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City #5 of 20 — Probate Court Profile

Phoenix

Maricopa County, Arizona

efficient Cost

Annual Filings

~8,000–11,000

Daily Filing Rate

32–44 filings

Active Docket

~10,000–18,000 active matters

Small Estate Threshold

$75,000

Court Overview

Court Name

Maricopa County Superior Court — Probate Division

Population Served

~4,500,000 (Maricopa County, 2024 est.)

Fee Structure

Reasonable

Per-Judge Caseload

~2,500–4,000 new filings per judge per year

Legal Authority

Arizona Revised Statutes §§ 14-1101 et seq. (UPC-based); ARS § 14-3715 (personal representative compensation — reasonable); ARS § 14-3971 (small estate affidavit — $75,000 personal property; $100,000 real property)

Estate/Inheritance Tax

None

Unique Feature / Key Distinction

Arizona follows the Uniform Probate Code (UPC) — one of the most efficient probate systems in the US. No state estate tax. Large retiree population drives high volume.

Case Timelines

Case Type	Duration	Notes
Small estate affidavit	30–90 days	No court filing; presented to asset holder
Informal probate (UPC)	4–8 months	Registrar appointment; minimal court involvement
Formal probate	6–12 months	Court-supervised; creditor notice; inventory
Complex administration	12–24 months	Business interests; real estate; multiple creditors
Contested estate	18–48+ months	Full civil discovery; possible jury

Cost Benchmarks

Estate Value	Attorney Fees	Executor Fees	Total Est. Cost	% of Estate
$500,000	$10,000–$20,000 (est. reasonable)	$8,000–$18,000 (est.)	$20,000–$45,000+	4.0%–9.0%
$2,000,000	$25,000–$60,000 (est.)	$25,000–$60,000 (est.)	$55,000–$130,000+	2.75%–6.5%
$5,000,000	$50,000–$150,000+	$50,000–$150,000+	$110,000–$320,000+	2.2%–6.4%

* Estimates based on Probate Insider Reference Series 2026. Actual costs vary. Not legal advice.

Key Facts

1Arizona follows the Uniform Probate Code (UPC) — informal probate available
2No Arizona state estate tax or inheritance tax
3Large retiree population creates high volume of estate matters
4Small estate affidavit: $75,000 (personal property) / $100,000 (real property)
5UPC informal probate allows registrar appointment without court hearing
6Community property state — affects asset characterization on death

At a Glance

Cost CategoryEfficient

Fee StructureReasonable

Annual Filings~8,000–11,000

Active Docket~10,000–18,000 active matters

Small Estate$75,000

StateArizona

Tax Status

✓ No State Estate Tax

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Disclaimer: All data is sourced from the Probate Insider Reference Series 2026. This information is for research purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Costs and timelines are estimates and vary by case.

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