Browse by Topic
Curated links to official Arizona probate, trust, inheritance, and senior transition resources. Each entry tells you exactly when to use it.
Curated Reference Library
38 carefully selected resources from courts, government agencies, law firms, and trusted references. Use the sidebar to filter by topic.
Probate — Core Overviews
Start here if you've just learned the estate must go through probate and you're not sure what that means or what to expect.
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Official Statewide
Arizona Judicial Branch — Probate Self-Help Center
Use this when you want to understand what probate is, what the court does, and where probate fits alongside guardianship and conservatorship — straight from the Arizona courts.
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Official Statewide
Arizona Revised Statutes — Title 14 (Probate, Trusts & Estates)
Use this when you need to read the actual Arizona law governing probate, trusts, estates, and protective proceedings — the legal text that governs every case.
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Educational Statewide
Nolo — Arizona Probate: An Overview
Use this when you want a plain-English explanation of Arizona probate types, what assets must go through probate, and how to avoid probate altogether.
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Law Firm Statewide
What Happens During Probate in Arizona? — Process Breakdown
Use this when you want a step-by-step walkthrough of the full probate process — from filing the petition through final distributions to heirs — without reading the statute.
Probate Forms & Filing
Use these when you've identified that probate is required and you need to find the right forms or understand how to file.
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Official Statewide
Arizona Probate Forms — Statewide Packets
Use this when you need to access official statewide probate forms and instructions accepted by most Arizona courts — the starting point for any formal probate filing.
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Nonprofit Statewide
AZCourtHelp — Find Arizona Court Forms
Use this when you want a guided tool to locate the correct forms for probate, guardianship, or conservatorship in your specific county — especially if you're not sure which packet applies.
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Nonprofit Statewide
AZCourtHelp — Guardianship & Conservatorship Forms
Use this if your situation involves a family member who can no longer manage their own affairs — these forms address guardianship and conservatorship alongside estate administration.
Maricopa County — Probate Resources
If the deceased lived in the Phoenix metro area, these county-specific resources apply to your case filing.
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Official Maricopa
Maricopa County Superior Court — Probate & Mental Health Department
Use this to understand how Maricopa County courts handle probate, guardianship, and conservatorship — including court calendars, filing locations, and contact information.
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Official Maricopa
Maricopa County Law Library — Probate Court Forms
Use this when you need Maricopa-specific probate form packets designed for personal representatives — more tailored than the statewide packets.
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Official Maricopa
Maricopa County — Probate for Decedent's Estate Resource Guide
Use this as a research hub with links to statutes, forms, and help resources specifically organized for Maricopa County decedent's estate cases.
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Official Maricopa
Maricopa County Clerk — Probate Filing
Use this when you're ready to file and need practical information on where to file, filing fees, and what the clerk's office requires to open a probate case.
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Official Maricopa
Maricopa County — Probate Court Case Docket Search
Use this when you need to look up a probate case number, check its current status, or verify that a filing has been received by the court.
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Official Maricopa
Maricopa Small Estate Affidavit — Online Instructions
Use this if the estate may qualify as a "small estate" — this process avoids full probate and is significantly faster and less expensive when the estate value is below Arizona's threshold.
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Official Maricopa
Maricopa Small Estate Affidavit Packet (PDF)
Use this to download the complete PDF form packet for the small estate affidavit process in Maricopa County — print and complete to avoid formal probate.
Pima & Southern Arizona — Probate Resources
If the estate is in Tucson or Southern Arizona, these Pima County resources apply to your case.
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Official Pima
Pima County Superior Court — Probate Court Forms
Use this when the estate is in the Tucson / Pima County area — these are the county-specific probate forms you'll need to file locally.
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Official Pima
Pima County Law Library Resource Center
Use this when you need legal research help or self-help resources for Pima County probate matters — staff can help you find the right forms without providing legal advice.
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Official Cochise
Cochise County — Probate Forms
Use this if the estate is in Cochise County (Sierra Vista, Bisbee, Douglas area) — or as a reference for the type of county-level forms any Arizona county may require.
Trust Law — Core References
Start here if the estate passes through a trust rather than probate, or if you're trying to understand a trustee's responsibilities.
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Official Statewide
Arizona Revised Statutes — Title 14 (Trust Provisions)
Use this when you need to read Arizona's actual trust law — the statutes governing trustees, beneficiary rights, trust modification, and trustee removal.
