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A.R.S. § 14-3402

Formal Testacy Petition Requirements

Verified April 4, 202657th Legislature, 1st Regular Session

When someone files a formal testacy proceeding, the petition must follow specific requirements. A petition to probate a will must identify the instrument and explain whether the original will is available. A petition to establish intestacy must identify the heirs.

Title 14, PROBATE OF WILLS AND ADMINISTRATION

azleg.gov

Petition to Probate a Will

Filing a formal testacy petition is not as simple as submitting a will to the court. The petition must meet specific content requirements so the court and all interested parties understand what is being asked. The petition must include the same information required for an application for informal probate, plus additional details.

A petition for formal probate of a will must: 1. Request an order as to the testacy of the decedent in relation to a particular instrument which may or may not have been informally probated and determining the heirs; 2. Contain the statements required for informal applications as stated in paragraph 1 of subsection B of section 14-3301 and the statements required by subdivisions (b) and (c), paragraph 2 of subsection B of section 14-3301; and 3. State whether the original of the last will of the decedent is in the possession of the court or accompanies the petition.

A.R.S. § 14-3402(A)

If the original will is missing, the petition must go further. It needs to describe the contents of the will and explain that the document is lost, destroyed, or otherwise unavailable. This allows the court to consider probating a will even when the physical document cannot be produced. The standard of proof is higher in those situations.

The petition must also identify the surviving spouse and any personal representative of the decedent whose appointment has not been terminated. This makes sure all parties with a stake in the outcome are included from the start.

Petition for Intestacy

Formal proceedings are not limited to proving a will. They can also ask the court to declare that someone died without a valid will. This is important when the informal process is not available or when there is a dispute about whether a will exists.

A petition for adjudication of intestacy and appointment of an administrator in intestacy must request a judicial finding and order that the decedent left no will and determining the heirs, contain the statements required by paragraphs 1 and 4 of subsection B of section 14-3301 and indicate whether supervised administration is sought.

A.R.S. § 14-3402(B)

The petition can request both an intestacy finding and the appointment of an administrator. It can also simply ask the court to determine heirs without appointing anyone. This flexibility allows families to use formal proceedings for different purposes depending on what the estate requires.

14-3402. Formal testacy or appointment proceedings; petition; contents A. Petitions for formal probate of a will, or for adjudication of intestacy with or without request for appointment of a personal representative, must be directed to the court, request a judicial order after notice and hearing and contain further statements as indicated in this section. A petition for formal probate of a will must: 1. Request an order as to the testacy of the decedent in relation to a particular instrument which may or may not have been informally probated and determining the heirs; 2. Contain the statements required for informal applications as stated in paragraph 1 of subsection B of section 14-3301 and the statements required by subdivisions (b) and (c), paragraph 2 of subsection B of section 14-3301; and 3. State whether the original of the last will of the decedent is in the possession of the court or accompanies the petition. If the original will or a certified copy of a will probated in another jurisdiction neither is in the possession of the court nor accompanies the petition, the petition also must state the contents of the will, and indicate that it is lost, destroyed or otherwise unavailable. B. A petition for adjudication of intestacy and appointment of an administrator in intestacy must request a judicial finding and order that the decedent left no will and determining the heirs, contain the statements required by paragraphs 1 and 4 of subsection B of section 14-3301 and indicate whether supervised administration is sought. A petition may request an order determining intestacy and heirs without requesting the appointment of an administrator, in which case, the statements required by subdivision (b), paragraph 4 of subsection B of section 14-3301 may be omitted.

This page provides general legal information about Arizona statutes and is not legal advice. For guidance on how this law applies to your situation, speak with a qualified attorney.

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