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Arizona County
Yuma County, Arizona
Yuma - the sunniest city on Earth and the Winter Lettuce Capital of the World - from Yuma's extraordinary sunshine record (Yuma receives more annual sunshine than any other city in the world - 4,015 hours per year, or about 90% of daylight hours - a distinction recognized by the Guinness World Records that makes it the premier winter destination for snowbirds and solar energy development) to Yuma's agricultural dominance (the Colorado River's irrigation water transforms the Sonoran Desert into one of the most productive winter vegetable farming regions on Earth - Yuma County produces approximately 90% of all leafy vegetables consumed in the United States and Canada from November through March, earning it the Winter Lettuce Capital of the World designation).
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What do you need to do?
Tell us your goal and we'll guide you step-by-step to the right office, forms, and official resources.
Notes: Southwest Arizona border county; Yuma is county seat; EXTREME HEAT (Yuma is the sunniest city in the US and regularly among the hottest); Colorado River flooding (historically; now managed by dams and irrigation canals); dust storms; US-Mexico and US-Arizona-California border junction; MCAS Yuma (Marine Corps Air Station – largest Marine air station in the world by operational tempo); CBP coordination; significant agriculture (Yuma winter vegetable production)
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
County Road Dept: Yuma County Public Works – (928) 373-1010
Public Transit: Yuma County Area Transit (YCAT) – (928) 783-4788 | ycat.az.gov; fixed-route and demand-response; cross-border coordination with Los Algodones
Road Conditions: ADOT – az511.gov
Notes: I-8 (California to Tucson) passes through Yuma; US-95 connects to Parker (north) and Blythe, CA (west); Yuma International Airport; Yuma POE (Port of Entry) and Los Algodones POE are major border crossings; agricultural truck traffic is enormous during winter vegetable harvest season (January-March); Union Pacific railroad (significant freight)
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Yuma County Planning and Zoning – (928) 373-1010 | yumacountyaz.gov
Services: Building permits for unincorporated areas; Yuma (very active), San Luis, Somerton, Wellton, Dateland, Quartzsite (in La Paz County) have separate; Cocopah Tribe and Quechan Tribe have separate tribal permits
Notes: Yuma has significant residential growth; agricultural processing and storage facility construction; MCAS Yuma military construction through federal channels; solar energy development in the desert is major (Yuma area has extensive utility-scale solar farms – one of the best solar resources in the US); San Luis has significant commercial border development
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Yuma County Veterans Services – (928) 317-4627 | yumacountyaz.gov
VA Medical: Carl T. Hayden VA (Phoenix); Tucson SAVAHCS; Yuma VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic – (928) 783-5220 (local VA outpatient access)
Services: Benefits claims, VA healthcare enrollment, pension/compensation; MCAS Yuma Tricare for active duty
Notes: MCAS Yuma is one of the most significant military installations in the Marine Corps; large active duty, veteran, and military retiree population in Yuma; local VA CBOC provides convenient outpatient access; strong VSO community
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Yuma County Library District – (928) 782-1871 | yumalibrary.org
Main: Yuma Main Library – 2951 S 21st Dr; branches in Foothills, San Luis, Somerton, Wellton, Dateland, Cibola
Services: Books, e-books, public computers, Wi-Fi, bilingual (English/Spanish) collections, genealogy, children’s programs; Spanish-language materials are heavily used
Notes: Excellent library district with strong Spanish-language programming; San Luis and Somerton branches serve predominantly Spanish-speaking communities; bilingual programming for children is extensive; Mexican heritage collections reflect the community’s cultural character; winter visitors (snowbirds) significantly increase library use December-March
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Colorado River State Historic Park (Yuma Quartermaster Depot – Civil War era supply depot; beautiful river site); Yuma Territorial Prison State Historical Park (1876-1909 – famous territorial prison; excellent museum) – azstateparks.com | (928) 783-4771; Martinez Lake area (Colorado River recreation); Imperial National Wildlife Refuge (Colorado River riparian and backwater habitat); Martinez Lake; Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area (river history); Algodones Dunes (in adjacent Imperial County, CA – but Yuma is the gateway; world-famous off-road vehicle playground); MCAS Yuma Air Show (annual – one of the largest air shows in the Southwest)