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Law Firm Statewide
Exploring Trust Laws in Arizona — Davis Miles PLLC
Use this when you want a high-level explanation of how revocable living trusts work in Arizona and what a trustee's core responsibilities are toward beneficiaries.
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Law Firm Statewide
Arizona Revocable Living Trust Basics — Hagestad Law
Use this when you want an FAQ-style explanation of how revocable living trusts work in Arizona — especially useful if you're the successor trustee and aren't sure where to start.
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Law Firm Statewide
How Does a Trust Work in Arizona? — Rilus Law
Use this when you want a plain-language explanation of the trustor/trustee/beneficiary relationship and how property moves from a trust to heirs under Arizona law.
Taxes: Estate, Inheritance & Capital Gains
Use these resources before making any decisions about keeping or selling inherited property — the tax implications are often misunderstood.
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Law Firm Statewide
Estate & Inheritance Tax in Arizona — APSI Taxes
Use this when you want to confirm that Arizona has no state estate or inheritance tax — and to understand what federal estate tax thresholds may apply to larger estates.
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Law Firm Statewide
Do You Pay Income Tax When You Sell Inherited Property? — LifePlan Legal AZ
Use this when you want to understand step-up in basis and how capital gains tax works when you sell an inherited home — one of the most commonly misunderstood tax topics for heirs.
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Educational National
Inherited a House? Here's What to Do With It — Kiplinger
Use this when you want a neutral, financially-focused overview of the pros and cons of keeping, renting, or selling an inherited home — written for general audiences, not lawyers.
Selling Inherited Property — Options & Process
Use these if you've decided to sell and want to understand the process, costs, and timeline specific to Arizona.
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Educational Statewide
Selling Inherited Property in Arizona — Houzeo
Use this when you want a practical walkthrough of costs, timelines, and available options for selling an inherited Arizona home — including what happens when multiple heirs are involved.
State of Arizona — Official Resources
Start here if you're helping a parent or loved one transition to assisted living and need to understand what Arizona provides, requires, and regulates.
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Official Statewide
Arizona Department of Health Services — Public Health Licensing
Use this when you want to verify that an assisted living facility is properly licensed, check their inspection history, or file a complaint about care quality.
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Official National
Residential Care / Assisted Living Compendium — Arizona (HHS/ASPE)
Use this when you want a federal government overview of Arizona's assisted living regulations, staffing requirements, and what the state mandates facilities must provide.
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Official Statewide
Arizona Department of Economic Security — Services for Older Adults
Use this when you need to find home and community-based services, legal assistance, or caregiver support programs available through the state of Arizona.
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Official Statewide
DES — Division of Aging & Adult Services
Use this as a navigation hub for healthy aging programs, Medicare assistance, in-home services, and caregiver support programs funded through Arizona's aging services network.
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Official Statewide
Adult Protective Services — Arizona DES
Use this if you have concerns about a vulnerable adult's safety — this is the official Arizona channel for reporting suspected abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of older adults.
Caregiver & Family Support
For the family members carrying the emotional and logistical weight — these resources provide respite, training, and practical support.
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Nonprofit Statewide
Arizona Caregiver Coalition — Main Site
Use this when you want to connect with respite services, caregiver education, and support groups specifically designed for Arizona family caregivers.
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Nonprofit Statewide
Arizona Caregiver Coalition — Programs & Resources
Use this when you're looking for specific caregiver materials — booklets, training programs, respite funding information, and local support group locations across Arizona.
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Nonprofit Statewide
AARP Arizona — Family Caregiver Resources
Use this when you need Arizona-specific resources on legal protections, financial assistance, respite care, and housing options for aging family members.
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Nonprofit National
AARP — Financial & Legal Caregiving Hub
Use this when you need information about powers of attorney, advance directives, long-term care planning, and managing finances on behalf of an aging parent or spouse.
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Official National
Eldercare Locator — Administration for Community Living
Use this when you need to find local aging services by ZIP code — it connects you directly to your Area Agency on Aging and local programs for transportation, meals, and in-home care.
Choosing an Assisted Living Facility
Use these when you're actively comparing facilities and need to know what questions to ask and what to look for before signing a contract.
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Nonprofit Statewide
LawForSeniors — Selecting an Assisted Living Facility
Use this when you're visiting facilities and want a structured list of questions to ask — covering staffing ratios, medication management, contract terms, and resident rights.
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Educational Statewide
What to Know About Assisted Living in Arizona — MD Senior Living
Use this when you want a detailed guide covering Arizona-specific licensing requirements, average costs, amenity ranges, and financial assistance options — before committing to a facility.
