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Resources & Guides
Educational resources to help you understand probate real estate in Arizona. Knowledge empowers better decisions.
Educational Guides
Helpful Checklists
Use these checklists to stay organized during the probate property process.
Probate Property Checklist
- Secure the property and change locks if needed
- Document the condition of the property with photos
- Identify any immediate maintenance needs
- Locate and review the property deed and title
- Check for existing mortgage, liens, or encumbrances
- Verify property insurance is active and adequate
- Obtain a professional property valuation or appraisal
- Review HOA obligations if applicable
- Determine if the property should be sold as-is or improved
- Consult with a probate real estate specialist
Documents Needed for Probate Property Sale
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration
- Death certificate (certified copy)
- Property deed
- Most recent property tax statement
- HOA documents and disclosures (if applicable)
- Property insurance documentation
- Any existing inspection reports
- Mortgage payoff statement (if applicable)
- Court order approving sale (if formal probate)
- Seller’s Property Disclosure Statement (SPDS)
Probate Real Estate Glossary
Personal Representative
The person appointed by the court to manage the estate. Also called an executor (if named in a will) or administrator (if no will exists).
Letters Testamentary
The court document that gives the personal representative legal authority to act on behalf of the estate.
Probate
The legal process of administering a deceased person’s estate, including validating the will, paying debts, and distributing assets.
Intestate
Dying without a valid will. Arizona’s intestacy laws determine how property is distributed.
CPRES
Certified Probate Real Estate Specialist — a professional designation for real estate agents with specialized probate training.
As-Is Sale
Selling a property in its current condition without making repairs. The buyer accepts the property with all known and unknown defects.
Fiduciary
A person with a legal duty to act in the best interest of another. Personal representatives have fiduciary duties to the estate.
Informal Probate
A simplified Arizona probate process that does not require court hearings, used for straightforward estates.