Arizona Probate Attorney | $5,000 Flat Fee

Arizona Probate · Flat Fee · Statewide

Hire an Arizona Probate Attorney for a $5,000 Flat Fee

 

Richard C. Keyt — "Ricky" — is an Arizona attorney and former CPA who represents personal representatives (called executors in other states) in Arizona Superior Court probates. His clients are the families of deceased Arizona residents and of non-residents who died owning Arizona real estate. Ricky and his father, Richard Keyt, have 311 five-star Google reviews and 427 five-star Google, Facebook & Birdeye reviews.

 

He does not charge to answer your Arizona probate questions. Call him, email rck@keytlaw.com, or book a free office, phone or Zoom meeting.

 

Book a Free Office, Phone or Zoom Meeting Hire Us — Probate Agreement

Arizona probate at a glance

Flat fee

$5,000 for an uncontested informal Arizona probate, start to finish. Reimbursable by the estate.

Attorney

Richard C. Keyt, Arizona attorney and former CPA · 480-664-7472 · rck@keytlaw.com

Where

All 15 Arizona counties. Office at 7373 E. Doubletree Ranch Road, Suite 135, Scottsdale, AZ 85258. Meetings by phone or Zoom statewide.

Time to open

Usually about one week after we receive the signed agreement and payment.

Time to close

An informal estate generally cannot close by closing statement earlier than six months after the personal representative is appointed (A.R.S. § 14-3933). Most uncontested estates close in six to twelve months.

Consultation

Free. There is no charge to talk to Ricky about Arizona probate.

Do You Even Need an Arizona Probate?

Many families call us and learn they do not need a probate at all. Ricky will tell you that for free rather than sell you a proceeding you do not need.

 

An Arizona probate is required only when the deceased person owned assets in their own name alone that exceed Arizona's small estate limits. Arizona House Bill 2116 raised those limits effective September 26, 2025, and the new limits apply to affidavits filed on or after that date regardless of when the person died.

Arizona small estate affidavit limits under A.R.S. § 14-3971, as amended by HB 2116 (effective September 26, 2025). Values are net of liens and encumbrances.

Asset type	Limit (net of liens)	Wait after death	Probate needed?
Personal property (bank accounts, vehicles, brokerage accounts, personal effects)	$200,000 or less	30 days	No — use a small estate affidavit
Arizona real property (equity)	$300,000 or less	6 months	No — use an affidavit of succession to real property
Personal property over $200,000, or real property equity over $300,000	Above the limits	—	Yes — probate is required

Assets that never go through probate in Arizona

Probate reaches only assets titled in the deceased person's name alone with no beneficiary. These assets pass outside probate no matter how large:

• Assets titled in the name of a revocable living trust.
• Real estate that passes under a recorded Arizona beneficiary deed (A.R.S. § 33-405).
• Real estate held in joint tenancy with right of survivorship or as community property with right of survivorship.
• Bank and brokerage accounts with a pay-on-death (POD) or transfer-on-death (TOD) beneficiary.
• Life insurance, IRAs, 401(k)s and annuities with a living named beneficiary.

What an Arizona Probate Really Costs

Most Arizona probate lawyers bill by the hour, which means nobody — including the lawyer — can tell you the final bill at the start. We quote one number and stick to it.

Item	Typical cost	Who pays
KEYTLaw attorney's fee — uncontested informal probate, start to finish	$5,000 flat	Advanced by the personal representative, then reimbursed by the estate
Superior Court filing fee to open the probate	Roughly $300, varies by county (see the Maricopa County fee schedule)	Estate
Newspaper publication of the notice to creditors	Roughly $100–$250	Estate
Certified copies of Letters of Personal Representative	A few dollars each	Estate
Personal representative's bond, if the court requires one	Varies with estate size; often waived by the will or by court order	Estate
Hourly Arizona probate lawyer (for comparison)	Commonly $250–$450 per hour with no ceiling	Estate

Arizona imposes no state estate tax and no inheritance tax. Federal estate tax applies only to very large estates.

