LETTER OF INTENT TO PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE

State of Arizona

THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT A WILL OR CODICIL. It is intended as non-binding guidance to assist my Personal Representative in administering my estate under Arizona Revised Statutes Title 14.

Date of Preparation: [__/__/____]

Date of Last Revision: [__/__/____]

SECTION 1: PERSONAL INFORMATION OF THE DECLARANT

SECTION 2: DESIGNATED PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE

Under A.R.S. § 14-3203, I have nominated the following individual(s) to serve as Personal Representative of my estate. This letter is addressed to the person(s) named below to provide guidance in carrying out the duties imposed by A.R.S. § 14-3703.

Primary Personal Representative

Alternate Personal Representative

SECTION 3: FAMILY MEMBERS AND DEPENDENTS

Pursuant to A.R.S. § 14-3705, the Personal Representative must provide information to heirs and devisees within thirty (30) days of appointment. The following individuals should be treated as my immediate family and notified:

Marital Status: ☐ Single ☐ Married ☐ Divorced ☐ Widowed ☐ Domestic Partnership

Spouse/Partner Name (if applicable): [________________________________]

ARIZONA COMMUNITY PROPERTY NOTE: Arizona is a community property state. Under A.R.S. § 25-211, property acquired during marriage is presumed to be community property. The Personal Representative must distinguish between community property and separate property when administering the estate. The surviving spouse is entitled to one-half of all community property, and only the decedent's one-half interest in community property passes through probate.

SECTION 4: LOCATION OF ESSENTIAL DOCUMENTS

The Personal Representative should locate the following documents promptly. Under A.R.S. § 14-3701, duties and powers commence upon appointment, and timely access to these documents is essential.

Estate Planning Documents

☐ Last Will and Testament
- Location: [________________________________]
- Date Executed: [__/__/____]
- Attorney Who Prepared: [________________________________]

☐ Codicil(s) to Will
- Location: [________________________________]
- Date(s) Executed: [__/__/____]

☐ Revocable Living Trust
- Location: [________________________________]
- Date Executed: [__/__/____]
- Trustee(s): [________________________________]

☐ Irrevocable Trust(s)
- Location: [________________________________]
- Trust Name(s): [________________________________]

☐ Personal Property Memorandum (per A.R.S. § 14-2514)
- Location: [________________________________]

☐ Durable Power of Attorney
- Location: [________________________________]
- Agent Named: [________________________________]

☐ Health Care Power of Attorney / Living Will
- Location: [________________________________]
- Agent Named: [________________________________]

☐ Pre-Need / Prenuptial / Postnuptial Agreements
- Location: [________________________________]

Financial and Legal Records

☐ Tax returns (most recent 3 years): [________________________________]
☐ Deeds and real property titles: [________________________________]
☐ Vehicle titles and registrations: [________________________________]
☐ Business formation documents: [________________________________]
☐ Insurance policies: [________________________________]
☐ Loan and mortgage documents: [________________________________]
☐ Safe deposit box location: [________________________________]
- Bank Name: [________________________________]
- Box Number: [________________________________]
- Key Location: [________________________________]
- Authorized Signer(s): [________________________________]

SECTION 5: FINANCIAL ASSETS AND ACCOUNTS

Under A.R.S. § 14-3706, the Personal Representative must prepare an inventory of probate assets within ninety (90) days of appointment. The following is intended to assist with that duty.

Bank and Deposit Accounts

Investment and Brokerage Accounts

Retirement Accounts

Life Insurance Policies

Other Financial Assets

SECTION 6: REAL PROPERTY

Note: Under Arizona community property law, real property acquired during marriage is presumed community property. The Personal Representative must determine the character of each property.

Location of Deeds: [________________________________]

Property Tax Records Location: [________________________________]

SECTION 7: DIGITAL ASSETS AND ONLINE ACCOUNTS

Under the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (adopted in Arizona), the Personal Representative may have authority to manage digital assets. Refer to A.R.S. § 14-13001 et seq.

☐ Password Manager Used: [________________________________]
- Master Password Location: [________________________________]

☐ Digital Asset Inventory Location: [________________________________]

Two-Factor Authentication Device(s): [________________________________]

Instructions for Digital Accounts (close, memorialize, transfer):
[________________________________]

SECTION 8: DEBTS AND LIABILITIES

The Personal Representative must publish notice to creditors under A.R.S. § 14-3801. Creditors generally have four (4) months from the date of the first publication to present claims.

Secured Debts

Unsecured Debts

Other Obligations

• Pending lawsuits or legal claims: [________________________________]
• Guarantees or co-signed obligations: [________________________________]
• Tax liabilities (federal, state, local): [________________________________]
• Alimony or child support obligations: [________________________________]

SECTION 9: FUNERAL AND MEMORIAL WISHES

Under A.R.S. § 36-831.01, an individual may provide written directions regarding disposition of the body.

