Does This Estate Qualify for Arizona’s Small Estate Affidavit?

Many Arizona estates never need probate. If the estate fits under A.R.S. §14-3971’s caps and conditions, a sworn affidavit transfers the property directly — no case, no hearings, no personal representative. Answer the questions below for a per-category verdict with real dates.

Every threshold and condition below comes from A.R.S. §14-3971, verified against the statute text at azleg.gov as of 2026-08-17. The caps were raised substantially effective September 26, 2025. For a death before that date, the wizard flags an estate that fits only under the expanded limits for confirmation instead of assuming a transition rule.

When did the person pass away?

Sets the waiting periods: 30 days (personal property) · 6 months (real estate).

Has a probate case been opened for this estate?

What needs to be transferred?

Personal property (bank accounts, vehicles, belongings)Arizona real estate (a house or land)

The affidavit is sworn — under penalty of perjury

Whoever signs is attesting that every condition is actually met, including that they are entitled to the property. When value is close to a cap, heirs disagree, or title is unclear, the honest move is probate (or advice from a licensed attorney) — not an affidavit that papers over the problem.

Keep reading

The small estate affidavit, explained — the full prose guide
Probate cost & timeline estimator — if the estate doesn’t qualify
Do you need probate in Arizona?

Verified against the statute text at azleg.gov as of 2026-08-17.

Important

This wizard provides general information about how A.R.S. §14-3971 works, not legal advice, and this website is not a law firm. The affidavit is a sworn document — when anything about the estate is disputed or unclear, talk to a licensed Arizona attorney before signing.
Statutory thresholds are verified on the date shown and re-checked quarterly. The 2025 changes are recent — confirm the current figures before relying on them.