Executor Duties in Arizona: A Complete Guide

Arizona calls the executor the "personal representative." With informal probate — the default in Arizona — you can be appointed in days and administer the estate with minimal court involvement. This guide walks you through every duty.

How to Get Appointed Personal Representative in Arizona

1. File the application: File an Application for Informal Probate of Will and for Informal Appointment of Personal Representative in the Superior Court of the county where the deceased was domiciled.
2. Probate Registrar review: The Probate Registrar (an administrative official, not a judge) reviews the application — usually within a few business days.
3. Receive Letters: If approved, the Registrar issues Letters of Personal Representative — your official authority over the estate. No court hearing is required.
4. Notify heirs: Within 30 days of appointment, send written notice of the appointment to all heirs and devisees.

Informal vs. Formal Probate

Most Arizona estates use informal probate, which proceeds without court hearings or judicial supervision once Letters are issued. Use formal probate when the will is contested, when there are multiple wills, when the heirs are unknown, or when other complications require a judge. Either way, you can ask for supervised administration (mandatory court approval for major actions) if heirs request it.

Arizona Personal Representative Compensation

Arizona does not set a statutory commission. Personal representatives are entitled to "reasonable compensation," evaluated based on:

• Estate size (typically 1–4% of value)
• Complexity of administration (real estate, business, disputes)
• Time and skill required
• Quality of work

Many family personal representatives waive compensation. If you take it, the fee is taxable income.

Does Arizona Require a Bond?

If the will waives bond — and most modern Arizona wills do — no bond is required. Without a waiver, the court may set bond, particularly when minor beneficiaries are involved or the personal representative is a non-resident. Bond premiums typically run $5–$10 per $1,000 of coverage per year.

Core Duties as Personal Representative in Arizona

1. File the Application for Informal Probate and obtain Letters of Personal Representative
2. Notify heirs and devisees within 30 days of appointment
3. Open an estate bank account using the estate's EIN
4. Inventory all estate assets and obtain valuations (file with the court only if requested by an heir)
5. Publish the Notice to Creditors in a county newspaper
6. Send direct notice to known creditors
7. Wait the 4-month creditor period before final distribution
8. Pay valid creditor claims, final income taxes, and any estate taxes
9. Manage estate assets prudently throughout administration
10. Distribute remaining assets per the will (or intestacy law)
11. File a Closing Statement (or, in supervised administration, a final accounting)

Out-of-State Personal Representatives

Arizona allows non-residents to serve as personal representative. The court typically requires designation of an Arizona resident as agent for service of process — a minor formality often handled by the estate's attorney or a corporate fiduciary. This is not a significant barrier for non-resident family members.

How to Close the Estate in Arizona

In informal administration, you close the estate by filing a Verified Statement of Closing with the court. The statement attests that all debts and taxes have been paid and all assets have been distributed. If no interested party objects within a year (or a longer period set by the court), the personal representative is automatically discharged. Beneficiaries can request a more formal accounting if they wish.