Why Each Proceeding Stands on Its Own
Arizona's probate system moves efficiently. The law treats each proceeding as independent. A petition to probate a will does not depend on a separate petition to appoint a personal representative.
Each proceeding before the court or registrar is independent of any other proceeding involving the same estate.
A.R.S. § 14-3107(1)This independence matters because estates involve multiple questions at different times. For example, one family member may contest the will. Meanwhile, another may need a representative in place quickly to manage property.
Under this statute, the appointment can proceed on its own. It does not wait for the contest to resolve.
Combining Petitions When It Makes Sense
The process also allows flexibility in the other direction. If multiple requests can be resolved together, they can go into a single petition. For example, a petition to probate a will and appoint a representative can be filed together.
Petitions for formal orders of the court may combine various requests for relief in a single proceeding if the orders sought may be finally granted without delay.
A.R.S. § 14-3107(2)No petition is defective because it skips an issue. This protects families from technical objections that could slow things down.
The one exception is supervised administration under Article 5. In that case, the court maintains closer oversight of the full estate process.
How This Affects Families in Practice
Many families worry that disputes among heirs will drag everything out. This statute prevents that. Each stage of probate moves forward on its own.
If a dispute arises over one issue, the representative can still manage bank accounts and pay bills. Arizona offers three main paths: informal, formal, and supervised probate. The court handles each petition on its own terms.