the current amount with the clerk's office before paying. Good estate settlement planning can save a second trip from San Luis, Somerton, Wellton or another part of the county.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate in Yuma County is heard in the Superior Court of Arizona in Yuma 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 Yuma County estate is filed with the Clerk of the Superior Court in Yuma County. The same Yuma filing counter serves the city of Yuma, San Luis, Somerton, Wellton and unincorporated areas of the county.
Yuma County lists three justice court locations for limited-jurisdiction matters, including locations in Yuma, San Luis and Wellton. Those courts are not the place to open a decedent's estate. Probate filings go to the Clerk of the Superior Court at 250 West 2nd Street, Suite B, in Yuma.
The jurisdiction process
- List the property and debts first. Arizona's affidavit rules under A.R.S. § 14-3971 use separate net measures for personal property and Arizona real property, so you need account balances, liens and payoff information before choosing the filing path.
- Confirm venue. Yuma County is the right county if the person who died was domiciled there (A.R.S. § 14-3201(A)(1)). Probate is heard in the Superior Court of Arizona in Yuma County (A.R.S. § 14-1302), not in a justice court.
- Complete the Arizona Supreme Court training before you expect letters to issue. Someone who serves as a personal representative, guardian or conservator without a fiduciary licence is a non-licensed fiduciary under A.R.S. § 14-5651, and Arizona Rules of Probate Procedure Rule 42 and Administrative Order No. 2012-62 require training. The Administrative Office of the Courts publishes the general overview module AOCPBPZ2 and the personal representatives module AOCPBPZ6. Ask the Yuma County clerk's office how it wants proof of completion filed.
- Get the Yuma County forms. Yuma County Superior Court maintains its own probate form set in English and Spanish through the county's Law Library and Self-Service Center probate page and AZCourtHelp. Yuma County's own self-service pages state that the county does not accept ez-Courtforms, so use the county's forms.
- Prepare the Yuma County Probate Cover Sheet if your filing opens a new case, and select the single case-type code that matches your filing. Ask the clerk's office whether your filing needs the cover sheet.
- Bring or send the original will if there is one. A will cannot be e-filed under Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 1-901, Attachment A, 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.
- File on paper with the Clerk of the Superior Court in Yuma County at 250 West 2nd Street, Suite B, Yuma. A probate case cannot be opened electronically under ACJA § 1-901. The Judicial Branch's county chart lists Yuma County probate on eFileAZ for later filings only.
- Pay the filing fee or request help with fees. Yuma County lists an application for informal probate under A.R.S. § 14-3301, a petition in formal testacy under A.R.S. § 14-3401 and a petition for supervised administration under A.R.S. § 14-3501 at $281.00 each as published in August 2026. If the fee is out of reach, use the fee deferral or waiver process under A.R.S. § 12-302.
- Give required notice. Yuma County's form set includes notice, inventory and closing forms, while the creditor and closing rules are statewide Arizona rules.
- If a hearing is needed, get the hearing date promptly. Under Arizona Rules of Probate Procedure Rule 18(a), as amended by R-25-0021 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 unless a hearing date or extension is obtained.
- Ask early about remote appearance. R-21-0007 amended Arizona probate rules to authorize and facilitate virtual appearances at probate proceedings by interested parties, but it is permission, not a guarantee. Yuma County publishes courtroom teleconference details and a Motion to Appear Telephonically form.
- Collect letters after appointment and qualification. A personal representative's authority begins when letters issue under A.R.S. § 14-3103. Use letters testamentary when there is a will and letters of administration when there is not. Letters cannot be e-filed under Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 1-901. Yuma County lists a certified copy at $35.00 as published in August 2026.
- Administer and close the estate. Yuma County publishes forms for inventory and appraisement and for closing statement work, and Sunset can keep the estate settlement checklist organized as assets are found, transferred and documented.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Yuma 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 may be accepted statewide, and that each court might have its own preferred forms.
