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Small Estate Affidavit Limits in Arizona

In Arizona, personal property worth up to $200,000 can be collected by affidavit 30 days after the death, and real property worth up to $300,000 can pass by a separate court-filed affidavit six months after the death.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Arizona at a glance

Maximum estate value
$200,000 (personal property)
Separate limit of $300,000 for real property in Arizona, using the assessed full cash value, less liens.
Waiting period after death
30 days
The real property affidavit cannot be filed until six months after the death.
Real estate can pass
Yes, by separate affidavit
Filed with the court in the county of domicile after six months, if real property is worth $300,000 or less and debts are paid.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Arizona

What is the maximum estate value for a small estate affidavit in Arizona?

Maximum estate value in Arizona: $200,000 (personal property). Separate limit of $300,000 for real property in Arizona, using the assessed full cash value, less liens.

How long after the death must you wait to use a small estate affidavit in Arizona?

Waiting period after death in Arizona: 30 days. The real property affidavit cannot be filed until six months after the death.

Can real estate pass by small estate affidavit in Arizona?

Yes, by separate affidavit. Real estate can pass in Arizona: yes, by separate affidavit. Filed with the court in the county of domicile after six months, if real property is worth $300,000 or less and debts are paid.

Where do the Arizona small estate affidavit limits come from?

The rules above come from Ariz. Rev. Stat. 14-3971. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

What this means in practice

Check how the estate value is counted before relying on the shortcut. States differ on whether the limit covers all property or only probate property, and whether assets such as jointly owned accounts, life insurance with a named beneficiary or property in a living trust are left out of the total.

Gather the documents a holder is likely to ask for: a certified copy of the death certificate, the signed and often notarized affidavit, and proof of your identity and relationship to the person who died. Some holders use their own affidavit form, so ask before you prepare one.

A person who collects property with a small estate affidavit usually takes on duties to others with a claim to it, such as creditors and other heirs. Paying valid debts and distributing the rest correctly matters, because a successor who takes more than their share can be held liable for it later.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.