Educational guide — not legal advice. Laws and figures change; confirm current details with a licensed Arizona attorney before relying on them.
The short answer
Arizona does not set probate fees by statute. Costs depend on the attorney’s billing arrangement, the type of administration, and the size and complexity of the estate. Here’s what to expect, and the ways many families avoid full probate entirely.
Attorney fees
Not statutory. Arizona is a Uniform Probate Code state, so there is no fixed percentage. Attorneys charge an hourly rate or a flat fee for routine work, and the fee must be 'reasonable.' A.R.S. §14-3721 lets any interested person ask the court to review the reasonableness of the personal representative's or attorney's compensation, and A.R.S. §14-3720 allows reasonable attorney fees and expenses for a representative who prosecutes or defends a proceeding in good faith.
Executor / personal representative fees
Not statutory. Under A.R.S. §14-3719, the personal representative is entitled to 'reasonable compensation' for services — Arizona has no California-style percentage schedule. Reasonableness is judged on the size and complexity of the estate and the time and skill involved; family representatives often waive the fee.
What the fee is based on
Arizona uses a 'reasonable compensation' standard rather than a percentage of the estate, and most estates qualify for informal, unsupervised administration — which is the main reason probate here is far cheaper than in statutory-fee states like California.
Court filing fees
Roughly $300 to open an informal probate in the Superior Court (about $306 in Maricopa County); amounts vary slightly by county. Add publication of notice to creditors and certified copies.
Appraisal / probate referee
How long probate takes in Arizona
About 5 to 12 months for a routine informal probate. The four-month creditor-claim window sets the practical floor; the estate must stay open at least five months before it can close. Contested estates, missing heirs, or real estate sales can extend that.
How to skip full probate (or shrink the bill)
- Small-estate procedure. Effective September 26, 2025 (HB 2116), the small-estate affidavit limits under A.R.S. §14-3971 are $200,000 for personal property (collectible by affidavit 30 days after death) and $300,000 of equity in real property (by affidavit of succession 6 months after death). The prior limits were $75,000 and $100,000.
- Real-property shortcut. Real property with equity up to $300,000 can transfer outside formal probate using an affidavit of succession to real property under A.R.S. §14-3971, filed at least six months after death.
- A funded living trust. Assets in a properly funded revocable living trust skip probate entirely. The successor trustee distributes them privately, usually in a month or two.
- Beneficiary designations and joint ownership. Life insurance, retirement accounts, payable-on-death (POD) accounts, and jointly held property pass directly to the named person and never enter probate.
- Family member as executor. When a relative serves as executor, they can often waive the commission — meaningfully cutting the total bill.
Do you need a lawyer?
For most Arizona estates that go through full probate, yes — the court process has formal requirements and missed deadlines can cost more than the legal fees they were meant to avoid. For genuinely simple estates, or where a small-estate procedure applies, many families handle it themselves or use a legal document preparer for a flat fee.
The honest takeaway
The cheapest probate cost is the one you avoid in advance — by titling assets correctly, keeping beneficiary designations current, and, where it makes sense, using a living trust. If your estate is likely to exceed Arizona’s small-estate thresholds, it’s worth talking to a licensed Arizona estate attorney while you still have the option to plan.
Related reading
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What Is Probate and How Does It Work? — the full plain-English explanation of how probate works in the US.
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How to Avoid Probate in Arizona — the state-specific avoidance playbook.
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How Long Does Probate Take in Arizona? — the companion timeline guide for Arizona.
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Will vs. Trust: Which Do You Need? — for Arizona residents weighing whether a trust is worth it.
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Estate Planning Checklist: Everything in One Place — the documents and decisions that make probate easier (or unnecessary).
This page explains Arizona probate costs in general terms as of 2026. It is not legal advice, and fee schedules, thresholds, and court costs change and depend on your specific situation. Confirm current figures with the Arizona courts or a licensed Arizona attorney. Sources: A.R.S. §14-3719, A.R.S. §14-3720, A.R.S. §14-3721, A.R.S. §14-3971, A.R.S. §14-3801, A.R.S. §14-3803, A.R.S. §33-405.