In Yuma County, use the county form set. Yuma County's Law Library and Self-Service Center probate page links to Yuma County forms on AZCourtHelp, and AZCourtHelp states that Yuma County forms are provided and maintained by the Yuma County Superior Court. The county set includes small estate transfers under A.R.S. § 14-3971, informal probate under A.R.S. § 14-3301, frequently used probate forms, and Spanish versions.
| Form resource | What it covers | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| Yuma County self-service probate page | The county front door for probate forms, instructions and printed-copy information. | https://www.yumacountyaz.gov/government/courts/self-service-center/probate |
| Yuma County forms on AZCourtHelp | County-maintained forms in English and Spanish. | https://azcourthelp.org/yuma-county-forms |
| Informal probate packet | Application and appointment materials, notice, inventory and closing materials for informal probate under A.R.S. § 14-3301. Page dated November 5, 2025. | https://www.azcourthelp.org/yuma-county-forms/probate-matters/informal-probate |
| Small estate transfers | Transfer materials for the Arizona affidavit process under A.R.S. § 14-3971. Page dated November 5, 2025. | https://www.azcourthelp.org/yuma-county-forms/probate-matters/small-estate-transfers |
| Frequently used probate forms | Probate Cover Sheet, Letters of Appointment of Personal Representative and Acceptance of Letters, Order to Personal Representative, Demand for Notice, Claim Against Estate, Objection and Request for Formal Proceedings, Motion to Appear Telephonically, Instrument or Deed of Distribution and related forms. Page dated June 14, 2024. | https://azcourthelp.org/yuma-county-forms/probate-matters/probate-fuf |
Yuma County's own self-service pages state that the county does not accept ez-Courtforms. Printed copies of the county forms can be purchased from the Yuma County Law Library.
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 statewide amount in Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 3-404, effective December 28, 2024, is $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. That $191.00 is $176.00 base plus the $15.00 document storage charge under A.R.S. § 12-284.01, effective December 28, 2024.
Yuma County's published counter figure is higher. A county board of supervisors may add local fees under A.R.S. § 11-251.08, and the Clerk of the Superior Court in Yuma County publishes the following probate-related amounts in August 2026. Confirm the current amount with the clerk before paying.
| Yuma County fee item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application for informal probate under A.R.S. § 14-3301 | $281.00, as published August 2026 |
| Petition for formal testacy or appointment proceeding under A.R.S. § 14-3401 | $281.00, as published August 2026 |
| Petition for supervised administration under A.R.S. § 14-3501 | $281.00, as published August 2026 |
| Affidavit of Succession Real Property under A.R.S. § 14-3971(F) | $281.00, as published August 2026 |
| Petition opposing contested petition with no prior payment | $192.00, as published August 2026 |
| Petition to reopen probate | $102.00, as published August 2026 |
| Post judgment adjudication petition | $102.00, as published August 2026 |
| Certified copy | $35.00, as published August 2026 |
| Demand for notice, filing paper | $35.00, as published August 2026 |
| Copies, per page | $0.50, as published August 2026 |
If the fee is out of reach, A.R.S. § 12-302 provides a deferral or waiver process. Use the Application for Deferral or Waiver of Court Fees or Costs and Consent to Entry of Judgment, form AOCDFGF1F, and file the Supplemental Application, form AOCDFGF9F, when there is a final order, decree or judgment. A deferral is not forgiveness: A.R.S. § 12-302(F) requires a consent to judgment for fees still unpaid thirty days after final judgment. Yuma County publishes the fee help forms with its county forms.
Local nuance
Yuma County-specific considerations
| Local point | What to do |
|---|---|
| County-maintained bilingual forms | Start with Yuma County's Law Library and Self-Service Center probate page. The Yuma County form set is maintained by the Yuma County Superior Court and includes English and Spanish probate materials. |
| Probate Cover Sheet | Yuma County publishes a Probate Cover Sheet for the Superior Court of Arizona in Yuma County, which hears probate under A.R.S. § 14-1302. The cover sheet uses numbered case-type codes and is for a new case. Ask the clerk's office whether your filing needs it. |
| ez-Courtforms | Yuma County's own self-service pages state that the county does not accept ez-Courtforms. Use the Yuma County form set instead. |
| Real-property affidavit fee | Yuma County lists the Affidavit of Succession Real Property under A.R.S. § 14-3971(F) at $281.00 as published in August 2026, the same amount it publishes for an application for informal probate under A.R.S. § 14-3301 in August 2026. |
| Remote appearance request | R-21-0007 authorizes and facilitates virtual appearances in probate proceedings, but it does not guarantee one. Yuma County publishes courtroom teleconference details and a Motion to Appear Telephonically form, so ask early and expect to ask in writing. |
| Case lookup | Yuma County links the statewide case look-up, but the statewide portal excludes probate cases. Ask the Clerk of the Superior Court's office about a Yuma County probate case. |
Recent updates
| Date | Change | What it means in Yuma County |
|---|---|---|
| December 28, 2024 | Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 3-404 took effect through Administrative Order 2024-210, setting the statewide probate filing fee structure under A.R.S. § 12-284 and A.R.S. § 12-284.01. | The statewide amount is $191.00 effective December 28, 2024, but Yuma County publishes $281.00 for core probate filings in August 2026 because local fees may be added under A.R.S. § 11-251.08. |
| January 1, 2026 | R-25-0021 amended Arizona Rules of Probate Procedure Rule 18(a), while Rule 42 remains the training rule for non-licensed fiduciaries under A.R.S. § 14-5651. | If the petitioner has not obtained an initial hearing date within thirty days after filing, the court must warn that the petition may be dismissed unless a hearing date or extension is obtained. |
