Full Probate Means Judge, Lawyer, Endless Wait

In short

Arizona has more than one kind of probate. A full (formal) probate involves an attorney, court dates and a judge, and it takes time. Informal probate is mostly paperwork filed with the county to have a personal representative appointed, so that person can reach the bank account, collect insurance and distribute what is left. Which one applies depends on the estate and whether anyone objects.

Key points

• Formal probate: attorney, hearings and a judge; the slowest path.
• Informal probate: documents filed with the county appoint a personal representative without a hearing.
• Estates at or below $200,000 in personal property or $300,000 in home equity may skip probate with a small estate affidavit.
• Assets with a beneficiary, a recorded beneficiary deed or a funded trust do not go through probate at all.

Full written answer: Formal, informal and supervised probate in Arizona