What is the cost to probate an estate?
The cost of an Arizona probate is the sum of: (i) legal fees (if you use a probate attorney), (2) costs such as the County Superior Court filing fee and the cost to publish the Notice to Creditors in a newspaper, (3) the cost to obtain a bond if a bond is required, and (iv) the compensation payable to the personal representative unless it is waived by the personal representative. If a bond is not required and the personal representative acts without compensation without hiring a probate attorney, the total cost can be minimal. If a lawyer is involved, legal fees can vary greatly depending on the lawyer. Some lawyers may do probates for a fixed fee, but most charge on an hourly basis because it is not possible to predict how much time will be required to complete the probate. Because Arizona does not authorize lawyers to charge legal fees as a percentage of the value of the estate, a simple uncontested informal Arizona probate can cost $3,000 or more regardless of the value of the estat