| April 17, 2026 | The Arizona Judicial Branch eFileAZ availability chart was updated. | The chart lists Yuma County probate as subsequent filings only under Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 1-901, so the filing that opens an estate still goes in on paper. |
| January 1, 2027 | R-26-0002 will change Arizona Rules of Probate Procedure Rule 3(d), while Rule 42 remains the training rule for non-licensed fiduciaries under A.R.S. § 14-5651. | A non-probate proceeding inside a probate case will need to be started by a separate pleading rather than combined with a probate petition. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Archetype | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | File with the Clerk of the Superior Court in Yuma County at 250 West 2nd Street, Suite B. If an application for informal probate is used, it is directed to the registrar under A.R.S. § 14-3301, and A.R.S. § 14-1307 allows registrar acts to be performed by a judge, the clerk of the court or a court commissioner as designated. Yuma County's informal probate packet covers application, appointment, notice, inventory and closing. | Sunset helps find accounts, debts and liens before the spouse pays the $281.00 amount Yuma County publishes in August 2026 for an opening probate filing. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | Opening papers cannot be e-filed under Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 1-901. Yuma County forms can be downloaded, and the county's small estate materials under A.R.S. § 14-3971 are available through the county form hub. If a hearing is set, ask early about remote appearance under R-21-0007. | Sunset helps assemble the asset list and probate packet from out of state so the child can reduce repeat calls and trips to Yuma. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale usually puts letters on the critical path. The personal representative completes non-licensed fiduciary training under A.R.S. § 14-5651 and Arizona Rules of Probate Procedure Rule 42 before letters issue, and letters testamentary or letters of administration issue under A.R.S. § 14-3103. Yuma County publishes certified copies at $35.00 as published August 2026. | Sunset helps identify the accounts, prepare the estate settlement packet and connect the family with local legal help when a house sale needs court authority. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact or URL |
|---|---|---|
| Clerk of the Superior Court, Yuma County | Takes probate filings for the Superior Court of Arizona in Yuma County under A.R.S. § 14-1302. The clerk's office is the place to ask about filing, copies and case information. Court staff can provide legal information, but not legal advice. | (928) 817-4210; fax (928) 817-4211; [email protected]; 250 West 2nd Street, Suite B, Yuma, AZ 85364; https://www.yumacountyaz.gov/government/courts/clerk-of-superior-court |
| Yuma County Law Library and Self-Service Center | County self-help front door for probate forms and instructions. The law library sells printed copies of county forms and states that it is a research library that does not give legal advice. | (928) 817-4165; https://www.yumacountyaz.gov/government/courts/self-service-center; https://www.yumacountyaz.gov/government/courts/self-service-center/probate |
| Yuma County probate forms on AZCourtHelp | County-maintained probate form set in English and Spanish, including informal probate under A.R.S. § 14-3301 and small estate transfer materials under A.R.S. § 14-3971. | https://azcourthelp.org/yuma-county-forms |
| AZCourtHelp | Arizona Bar Foundation self-help site with a Self-Help Center, Form Finder, Find My Court, Legal Aid Options and live chat. The Arizona Judicial Branch points readers there for court-specific forms. | https://azcourthelp.org/ |
| Arizona Judicial Branch Self-Service Center | Statewide legal information and court forms for people representing themselves, including the probate hub and Spanish-language self-service materials. | https://www.azcourts.gov/selfservicecenter; https://www.azcourts.gov/probate |
| Arizona Supreme Court non-licensed fiduciary training | Training required before letters can issue for a personal representative who is a non-licensed fiduciary under A.R.S. § 14-5651 and Arizona Rules of Probate Procedure Rule 42. The modules include AOCPBPZ2 and AOCPBPZ6. | https://www.azcourts.gov/probate/Training/Non-Licensed-Fiduciaries-Training |
| Community Legal Services | Lists offices in Yuma and San Luis. Its published practice areas do not list decedent's estate representation, so call and ask what help is available for your situation. | Yuma office (928) 782-7511; statewide 1-800-852-9075; TTY 711; https://clsaz.org/office-locations/ |
| Yuma County Public Fiduciary | Fiduciary of last resort for guardianship, conservatorship and decedent estates when no other qualified and willing person or entity will serve. The public fiduciary can be the last person eligible to apply for informal probate under A.R.S. § 14-3301(A)(8). | 197 S. Main St., Suite 101, Yuma, AZ 85364; (928) 373-1145; https://www.yumacountyaz.gov/government/public-fiduciary |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a probate attorney if the will is disputed, the original will is missing, heirs disagree, real property must be sold quickly, a creditor issue is likely, or you are unsure whether the Yuma County form path fits the estate. The clerk and law library can provide legal information, but not legal advice. Sunset connects families with a vetted attorney when legal counsel makes sense.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps identify bank, investment, retirement and insurance accounts so the family can decide whether a Yuma County court filing is needed and which estate settlement path fits.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the asset list, family information and court requirements into an organized probate packet, with the Yuma County form set and local filing steps kept in view.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs legal advice, a hearing strategy, a real-property sale or help with objections, Sunset connects the family to a vetted probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to understand the process, organize the estate settlement work and get connected to the right next step without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Yuma County?
