The Superior Court has jurisdiction over the distribution of a person’s estate after they die. This is known as a Probate case. When a person dies, it might be necessary to file a case in probate court if their property is not titled in such a way that it is clear who will inherit that property. A probate case may also be necessary if a decedent has a large estate with multiple heirs who might not agree on who will inherit the property.
Many times a decedent’s property will pass on automatically according to the title or arrangements such as a joint tenancy, community property, or a trust. In these instances, it is not necessary to file a probate case because there are no issues for the Court to decide.
Most probate cases are handled as informal probate cases unless there is a large estate, or if the heirs cannot agree on the disposition of the estate.
Training Videos:
Arizona law requires any person who is neither a licensed fiduciary under A.R.S. § 14-5651 nor a financial institution to view the following training videos before letters to serve as guardian, conservator, or personal representative are issued, unless the appointment was made pursuant to sections 14-5310(A), 14-5401.01(A) or 14-5207, or otherwise ordered by the court.
- Introduction to Serving as a Non-Licensed Fiduciary
- Welcome to Personal Representatives Training Module
- Welcome to Guardianship Training Module" (if you will be a Guardian)
- Welcome to Conservatorship Training Module" (if you will be a Conservator)
- Introduction to Conservator Account Forms" (if you will be a Conservator)
After you have completed the required video(s), print the Certificate(s) of Completion and file them along with the rest of the paperwork with the Clerk of Superior Court.
eFiling
The eFileAZ application is available for electronic filing in probate cases. For information on the eFiling system and to register and train for its use, you can visit http://www.azcourts.gov/efilinginformation/eFileAZ