Probate can feel like a maze. For families in Arizona, especially in Maricopa County, the process is often confusing, time-sensitive, and full of technical rules that aren’t obvious from the outside. Families stumble into the same traps again and again. These mistakes don’t just delay closing an estate — they can lead to personal liability, extra court hearings, or even lawsuits.
Read MoreWhen someone passes away, not everything they owned necessarily goes through probate. In Arizona, probate is only required for certain types of property—specifically, assets that were titled in the decedent’s name alone and lacked a legally valid plan for transfer. Understanding which assets require probate and which do not is critical for both families settling an estate and individuals planning ahead.
Read MoreArizona has enacted a significant change to its probate laws that will impact families settling small estates. Effective June 30, 2025, the revised A.R.S. § 14-3971 dramatically increases the value thresholds for using a Small Estate Affidavit, streamlining estate administration for many Arizona families.
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