Executor Duties in Arizona

Within 90 days after appointment, the personal representative prepares an inventory listing each item with its fair market value at death, whether it is community or separate property, and any encumbrance; the inventory may be filed with the court (with copies to interested persons who ask) or sent to each heir or beneficiary. The representative publishes notice to creditors once a week for three weeks and mails notice to known creditors; claims are due within four months after first publication (or 60 days after mailed notice, if later). After paying claims, expenses and taxes and distributing the estate, the representative may close an unsupervised estate by filing a verified closing statement no earlier than four months after appointment, and must send a copy to all distributees and unpaid claimants.

A personal representative must be appointed by court order or statement of the probate registrar in the county superior court, qualify, and be issued letters; administration begins when letters issue. Informal probate or appointment can be requested by the surviving spouse, an adult child, parent or sibling, an heir, the person nominated in the will, the Department of Veterans' Services for a veteran, and, 45 days after death, a creditor (the public fiduciary may apply if no one else is qualified and willing). The application is verified, and to probate a will the original will must be in the court's possession or accompany the application; formal (court-hearing) proceedings are used when there is a dispute. A bond is required unless waived by the will or by all heirs or beneficiaries, or another statutory exception applies (such as a qualified bank or trust company, the public fiduciary, or a surviving spouse seeking appointment in a small estate eligible for summary procedures). Most proceedings must start within two years after death.

Creditors must present claims within four months after the first published notice. A known creditor who is mailed notice has until the later of four months after publication or 60 days after the mailing. In any case, claims that arose before death are barred two years after death plus any time remaining in a notice period.