The Probate Process For Informal Probate Proceedings:
1. Arizona informal probate proceedings are initiated by the filing of a Petition to Administer Decedent's Estate. The Petition must be filed with the Superior Court in the county where the decedent resided at the time of death. The petition must include the names and addresses of the decedent's heirs and beneficiaries, as well as a list of the decedent's assets and liabilities. Once the petition is filed, the court will appoint an executor or administrator to oversee the probate process.
2. Notify all interested parties of the probate proceedings. This includes sending notice to the decedent's creditors, as well as any beneficiaries who are not named in the petition. The notice must include information about the time and place of the probate hearings, as well as a list of the assets that are being distributed.
3. Once all interested parties have been notified, the executor will begin gathering and valuing the decedent's assets. This includes opening a bank account in the name of the estate, as well as paying any outstanding debts. Once all of the assets have been gathered, they will be divided among the beneficiaries according to Arizona law.
Final Step: If there are no disagreements among the beneficiaries, then the informal probate process can be completed relatively quickly. However, if there are disagreements, then it may be necessary to have
Formal Probate proceedings are similar to informal Probate proceedings, but they involve a hearing before a judge. The PR must still file paperwork with the court to open the estate and prepare an inventory of assets and debts.