A.R.S. § 12-284(A) · checked 2026-10-20
Probate court fees in Arizona
Arizona charges a flat $149 to open an estate, whatever its size (petition in formal testacy or appointment proceeding $149 + application for informal probate or informal appointment $149).
- 1$100,000 estate $149
- 2Fee basis Flat fee
- 3Small-estate fee Not listed
- 4Schedule A.R.S. § 12-284
Fee to open an estate, by value
| Estate value | Fee | How it is worked out |
|---|---|---|
| $25,000 | $149 | Petition in formal testacy or appointment proceeding $149 + Application for informal probate or informal appointment $149 |
| $50,000 | $149 | Petition in formal testacy or appointment proceeding $149 + Application for informal probate or informal appointment $149 |
| $100,000 | $149 | Petition in formal testacy or appointment proceeding $149 + Application for informal probate or informal appointment $149 |
| $250,000 | $149 | Petition in formal testacy or appointment proceeding $149 + Application for informal probate or informal appointment $149 |
| $500,000 | $149 | Petition in formal testacy or appointment proceeding $149 + Application for informal probate or informal appointment $149 |
| $1,000,000 | $149 | Petition in formal testacy or appointment proceeding $149 + Application for informal probate or informal appointment $149 |
The fee is the same at every value, so a small estate pays as much as a large one to open full administration. At $100,000, 2 of the 12 fee schedules on this site charge less and 9 charge more.
Other charges in the schedule
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Petition in formal testacy or appointment proceeding | $149 |
| Application for informal probate or informal appointment | $149 |
Source: Arizona Revised Statutes § 12-284 (superior court fees), last checked 2026-10-20. Courts can add copy, certification and publication costs that are not in this schedule.
The small-estate route and its cost
Arizona's simplified procedure is the affidavit for collection of personal property (A.R.S. § 14-3971), for estates within $200,000. It is not filed with the court, so there is no court filing fee for the affidavit itself. Check the Arizona limit or see how long probate takes there.
What the court fee does not cover
The schedule above is only the court's own charge. Publishing notice to creditors in a newspaper, certified copies of letters, a fiduciary bond where the court requires one, appraisals and recording fees for real estate are billed separately by whoever provides them. Those notices also start Arizona's creditor claim period of 4 months (A.R.S. § 14-3801(A)), which usually decides how soon the estate can close. Most courts can waive or defer fees for a petitioner who cannot pay; the clerk's office has the request form.
Related: probate court fees compared · what probate is · all fee schedules.
Court fees only, read from the official schedule on 2026-10-20. Not legal advice; Probate Clock does not refer anyone to lawyers. Fee waivers are usually available to people who cannot pay — ask the court clerk.