Estate Planning in Maricopa County, Arizona
Probate in Maricopa County runs through the Superior Court’s Probate & Mental Health Department, which also handles guardianships, conservatorships, and mental-health matters. Informal probate — an original will, uncontested, undisputed heirs — is processed without a hearing; formal probate brings a judge or commissioner in to resolve disputes. Self-represented personal representatives have real local support here: the Probate Lawyers Assistance Program (PLAP) offers a 30-minute phone consultation with a volunteer attorney — free for eligible lower-income parties (a $40 fee otherwise), Wednesday mornings by appointment at (602) 732-2834.
Maricopa County at a glance
- Court: Maricopa County Superior Court — Probate & Mental Health Department
- Where to file: Clerk of the Superior Court, Central Court Building — 201 W. Jefferson St., Phoenix
- Court: Superior Court, Probate & Mental Health Dept.
- Fee to open a probate case: $306 (Clerk’s schedule, verified 2026-08-13)
- Small-estate personal property cap: $200,000 (A.R.S. §14-3971)
- Small-estate real property cap: $300,000 statutory measure
- Court Information Center: 602-506-3204
Probate in Maricopa County runs through the Superior Court’s Probate & Mental Health Department, which also handles guardianships, conservatorships, and mental-health matters. Informal probate — an original will, uncontested, undisputed heirs — is processed without a hearing; formal probate brings a judge or commissioner in to resolve disputes. Self-represented personal representatives have real local support here: the Probate Lawyers Assistance Program (PLAP) offers a 30-minute phone consultation with a volunteer attorney — free for eligible lower-income parties (a $40 fee otherwise), Wednesday mornings by appointment at (602) 732-2834.
Maricopa County resources
- Official probate court forms
The Law Library Resource Center packets — always the current version, free.
- Probate case docket lookup
Search an existing Maricopa probate case by name or case number.
- Probate Lawyers Assistance Program (PLAP)
Free 30-minute attorney consultation for eligible self-represented parties — (602) 732-2834, by appointment.
- Personal representative training module
The Arizona courts’ online training for people serving as personal representative.
- Estimate this probate’s cost and timeline
Our interactive estimator — court fees, attorney-fee ranges, and the phase-by-phase calendar.
Attorney review pending. This page is published as general legal information and has not yet been reviewed by a licensed Arizona attorney.
Important
- This is general legal information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship.
- Estate-planning rules and dollar thresholds change; confirm current Arizona law for your situation.
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