 

The $5,000 flat fee covers an uncontested informal probate. If an heir contests the will, an interested person objects to the appointment, or the estate requires litigation, a sale of real estate, or a formal or supervised administration, we will tell you before you spend a dollar and quote that work separately.

What the $5,000 Flat Fee Includes

The flat fee covers the entire uncontested informal probate from the day you hire us through the day the court discharges the personal representative:

• Contacting the prospective personal representative, collecting the original signed will if one exists, and answering questions throughout the case.
• Preparing and filing the application to open the probate and to appoint the personal representative.
• If no will waives the bond, either preparing the documents to ask the court to waive the bond or helping the personal representative obtain one.
• Explaining, in plain English, every legal obligation the personal representative owes to the heirs, the devisees, the creditors and the court.
• Preparing and completing all notices of appointment and all creditor notices required by Arizona law and the Arizona Rules of Probate Procedure.
• Helping the personal representative prepare a complete inventory of probate assets and of non-probate assets such as life insurance and retirement benefits.
• Preparing all interim reports the probate court and the beneficiaries require during administration.
• Preparing every report, notice, consent, receipt and accounting needed to close the estate and obtain a discharge of liability for the personal representative.
• Counseling on any related question that arises out of administering the estate.

How to Hire Us — 5 Steps

1 Get your questions answered free

Call Arizona probate attorney Richard C. Keyt at 480-664-7472. He does not charge to answer questions about Arizona probate law, and he will tell you honestly if you do not need a probate.

2 Or book a free meeting online

Pick any open time on Ricky's online calendar for a free office, phone or Zoom video meeting.

3 Submit the online Probate Legal Service Agreement

Complete our Arizona Probate Legal Service Agreement. It takes a few minutes and gives us the facts we need to draft the petition.

4 Pay the $5,000 flat fee

By check: make it payable to KEYTLaw, LLC and mail it to Richard C. Keyt, 7373 E. Doubletree Ranch Road, Suite 135, Scottsdale, AZ 85258.

 

By card: pay with Visa, Mastercard, American Express or Discover on our secure payment page, or call our legal assistant Michelle at 480-664-7413 and give her the card information.

5 Get reimbursed by the estate

Once the probate opens and the personal representative controls the estate's assets, the estate reimburses the personal representative the $5,000. The fee is ultimately borne by the probate estate, not out of the personal representative's own pocket.

 

Start the Probate Agreement

What Happens After You Hire Us

When	What happens
Day 1–2	Michelle contacts the prospective personal representative, arranges to obtain the original signed will, and gathers the information needed for the application.
About 1 week	We file the application. The registrar issues the order appointing the personal representative and the Letters of Personal Representative — the document banks and title companies ask for.
Within 30 days of appointment	Notice of the appointment goes to the heirs and devisees (A.R.S. § 14-3705).
First weeks	Notice to creditors published once a week for three consecutive weeks in a county newspaper, and mailed to known creditors (A.R.S. § 14-3801).
Within 90 days of appointment	Inventory and appraisement of the estate's probate assets prepared (A.R.S. § 14-3706).
4 months after first publication	The creditor claim window closes. Unpresented claims are barred (A.R.S. § 14-3803).
6+ months after appointment	Debts, taxes and expenses paid, assets distributed to the heirs or devisees, receipts collected, and the closing statement filed. An informal estate cannot close by closing statement earlier than six months after appointment (A.R.S. § 14-3933).

Arizona Probate Deadlines That Matter

• Two years from the date of death. Under A.R.S. § 14-3108, a probate generally cannot be commenced more than two years after death, with narrow exceptions. Miss it and the personal representative's powers shrink to confirming title in the heirs. If someone died more than 18 months ago and owned Arizona real estate, call now.
• 120 hours. An heir must survive the decedent by 120 hours to inherit under Arizona's intestacy rules.
• 30 days after death. The earliest a successor may use a small estate affidavit to collect personal property of $200,000 or less.
• Five days after death. Informal probate of a will generally may not be granted until at least five days after death (A.R.S. § 14-3302).
• Six months after death. The earliest a successor may record an affidavit of succession for Arizona real property with equity of $300,000 or less.
• Four months / 60 days. Creditors must present claims within four months after first publication, or within 60 days after mailed notice, whichever is later, or be forever barred (A.R.S. § 14-3803).

