Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in Arizona

Information on decedents' estates is not required to be public record, until a probate case is opened. If a probate case was opened, then the decedent's will, if he had one, would be filed and notice would be given to all parties who have an interest in the estate. You can go to the superior court in the county where your brother resided and look for the probate case, if any.

If your brother was wealthy, he may have done estate planning and put all of his assets in a trust. If that was the case, no probate is required because the trust agreement determines what happens to the trust assets. You might be well advised to retain legal counsel to approach the widow and try to find out what is going on with his estate or trust.