Hiring a Wills, Trusts or Probate Lawyer in Arizona
What Arizona requires for a valid will, when probate applies, how estate lawyers charge, how to check a lawyer's license, and free help. We do not recommend or rank lawyers.
What a lawyer costs in Arizona: fee rules
| Rules on contingency fees | Under Arizona's ER 1.5 (Arizona Supreme Court Rule 42), the scope of representation and the basis or rate of the fee must be communicated to the client in writing, and contingency fee agreements must be signed by the client and meet ER 1.5(c). Contingency fees are not permitted in most family law matters or in any criminal defense case. If a fee is called nonrefundable or earned on receipt, the client must be told in writing that they may discharge the lawyer at any time and may be entitled to a refund. The bar's guidance also notes a contingency agreement cannot let the lawyer also take court-awarded fees or collect more than a statute allows. |
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| If you disagree with a lawyer's bill | The State Bar of Arizona's Fee Arbitration Program is free and voluntary for clients who dispute a lawyer's fee; the amount in dispute must be $1,000 or more and no litigation over the fee can be pending. Clients do not need a lawyer to take part. If both sides agree to arbitrate, the award is binding. Phone: 602-340-7379. |
| If a lawyer takes your money | Arizona's Client Protection Fund, created by the Arizona Supreme Court in 1961, can reimburse losses caused by an Arizona lawyer's dishonest conduct (theft, embezzlement, conversion, failure to refund unearned fees when no work was done, or intentional dishonesty) toward a client or in a qualifying fiduciary role. The lawyer generally must have been suspended for more than six months, disbarred, placed on interim suspension or disability inactive status, have died, or been convicted of a related felony. Negligence, malpractice and fee disputes where some work was done are not covered. The Trustees may pay up to $100,000 on one claim and up to $250,000 total in claims against one lawyer; payment is discretionary. Claims must be filed within five years of when the claimant knew or should have known of the dishonest conduct. |
Arizona rules to know first
| Requirements for a valid will | Anyone 18 or older who is of sound mind may make a will. A paper will must be in writing, signed by the will-maker (or by another person in the will-maker's name, in their conscious presence and at their direction), and signed by at least two witnesses, each signing within a reasonable time after seeing the signing or the will-maker's acknowledgment of the signature or the will. Re-verified 2026-10-27. Source: A.R.S. §§ 14-2501, 14-2502 |
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| Small estate affidavit | Personal property: 30 days after death, a successor can collect personal property (bank accounts, money owed, stock, vehicles) by affidavit if no personal representative has been requested or appointed and all personal property, less liens, is worth no more than $200,000; funeral and last-illness expenses must be paid. A surviving spouse can also collect up to $5,000 of unpaid wages by affidavit at any time. Real property: six months after death, successors can file an affidavit of succession to real property in the superior court if the Arizona real estate, less liens, is worth no more than $300,000 (based on the assessed full cash value); a certified copy is then recorded with the county recorder. Superior courts provide the affidavit forms (for example, Maricopa County forms PBSE11f for personal property and PBSE12f for real property). Re-verified 2026-10-27. Source: A.R.S. § 14-3971 |
| How probate works | Probate is handled by the superior court in each county. Most proceedings must start within two years after death. The main steps are: application for informal probate or petition for formal probate and appointment of a personal representative; letters issued; publishing notice to creditors once a week for three weeks and mailing notice to known creditors; preparing an inventory within 90 days after appointment (filed with the court, or sent to heirs or beneficiaries); paying claims and distributing the estate; and closing. Re-verified 2026-10-27. |
Find and check a lawyer
| Lawyer referral service | The State Bar of Arizona offers an online Find an Attorney member directory but does not describe a statewide lawyer referral service. The Arizona courts' Self-Service Center lists the county bar referral services instead: the Maricopa County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service, (602) 257-4434, which charges a small consultation fee, and the Pima County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service, (520) 623-4625, which offers a 30-minute consultation for a fee. State Bar public page: https://www.azbar.org/for-the-public/ |
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| Check that the lawyer is licensed | The State Bar of Arizona's Member Directory lets you search lawyers by name or by legal need, with filters such as certified specialization, city, county, language and firm. Results show membership status, a State Bar admission-related date, practice area, professional liability insurance status, board-certified specializations and section memberships. Legal paraprofessionals and alternative business structures can also be looked up. |
| Check discipline history or file a complaint | Complaints ("bar charges") about Arizona lawyers, legal paraprofessionals and alternative business structures go to the State Bar of Arizona's Intake Department. The bar encourages calling the Intake Hotline (602-340-7280 or 800-319-0514 ext. 7280) before submitting a written charge, which can be filed with the online charge form. An Intake Bar Counsel reviews it, usually contacts the lawyer, and the matter may be dismissed, referred to diversion, or sent for screening investigation. The bar's "Check Legal Professional Discipline" link goes to its Member Directory. |
Free legal help
| Free legal aid | Arizona has three LSC-funded legal aid organizations that give free civil legal help to eligible low-income people: Community Legal Services, (800) 852-9075 (Maricopa, Mohave, La Paz, Yavapai and Yuma counties and some nearby towns); DNA-People's Legal Services, (800) 789-5781 (Coconino County and the Navajo and Hopi Nations); and Southern Arizona Legal Aid, (800) 248-6789 (Pima and other southern and central counties and 11 Native American communities). Step Up to Justice offers free civil legal help to low-income residents of Pima County. LSC grantee list: https://www.lsc.gov/about-lsc/our-grantees |
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All legal help in Arizona · Do I need a lawyer?
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.