Quick answer: the deadline that matters most for an Arizona personal representative is the four-month creditor claim window under A.R.S. § 14-3801, which also sets the floor before the estate's closing statement can be filed. See the full Arizona probate timeline calculator for your specific estimate.
The core deadlines, in order
| Deadline | Arizona rule | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Publish creditor notice | At time of appointment, 3 successive weeks | § 14-3801(A) |
| Notify heirs and devisees | Within 30 days of appointment | § 14-3306 |
| Unknown creditors' claim window | 4 months from first publication | § 14-3801(A) |
| Known creditors' claim window | Later of 4 months from publication or 60 days from mailing | § 14-3801(B) |
| File inventory | Within 90 days of appointment | § 14-3706 |
| Closing statement | No sooner than 4 months after appointment | § 14-3933 |
| Real property small estate affidavit | Available 6 months after death | § 14-3971 |
Why the four-month window anchors everything
Two separate Arizona statutes both key off the same four-month mark: § 14-3801 sets it as the creditor claim window, and § 14-3933 independently bars the closing statement from being filed any sooner. Even a personal representative who files everything else immediately — heir notice in week one, inventory in week two — still can't close the estate before that four-month floor runs, because closing early would defeat the very protection from creditor claims the waiting period exists to provide.
Two different creditor deadlines running at once
Arizona distinguishes between creditors the personal representative already knows about and those who might still come forward. Known creditors get direct mailed notice and a guaranteed minimum of 60 days to respond, even if that pushes past the general four-month publication deadline. Unknown creditors rely entirely on the published notice and get exactly four months from its first appearance — miss it, and the claim is generally barred.
A local probate attorney can review your estate — many offer a free consultation.