Short answer. Up to $200,000; 30 days after the death; notarized; handed to the holder.
At a glance
- Limit
- Personal property up to $200,000, less liens and encumbrances, valued at the date of death. Real property has its own affidavit (up to $300,000, six months after death, filed with the court). The limits were $75,000 and $100,000 before Laws 2025, chapter 24, approved March 31, 2025.
- Wait after death
- Thirty days after the death for personal property; six months for the real property affidavit.
- Notary
- County court forms for this affidavit carry a notary block ("subscribed and sworn to before me").
- Where it goes
- The personal property affidavit isn't filed in court; it is presented to whoever holds the property. The real property affidavit is filed with the court and a certified copy is recorded.
- Official form
- Affidavit of Collection of Personal Property (Pima County form PR-130). County superior courts publish their own versions. Some older county forms still print the pre-2025 limit, so check the date on the form. Open it
- Simplified procedure
- Affidavit of succession to real property. For real property worth up to $300,000 (full cash value on the assessment roll, less lien balances), not sooner than six months after the death; filed with the court in the county of domicile, then recorded where the land is.
- Surviving spouse
- An employer may pay wages and other compensation owed to the person who died, up to $5,000, to the surviving spouse on the spouse's affidavit.
In the official wording
Limit
"does not exceed $200,000 as valued as of the date of death"
Wait
"Thirty days after the death of a decedent"
Notary
"SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN TO before me"
Where it goes
"This document is not filed in Superior Court, but is presented to the person holding the property."
Spouse
"shall pay to the surviving spouse of the decedent the amount owing, not in excess of $5,000"
Three example estates
For a death on November 7, 2025, the stated limit gives:
- $50,000: under the stated limit. See why
- $180,000: under the stated limit. See why
- $300,000: over the stated limit. See why
Your own numbers: open the checker for this state.
Worth knowing
Vehicles aren't excluded from the value: the Motor Vehicle Division transfers title to the successor when presented with the personal property affidavit and the fees are paid. The Laws 2025 chapter doesn't print an effective date; ask the court which limit applies to a given date of death.
Where an affidavit has to be notarized or sworn: MCC Solutions notarizes in New Jersey, with a mobile notary who comes to you and remote online notarization. Elsewhere, a local notary can help.
Official sources
- A.R.S. 14-3971, Collection of personal property by affidavit; vehicles; affidavit of succession to real property (Arizona Legislature) (checked November 2026)
- Laws 2025, chapter 24 (HB 2116), small estate affidavit limits (Arizona Legislature) (checked November 2026)
- Pima County Superior Court: Affidavit for collection of personal property, A.R.S. 14-3971(B) (checked November 2026)
- Mohave County Superior Court form: Affidavit for Collection of All Personal Property (rev. 11/2019) (checked November 2026)
General information, not legal advice; we are not lawyers. Each holder may still ask for its own form, and a lawyer can confirm whether the estate qualifies.
Common questions
What is the small estate limit in Arizona?
Up to $200,000. Personal property up to $200,000, less liens and encumbrances, valued at the date of death. Real property has its own affidavit (up to $300,000, six months after death, filed with the court). The limits were $75,000 and $100,000 before Laws 2025, chapter 24, approved March 31, 2025.
How long after a death can the Arizona affidavit be used?
30 days. Thirty days after the death for personal property; six months for the real property affidavit.
Does a Arizona small estate affidavit need a notary?
Yes. County court forms for this affidavit carry a notary block ("subscribed and sworn to before me").
Is it filed with a court in Arizona?
No. The personal property affidavit isn't filed in court; it is presented to whoever holds the property. The real property affidavit is filed with the court and a certified copy is recorded.
Can real estate pass this way in Arizona?
Through its own procedure. Affidavit of succession to real property: For real property worth up to $300,000 (full cash value on the assessment roll, less lien balances), not sooner than six months after the death; filed with the court in the county of domicile, then recorded where the land is.
Is there anything for a surviving spouse in Arizona?
An employer may pay wages and other compensation owed to the person who died, up to $5,000, to the surviving spouse on the spouse's affidavit.
All states: small estate affidavit by state · Alaska · California · Small estate affidavit: signing and notary checks