Who Can Serve as Personal Representative

Arizona law sets an order of priority for appointment (A.R.S. § 14-3203). In practice, priority runs:

1. The person named as personal representative in the deceased person's probated will.
2. The surviving spouse, if the will leaves property to that spouse.
3. Other devisees named in the will.
4. The surviving spouse, whether or not the will benefits them.
5. Other heirs of the deceased person.
6. Forty-five days after death, any creditor. Then the public fiduciary.

A personal representative must be at least 18, must not have been found incapacitated, and takes on real fiduciary duties — collecting assets, keeping estate money separate, notifying creditors, filing final tax returns, keeping records, treating all beneficiaries impartially, and accounting to the court. A personal representative who mishandles the job can be held personally liable. That is the main reason to have a lawyer.

Informal, Formal and Supervised Probate

Type	When it applies	Court involvement
Informal	Nobody objects, the will is valid on its face, and the applicant has priority. The large majority of Arizona probates.	Handled by the court registrar. Usually no hearing.
Formal	The will's validity is disputed, the will is lost or damaged, heirs are unknown, or someone objects to who should serve.	Judge decides after notice and a hearing.
Supervised	The court finds ongoing oversight necessary to protect the estate or the beneficiaries.	The judge approves distributions and major actions throughout.

Our $5,000 flat fee applies to uncontested informal probates. If your matter turns out to require a formal or supervised administration, Ricky will explain why and quote it before any additional work begins.

Counties and Cities We Serve

We open probates in every Arizona county: Apache, Cochise, Coconino, Gila, Graham, Greenlee, La Paz, Maricopa, Mohave, Navajo, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz, Yavapai and Yuma.

 

Most of our personal representatives are settling estates of people who lived in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Peoria, Queen Creek, Cave Creek, Fountain Hills, Avondale, Sun City, Sun City West, Surprise, Tucson, Flagstaff, Prescott, Sedona, Lake Havasu City and Yuma.

 

You do not have to live in Arizona to hire us. We regularly represent out-of-state children settling a parent's Arizona estate, and we handle ancillary probates for non-residents who died owning Arizona real estate. Everything can be done by phone, email and Zoom.

Why Hire Richard C. Keyt

• One price, no surprises. $5,000 flat for an uncontested informal probate, not an hourly meter.
• Lawyer and former CPA. Ricky handles the estate's tax questions and the court's legal questions without sending you to a second professional.
• A family firm with a long record. KEYTLaw, LLC was founded by Richard Keyt, an Arizona attorney since 1979. Together the two attorneys hold 427 five-star Google, Facebook and Birdeye reviews, including 311 five-star Google reviews.
• Free advice before you commit. Ricky does not charge to talk to people. If your family can use a small estate affidavit instead of a probate, he will say so.
• Statewide, remote-friendly. Office in Scottsdale, probates in all 15 counties, meetings by phone or Zoom.

Book a Free Office, Phone or Zoom Meeting

Arizona Probate FAQs

How much does an Arizona probate attorney cost?

KEYTLaw charges a $5,000 flat fee to handle an uncontested informal Arizona probate from the application through closing the estate. Most Arizona probate lawyers bill hourly at roughly $250 to $450 per hour with no cap. Court costs — a filing fee of roughly $300 and newspaper publication of roughly $100 to $250 — are additional and are paid by the estate.

Is the $5,000 fee paid by me or by the estate?

The personal representative advances the $5,000 so we can open the case. After the probate opens and the personal representative takes control of the estate's assets, the estate reimburses the personal representative in full. The economic cost falls on the estate, not on the person who steps forward to serve.

How long does an Arizona probate take?

We can usually open the probate and get the personal representative appointed about one week after we receive the signed Probate Legal Service Agreement and payment. Closing takes longer: creditors have four months after first publication to present claims, and an informal estate generally cannot close by closing statement earlier than six months after appointment. Most uncontested Arizona estates close in six to twelve months.

