Updated September 7, 2026. Quick answer: Arizona’s superior court probate filing fee is built on the Class C base fee in A.R.S. § 12-284, plus local fees that vary by county. Mohave County charges $371.00 for either a formal or an informal probate petition.
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A living trust avoids probate entirely in Arizona, which means the estate skips the $371.00 above along with every other cost the court charges once a case is open. LawDepot builds a state-specific one.
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What Arizona charges to open probate
Arizona’s base fee for opening probate is set by A.R.S. § 12-284 (Class C), but counties add local fees, so the exact amount depends on where the estate is opened.
| Petition for formal appointment (Mohave County) | $371.00 |
| Application for informal probate (Mohave County) | $371.00 |
| Same fee, either probate track | $371.00 (formal and informal cost the same) |
Base fee set by statute with county-level additions; Maricopa, Pima, Coconino and Graham county fee pages were unreachable this session (403), so Mohave County stands in as the verified example, not the most populous county.
Where this money goes and who sets it
The authority for this figure is A.R.S. § 12-284 (Class C); Mohave County Superior Court fee schedule. In the source’s own words: “Petition for Formal Appointment A.R.S. 12-284C … $371.00”
What this fee doesn’t cover
Because Arizona counties add local fees to the statutory base, the same estate could cost more or less to open depending on which county courthouse handles it. Either way, this is the court’s own charge just to open the file and issue letters, separate from what an attorney charges to actually handle the estate and separate from any state estate or inheritance tax the estate itself might owe.
Sources
Source: A.R.S. § 12-284 (Class C); Mohave County Superior Court fee schedule.