Probate for Tucson and the rest of Pima County runs through one courthouse downtown. If you are handling a loved one's estate - or trying to understand what your own family would face - here is the practical picture, from the court's and clerk's own pages.
The fee just to open the file
$366
Pima County's charge for an informal probate application, per the Clerk's schedule effective June 2026. The professionals bill from there.
Where everything happens
- Courthouse: Arizona Superior Court in Pima County, 110 W Congress St, Tucson, AZ 85701.
- Filing: Clerk's probate department, first floor (Room 152). Papers are accepted in person, by mail, or through the depository boxes at the courthouse.
- Clerk of Court: (520) 724-3200. Deputy clerks help with procedure but cannot give legal advice.
What it costs to open
The application for informal probate or informal appointment is $366, per the Clerk's fee schedule effective June 1, 2026. That is only the door charge: certified copies, publication of notice in a local newspaper, recording fees, and professional fees all bill from there, and the professional fees scale with the estate. For the full arithmetic, use the probate cost calculator.
How long it runs
Arizona law gives creditors 4 months from first notice before any estate can close, so even a smooth informal probate spans most of a year once inventory, notice, and distribution are done. Contested matters run well past that. Pima County also requires non-licensed personal representatives to complete the state's fiduciary training before serving - plan for it at the start, not the end.
Before you file: does this estate need probate at all?
Two off-ramps are worth checking first. Small estates can pass by affidavit instead of probate. And assets with their own routes - trusts, beneficiary designations, beneficiary deeds, survivorship title - never enter the process. Many families discover that most of the estate can move without the court, leaving a much smaller matter to file, or none at all.
Sources
- Arizona Superior Court in Pima County - Probate Court (checked 2026-08-09)
- Pima County Clerk of Superior Court - Filing Fees (effective June 1, 2026) (checked 2026-08-09)
Educational information only, not legal advice. Fees and procedures change - verify with the Clerk of Superior Court before filing.