Pima County Probate Records

Pima County probate records are documents that contain the legal administration of a person’s estate after their death within the county. The purpose of probate is to ensure that all assets are distributed according to the deceased person's wishes. Under the county court’s supervision, probate procedure involves proving the authenticity of the will, distributing assets to the beneficiaries, and settling outstanding debts and taxes.

Depending on the case, information in a probate record may vary, but certain details such as the names and residences of beneficiaries and their relationship to the deceased are important. Some of these records include wills, bonds, guardianships, letters of administration, conservatorships, inventories, and accounts. Individuals may require probate records and related Pima county court records to conduct historical research, settle inheritance disputes, retrieve proof of will execution, and search for estates.

In Pima County, probate procedure resolves wills and assets that are not in a trust or included in a transfer-on-death deed. This is mostly required when someone dies with assets worth more than $75,000 in personal property or $100,000 in real property. However, small estates can file an affidavit for an easier probate procedure.

Are Probate Records Public?

Yes. Probate records are part of court records, which are open to members of the public across Arizona. This means that the public can access and make copies of these records through the right custodians in the county. However, under Arizona’s Rules of Probate Procedure, court order, or state law, some probate records are confidential. The following information or files in a probate record are either sealed or undisclosable unless with a judicial order or legal right of access (A.R.S Rules of Probate Procedure):

• The probate information form filed pursuant to Rule 6 of the Rules of Probate Procedure.
• Financial account details (except for the last four digits)
• Medical records and reports
• Budgets filed under Rule 45
• Inventories and appraisements filed under A.R.S. § 14-5418(A)
• Accountings filed under A.R.S. Title 14
• Social security numbers
• Credit reports.

What is Probate Court in Pima County?

In Pima County, the Arizona Superior Court hears all probate matters in the county. This includes estate probate, intestate matters, and various cases that involve filings in the areas of guardianship, conservatorship, elder fraud, and physical abuse.

Arizona Superior Court in Pima County
110 West Congress Street
Tucson, AZ 85701
Phone: (520) 724-4200

Probate Court Case Lookup

Pima County Probate Court Records are kept at the county’s Superior Court. Individuals can request probate records in Pima County through the Clerk of the Superior Court in person. Interested persons may visit the courthouse during business hours to obtain copies of these records. Fees may apply upon making a request for probate records.

For mail-in requests, the Office of the Court Administrator can be reached following the contact information below:

Office of the Court Administrator
110 West Congress Street
9th Floor
Tucson, AZ 85701
Phone: (520) 724-4217
Fax: (520) 724-8367

The Pima County Superior Court also provides services that allow individuals to search for probate court case records online. The Electronic Record Search Online page requires information such as name (first, last or business name) and case number to conduct a search.

How to Find Probate Records Online Free

Under the Arizona Supreme Court Rule 123, court information such as probate records are made available to the public. The Pima County Consolidated Justice Court (CJC) website provides an online portal to search for Pima County court files such as probate records for free. Individuals may conduct Case Search as a person or a business using name (last and first name), case number, or complaint number.

However, not all search for probate records in the county is typically free. If the search will require the individual to retrieve probate information from the archive or by filling a form to request records, fees may apply. For instance, individuals may also access probate records from the CJC using an online records request form. There is a fee schedule for all court record requests made using this method.

Note that records on Probate Cases prior to 1950 are also made available at the Arizona State Archives in person.

Polly Rosenbaum State Archives and History building
1901 W. Madison Street
Phoenix AZ 85009
Phone: (602) 926-3720

There is a room open to the general public for research from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

How Long Does Probate Take in Arizona?

Probates can last between 4-8 months. According to Arizona law, probate cases are kept open for at least 4 months to allow creditors make claims on assets. Depending on the type of probate, there are factors that can affect the length of time, including:

• The complexity of the case
• Number and location of beneficiaries
• Nature of the estates
• The type and location of assets
• Conflicts among beneficiaries.

Are Wills Public Record?

Yes. Wills are public records across Arizona, including Pima County. Once a will is filed with the Pima County Superior Court and the deceased's assets are distributed, the will becomes accessible to view or obtain.

How to Find Out If Someone Has a Will

Wills are confidential documents during the lifetime of a testator. It is for this reason that determining if a person has filed a will may not be possible until the testator permits it or dies. In Arizona, once a person dies, probate begins when an interested party, usually a relative or close friend visits or files a petition at the Pima County Superior Court. In such cases, the court with the lawyer in charge, can appoint an executor of the will to be the personal representative.

Pima County Family Court Case Search

The Family Court hears cases involving divorce, paternity & maternity actions, legal decision-making, parenting time, and child support. The Pima County Clerk of the Superior Court maintains family court records of the Superior Court. Individuals can search for family court records in-person by visiting the clerk’s office during business hours (8:00 am to 4:30 pm) between Monday and Friday.

The Superior Court’s online case search portal also provides records of family court cases in the county. The record requester will provide some information to complete the record retrieval using name or a case number.

One can also complete and mail a copy of the Request for Court Records form with a self-addressed envelope and payment to the Clerk of the Court using the email and fax information below:

Email: COCLegalRecordsWeb@sc.pima.gov
Phone: (520) 724-3240
Fax: (520) 724-2134

Alternatively, individuals can search for family court cases within the county using the online case search portal available at Pima County Consolidated Justice Court website.