Q: Is there more than one way to probate a Decedent’s estate in Arizona? A: Yes. In Arizona, there are three ways to probate an estate: informal; formal; and supervised. To initial an informal probate proceeding, an application is filed with the registrar, who can give the applicant the authority to distribute the assets without court supervision. This is probably the most common and widely-used method of probate in Arizona when the case is simple and there is no will contest. A formal probate proceeding is initiated by filing a petition with the court and is needed for estate cases that are complex. For example, if the validity of a will is challenged, if there is a need to determine the decedent’s heirs, if there are disputes between beneficiaries/heirs, if someone suspects the personal representative (or someone else) of taking or hiding assets, or where there are other problems which require court supervision, a formal proceeding would be appropriate. A supervised probate proceeding is similar to an informal probate, except the personal representative administers and settles the decedent’s estate under the continuing authority of the Court. The personal representative must obtain court approval to sell real property and make distributions. There are other distinctions as well, which are set for in Title 14 of the Arizona Revised Statutes. If you need help analyzing your case, call The Golden Rule Law Group - Decker &Woods, P.C. for help!
Posted on: Wed, 08 Oct 2014 21:35:43 +0000
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