Arizona Small Estate Affidavit Checker, 2026

A 2025 reform that changed the math substantially

Worth knowing if anything you've read is older: House Bill 2116 amended A.R.S. 14-3971, raising the personal property limit from $75,000 to $200,000 and the real property limit from $100,000 to $300,000, effective for affidavits filed on or after September 26, 2025. The change applies by filing date, not date of death — an estate from 2022 or 2023 that was too large for the old limits may qualify now.

Two separate caps, checked independently

Arizona doesn't add personal property and real estate together. Personal property (net of liens) has to be at or under $200,000; real property equity (net of any mortgage) has to be at or under $300,000 — separately. An estate with a $280,000 house and a $15,000 bank account can use both affidavits, even though the combined total exceeds either cap alone.

Different waits for different assets

Personal property can be collected by affidavit 30 days after death. Real property needs a longer wait — 6 months — using a separate document, the Affidavit of Succession to Real Property, typically recorded with the County Recorder rather than filed with the court.

Vehicles ride along with the personal property route

Under A.R.S. 14-3971(D), the Motor Vehicle Division transfers a vehicle's title upon presentation of a qualifying personal property affidavit — no separate vehicle-specific form required at the statute level, though MVD has its own paperwork for the transaction itself.

Arizona's courts and recorders operate county by county

The affidavit is presented to asset holders directly, or recorded with the County Recorder for real property, in the county where the decedent lived or the property sits — Maricopa, Pima, Pinal, Yavapai, Yuma, Coconino, Mohave, or any of Arizona's 15 counties. The thresholds themselves are set identically statewide.

Arizona small estate — frequently asked questions

What are Arizona's current small estate affidavit limits?

$200,000 in personal property and $300,000 in real property equity, both net of liens, effective for affidavits filed on or after September 26, 2025 under House Bill 2116 — up from the previous $75,000 and $100,000.

Do personal property and real property use the same waiting period?

No. The personal property affidavit can be used 30 days after death; the real property affidavit (Affidavit of Succession to Real Property) requires at least 6 months after death.

Do the new Arizona limits apply based on the date of death or the filing date?

The filing date. Even if the death occurred before September 26, 2025, an affidavit filed on or after that date can use the new, higher $200,000/$300,000 thresholds.

Can Arizona's personal property affidavit transfer a vehicle?

Yes — under A.R.S. 14-3971(D), the Motor Vehicle Division must transfer title upon presentation of a qualifying affidavit and payment of the applicable fees, generally using the same 30-day personal property route.

What if the estate is just over one of Arizona's two caps?

Each cap is checked independently — an estate can qualify for the personal property affidavit even if real property alone would exceed $300,000, and vice versa, as long as each category separately meets its own limit.

This calculator provides an estimate for general guidance only and is not legal advice. Figures are based on Arizona statute (A.R.S. 14-3971, as amended by 2025 House Bill 2116). Actual eligibility depends on the estate's full facts. Confirm with the Superior Court, County Recorder, or a licensed Arizona attorney before acting.