Do I need a probate if there is a will?

Often, yes. A will does not avoid probate — it tells the probate court who gets what. If the deceased person owned Arizona real estate with more than $300,000 of equity, or more than $200,000 of personal property, in their own name alone, a probate is required whether or not there is a will.

What is the small estate limit in Arizona in 2026?

Effective September 26, 2025, A.R.S. § 14-3971 allows a successor to collect personal property worth $200,000 or less, net of liens, by affidavit 30 days after death, and to transfer Arizona real property with equity of $300,000 or less by affidavit of succession six months after death. Before that date the limits were $75,000 and $100,000. The new limits apply to affidavits filed on or after September 26, 2025, regardless of the date of death.

Is there a deadline to file probate in Arizona?

Yes. Under A.R.S. § 14-3108, a probate proceeding generally must be commenced within two years of the date of death, subject to narrow exceptions for late-discovered assets and certain corrective proceedings. After two years the personal representative's powers are limited largely to confirming title in the successors. If someone died more than a year ago and owned Arizona real estate, do not wait.

Can I do an Arizona probate myself?

You can, and some people do. The risk is that a personal representative has fiduciary duties and can be held personally liable for missing a creditor notice, distributing to the wrong person, distributing before claims are resolved, or failing to file the decedent's final tax returns. Read our article on the five risks of a do-it-yourself Arizona probate before you decide.

Does Arizona have an estate tax or inheritance tax?

No. Arizona imposes neither a state estate tax nor an inheritance tax. Only the federal estate tax can apply, and only to very large estates. The estate may still need to file the decedent's final income tax return and, in some cases, a fiduciary income tax return.

What happens if someone dies in Arizona without a will?

The estate is intestate and Arizona's intestacy statutes decide who inherits — generally the surviving spouse and descendants first, then parents, then siblings. A probate is still required if the assets exceed the small estate limits. The court appoints a personal representative according to the priority order in A.R.S. § 14-3203.

Do I have to live in Arizona to be the personal representative?

No. An out-of-state person can serve as personal representative of an Arizona estate. We represent out-of-state clients regularly and handle the entire case by phone, email and Zoom.

My parent lived out of state but owned a house in Arizona. What do I do?

Arizona real estate held in the deceased person's own name is subject to Arizona probate jurisdiction even when the owner lived elsewhere. This is often handled as an ancillary probate alongside the home-state proceeding. We do these routinely — call Ricky at 480-664-7472.

How do I avoid putting my own family through probate?

Create and fully fund a revocable living trust. A trust-based Arizona estate plan keeps your home, accounts and investments out of probate, keeps your affairs private, and can protect each beneficiary's inheritance from that beneficiary's creditors, ex-spouse and bankruptcy court. See what our Arizona estate plan includes and what it costs.

More Arizona Probate Resources

• Start here: What Is Arizona Probate, When Is It Required & How to Avoid It
• Do You Need an Arizona Probate? A Guide by an AZ Probate Attorney
• How to Do an Arizona Probate
• Arizona Probate Without a Lawyer: 5 Risks of Going DIY
• 13 Costly Arizona Probate Mistakes & How to Avoid Them
• Arizona Small Estate Affidavit for Personal Property Under $200,000
• Arizona Small Estate Affidavit for Real Estate Under $300,000
• Hire Us to Prepare a Small Estate Affidavit
• Arizona Probate Attorney — main probate page
• Wills, Trusts & Estate Planning Articles Library
• Official source: Arizona Revised Statutes Title 14 — Trusts, Estates and Protective Proceedings and the Maricopa County Superior Court Probate Department

Questions? Talk to Arizona Probate Attorney Richard C. Keyt Free

 

Book a Free Office, Phone or Zoom Meeting Hire Us — Probate Agreement

 

Updated August 8, 2026, by Richard C. Keyt, Arizona probate attorney and former CPA, KEYTLaw, LLC, Scottsdale, Arizona.

 

This page is general information about Arizona probate law, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Statutory limits, filing fees and publication costs change. Confirm current figures with counsel or the Clerk of the Superior Court in the county where the probate will be filed.