Preferred Disposition:
☐ Traditional Burial ☐ Cremation ☐ Green/Natural Burial ☐ Donation to Science ☐ Other: [________________________________]

Pre-Arranged Funeral Plan:
☐ Yes ☐ No
- Funeral Home: [________________________________]
- Address: [________________________________]
- Phone: [________________________________]
- Contract/Policy Number: [________________________________]
- Prepaid: ☐ Yes ☐ No — Amount: $[____________]

Burial / Interment Preferences:
- Cemetery: [________________________________]
- Plot Number/Location: [________________________________]
- Grave Marker Instructions: [________________________________]

Memorial Service Preferences:
- Type of Service: ☐ Religious ☐ Non-Religious ☐ Celebration of Life ☐ Private ☐ Other
- Location Preference: [________________________________]
- Officiant Preference: [________________________________]
- Music Selections: [________________________________]
- Readings or Poems: [________________________________]
- Flowers or Charitable Donations in Lieu: [________________________________]

Special Instructions:
[________________________________]

SECTION 10: SPECIFIC BEQUESTS AND PERSONAL PROPERTY DISTRIBUTION

Note: Arizona recognizes a separate writing for tangible personal property under A.R.S. § 14-2514. If a separate memorandum exists, it should be referenced here.

Separate Personal Property Memorandum Exists: ☐ Yes ☐ No
- Location: [________________________________]

Specific Items

Charitable Bequests

SECTION 11: BUSINESS INTERESTS

Buy-Sell Agreement Exists: ☐ Yes ☐ No — Location: [________________________________]

Business Succession Plan: [________________________________]

Key Business Contacts:
[________________________________]

SECTION 12: PET CARE INSTRUCTIONS

Preferred Caretaker: [________________________________]
Alternate Caretaker: [________________________________]
Pet Trust Established: ☐ Yes ☐ No — Location: [________________________________]
Monthly Care Budget: $[____________]
Special Instructions: [________________________________]

SECTION 13: IMPORTANT CONTACTS

Legal Professionals

Financial Professionals

Other Contacts

SECTION 14: MEDICAL INFORMATION

Chronic Conditions or Special Medical Notes:
[________________________________]

SECTION 15: PERSONAL MESSAGES AND VALUES

Message to My Personal Representative:
[________________________________]

Message to My Family:
[________________________________]

Values, Traditions, or Wishes I Want Preserved:
[________________________________]

Ethical or Philanthropic Priorities:
[________________________________]

SECTION 16: ARIZONA-SPECIFIC PROBATE GUIDANCE

The following is a summary of key Arizona probate procedures for the Personal Representative's reference:

1. Appointment: File a petition for appointment with the Maricopa County Superior Court (or applicable county) under A.R.S. § 14-3301 (informal) or § 14-3401 (formal).

2. Bond: Under A.R.S. § 14-3603, a bond is required unless waived by the will, all heirs consent, a financial institution serves as PR, or the estate qualifies for summary procedures.

3. Notice to Heirs and Devisees: Within thirty (30) days of appointment, mail notice to all heirs and devisees whose addresses are reasonably available (A.R.S. § 14-3705).

4. Notice to Creditors: Publish notice in a newspaper of general circulation in the county (A.R.S. § 14-3801). Creditors have four (4) months from the first publication date to file claims.

5. Inventory: Prepare and mail an inventory to interested persons within ninety (90) days of appointment (A.R.S. § 14-3706). In formal proceedings, file with the court.

6. Community Property: Distinguish between community and separate property. The surviving spouse's one-half interest in community property does not pass through probate.

7. Small Estate Affidavit: If the estate qualifies under A.R.S. § 14-3971 (personal property valued at $75,000 or less; real property valued at $100,000 or less), simplified procedures may be available.

8. Closing the Estate: File a closing statement under A.R.S. § 14-3933 (informal) or petition the court for an order of complete settlement under A.R.S. § 14-3952 (formal).

SECTION 17: SIGNATURE AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT

I, [________________________________], being of sound mind, have prepared this Letter of Intent to assist my Personal Representative. I understand this document is not legally binding and does not replace my Last Will and Testament or any other estate planning instrument.

Signature: ________________________________

Printed Name: [________________________________]

Date: [__/__/____]

Witness (optional but recommended):

Signature: ________________________________

Printed Name: [________________________________]

Date: [__/__/____]

Sources and References

• Arizona Revised Statutes Title 14: https://www.azleg.gov/arsDetail/?title=14
• A.R.S. § 14-3705 (Duty to Inform Heirs): https://law.justia.com/codes/arizona/title-14/section-14-3705/
• A.R.S. § 14-3603 (Bond Requirements): https://www.azleg.gov/ars/14/03603.htm
• Arizona Community Property Law, A.R.S. § 25-211
• Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act, A.R.S. § 14-13001 et seq.