{"id":1053,"date":"2017-11-20T19:07:27","date_gmt":"2017-11-21T02:07:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jacksonwhitelaw.com\/probate\/?p=1053"},"modified":"2022-11-15T14:10:51","modified_gmt":"2022-11-15T21:10:51","slug":"someone-died-without-will","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jacksonwhitelaw.com\/probate\/blog\/someone-died-without-will\/","title":{"rendered":"What to Do When Someone Dies Without a Will in Arizona"},"content":{"rendered":"
When someone dies without a last will and testament, the decedent\u2019s estate is considered \u201cintestate,\u201d and the estate will be distributed according to the state\u2019s intestate succession laws. In Arizona, intestate succession is governed by ARS Title 14 Chapter 2 Article 1<\/a>. The process of settling the decedent\u2019s estate, paying debts and transferring assets to beneficiaries is known as probate. In Arizona, the probate process is governed by the Uniform Probate Code<\/a>.<\/p>\n If your spouse, parent, or other loved one passes away without a will, you will need to see to it that the probate process is initiated and administered in order to transfer the deceased\u2019s assets to their heirs. You are under no obligation to do this, but without probate, some assets may be unable to transfer to you or other beneficiaries, and will be frozen in the deceased\u2019s name. There are five steps to initiate and administer the probate process:<\/p>\n The process begins with filing a petition<\/a> with the probate court in the county where the decedent lived or owned property. The petition requests that the court appoint someone to serve as the estate\u2019s executor or personal representative<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n
Open Probate and Appoint an Executor<\/h4>\n