File with the Clerk of the Superior Court in Yuma County at 250 West 2nd Street, Suite B, Yuma, AZ 85364. Probate is heard in the Superior Court of Arizona in Yuma County (A.R.S. § 14-1302), and venue is the county where the person who died was domiciled (A.R.S. § 14-3201(A)(1)).
Can I file a probate case online in Yuma County?
No opening probate filing can be made online. Under Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 1-901, a will and any document used to initiate a probate case cannot be e-filed. The Judicial Branch chart lists Yuma County probate on eFileAZ for subsequent filings only under ACJA § 1-901.
How much does it cost to file probate in Yuma County?
Yuma County publishes $281.00 in August 2026 for an application for informal probate under A.R.S. § 14-3301, a petition in formal testacy under A.R.S. § 14-3401 and a petition for supervised administration under A.R.S. § 14-3501. The statewide baseline is $191.00 effective December 28, 2024 under A.R.S. § 12-284 and Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 3-404, including the $15.00 document storage charge under A.R.S. § 12-284.01. Confirm the current amount with the clerk before paying.
Does Yuma County have its own probate forms, and are they in Spanish?
Yes. Yuma County maintains probate forms in English and Spanish through the Yuma County Law Library and Self-Service Center and AZCourtHelp. The set includes informal probate materials under A.R.S. § 14-3301 and small estate transfer materials under A.R.S. § 14-3971.
Do I have to take training before I can serve as personal representative in Yuma County?
Yes. A family member serving as personal representative without a fiduciary licence is a non-licensed fiduciary under A.R.S. § 14-5651, and Arizona Rules of Probate Procedure Rule 42 requires training before letters issue. The statewide training modules include AOCPBPZ2 and AOCPBPZ6. Ask the Yuma County clerk's office how it wants proof filed.
Can I attend a Yuma County probate hearing remotely?
Possibly, if the court allows it. R-21-0007 amended Arizona probate rules to authorize and facilitate virtual appearances by interested parties, but it does not guarantee remote appearance. Yuma County publishes courtroom teleconference information and a Motion to Appear Telephonically form, so ask early.
How do I look up a Yuma County probate case?
Arizona's statewide public case search excludes probate cases. Yuma County links that statewide look-up from its self-service resources, but the place to ask about a Yuma County probate case is the Clerk of the Superior Court's office at (928) 817-4210.
Do I need a probate cover sheet in Yuma County?
Yuma County publishes a Probate Cover Sheet for new probate cases in the Superior Court of Arizona in Yuma County (A.R.S. § 14-1302). The form uses numbered case-type codes. Ask the clerk's office whether your filing needs it.
What are the Yuma County clerk's hours?
The Clerk of the Superior Court publishes hours of Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., closed weekends and court holidays. Yuma County's court holiday list includes the Friday following Thanksgiving Day.
Do I have to travel to the city of Yuma if I live in San Luis or Wellton?
The probate filing counter is in the city of Yuma. Yuma County has justice court locations in San Luis and Wellton for limited-jurisdiction matters, but decedents' estates are filed in the Superior Court of Arizona in Yuma County under A.R.S. § 14-1302, at the Clerk of the Superior Court in Yuma.
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.