Arizona: What Happens to Mortgage Payments and Utilities While an Estate Is in Probate
How mortgage payments and utilities are handled during probate in Arizona Scope: This article explains, in plain language, what typically happens to mortgage payments and utility accounts while a decedent's estate is in probate in Arizona. It uses a simple hypothetical to illustrate common issues and cites Arizona law resources where relevant. Disclaimer: This is […]
Read article →Arizona: Which Assets to List on a Small Estate Affidavit — What to Include, What to Leave Out
Detailed Answer: Which assets to list on an Arizona small estate affidavit Short answer: On an Arizona affidavit for collection of a small estate, list the specific personal-property assets you intend to collect with the affidavit — and only those assets. Do not list non‑probate assets (for example, items that pass automatically to a named […]
Read article →Arizona: When to Include Survivorship Assets in a Probate Inventory
Short answer Generally no. Assets that pass automatically by right of survivorship (for example, true joint-tenancy property or accounts that name a pay-on-death beneficiary) typically transfer outside probate and are not part of the probate estate that the personal representative must list on the formal probate inventory. However, you should still identify and document those […]
Read article →How to Open an Estate for a Sibling’s House in Arizona When There Is No Will
How to open an estate for a sibling’s house in Arizona when the decedent died without a will Short answer: If your sibling died intestate (without a will) in Arizona and owned a house in their name alone, you will usually need to open a probate case in the Superior Court in the county where […]
Read article →Arizona: How Next‑of‑Kin Can Locate a Missing Parent During Probate
Detailed Answer Short overview: When a relative named as next‑of‑kin or an heir cannot be located during an Arizona probate, the court requires reasonable efforts to find that person before permitting substitute service or publication. Reasonable efforts usually include searching public records, contacting known associates, checking government databases, and documenting each step in a written […]
Read article →How to Verify a Bank Account Meets Arizona's Small Estate Limit
How to confirm a bank account is small enough to use Arizona’s small estate process This FAQ explains, in plain language, how to check whether a decedent’s bank account (and other personal property) falls below the dollar threshold that allows use of Arizona’s small estate procedure. It focuses on practical steps you can take right […]
Read article →How to Use Arizona’s Small‑Estate Affidavit to Claim a Deceased Parent’s Bank Account
Claiming a Deceased Parent’s Bank Account in Arizona Using a Small‑Estate Affidavit This FAQ-style guide explains how Arizona’s procedure for collecting small personal property without formal probate works and what steps to take to claim a deceased parent’s bank account. It assumes you start with no legal knowledge. This is general information only and not […]
Read article →Arizona Guardianship FAQ: Does Appointment as Guardian of the Person Include Control of the Estate?
Short answer No. In Arizona, being appointed a guardian of the person does not automatically give you authority over the ward’s money or other property. Control of the ward’s estate (money, real estate, bank accounts, investments) generally requires a separate appointment as conservator by the probate court. The guardianship and conservatorship roles are distinct and […]
Read article →Arizona: Do I Need to File Federal Tax Returns for an Estate When No Distributions Were Made?
Short answer If the estate produced no gross income after the decedent’s death (generally less than $600 in a tax year and no nonresident alien beneficiaries), you usually do not need to file a federal fiduciary income tax return (Form 1041). However, you may still have to file other federal forms—most importantly Form 706 (United […]
Read article →Arizona: Transferring Brokerage Assets into an Estate Checking Account
Common Steps to Move Brokerage Assets into an Estate Checking Account This FAQ-style guide explains how a personal representative (also called an executor or administrator) typically collects brokerage assets and places their value into the estate checking account under Arizona law. It assumes no prior legal knowledge. This is educational information—not legal advice. Detailed Answer […]
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