The Published Notice Requirement
One of the first duties after being appointed as a personal representative is notifying creditors that the estate is open. Arizona requires a published notice in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the case is filed. The notice must run once a week for three consecutive weeks.
At the time of appointment a personal representative shall publish a notice to creditors once a week for three successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county announcing the appointment and the personal representative's address and notifying creditors of the estate to present their claims within four months after the date of the first publication of the notice or be forever barred.
A.R.S. § 14-3801(A)That four-month window is critical. Once it closes, most creditors lose any right to collect from the estate. This deadline gives the personal representative a clear timeline for settling debts before distributing assets to heirs.
Direct Notice to Known Creditors
Publishing in a newspaper handles unknown creditors. But the personal representative also has a separate obligation to notify every creditor they actually know about. Known creditors must receive written notice by mail or other delivery.
A personal representative shall give written notice by mail or other delivery to all known creditors, notifying the creditors of the personal representative's appointment.
A.R.S. § 14-3801(B)Known creditors have until the later of four months after publication or sixty days after receiving their personal notice. This ensures that creditors who are identified by name get a fair chance to respond, even if they missed the newspaper notice. The personal representative is not personally liable for giving or failing to give this notice, but skipping it can complicate estate administration.