Notes: Yuma Territorial Prison is one of Arizona’s most beloved historic sites – the “Hell-Hole of Arizona” was actually relatively progressive for its era; the Colorado River backwaters and lakes near Martinez Lake offer excellent birding and water recreation; the Algodones Dunes (Glamis) attract hundreds of thousands of OHV enthusiasts from California; MCAS Yuma’s air shows are spectacular (F/A-18s, Harriers); Yuma is the “Lettuce Capital of the World” – the winter vegetable harvest from December to March is an extraordinary agricultural spectacle; winter visitors (snowbirds) swell the population by tens of thousands each winter
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Yuma County GIS – yumacountyaz.gov/gis | (928) 373-1010
Parcel Search: Available through county GIS portal; active agricultural parcel tracking
Notes: County GIS for non-tribal areas; Colorado River irrigation district mapping (extensive canal systems); Cocopah and Quechan tribal GIS separate; agricultural field mapping important; Bureau of Reclamation Colorado River system mapping
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Shelter: Yuma County Animal Control – (928) 373-1070 | yumacountyaz.gov/animal
Notes: Large county with border complexities; stray animals crossing from Mexico require management; agricultural area has livestock considerations; Cocopah and Quechan tribes manage wildlife on reservations; desert tortoise is protected in the area; MCAS Yuma wildlife management for airport safety (bird strikes)
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Solid Waste: Yuma County – (928) 373-1010; City of Yuma Environmental Services – (928) 373-5040; San Luis, Somerton manage separately
Recycling: City of Yuma recycling programs; county drop-off; limited in agricultural areas
Agricultural: Arizona Department of Environmental Quality monitors pesticide use and agricultural waste from Yuma’s massive vegetable operations
Environmental: Arizona DEQ; EPA Region 9; Bureau of Reclamation (Colorado River; Yuma Desalting Plant); USFWS (Imperial NWR); Cocopah Tribe Environmental Department; Quechan Tribe Environmental; COLORADO RIVER water use
Notes: Yuma County diverts more Colorado River water than almost any other county in the US – the extensive Yuma Mesa, North Gila Valley, Unit B, and other irrigation districts use vast quantities of Colorado River water to grow the winter vegetables that supply much of the US; this water use is a major factor in Colorado River water stress; the Yuma Desalting Plant (Bureau of Reclamation) treats agricultural drainage water to reduce salinity in the Colorado River before it reaches Mexico (international obligation under the 1944 US-Mexico Water Treaty); pesticide and fertilizer runoff from agricultural operations is managed by ADEQ; the Sonoran pronghorn antelope in the area south of Yuma is one of the most endangered mammals in the US – fewer than 200 individuals; military training operations at MCAS Yuma and the Barry M. Goldwater Range affect large desert areas
About Yuma County
Yuma County is the sunniest place on Earth and America’s winter lettuce capital – more sunshine than anywhere else in the world and the Colorado River’s irrigation water that produces 90% of North America’s winter leafy vegetables define one of the Southwest’s most distinctive communities.
Yuma (the county seat, population ~100,000) is a significant Colorado River border city – Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, the agricultural processing industry, and winter snowbird tourism create a diverse economy. The Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park preserves Arizona’s most infamous frontier-era penitentiary.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Yuma County Assessor at 410 S. Maiden Lane, Suite B, Yuma, AZ 85364, phone 928-373-6040. AZ residential assessment ratio 10% of limited cash value.
Courts & Legal
Yuma County Superior Court at 250 W. 2nd Street, Yuma, AZ 85364, phone 928-817-4280, handles probate.
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
RECORDER (Deeds, Marriage Licenses)
198 S. Main St., Yuma, AZ 85364
(928) 373-6020
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Yuma County Superior Court (marriage licenses, will and estate case files – see Probate section above)
Local societies
Genealogical Society of Yuma Arizona, P.O. Box 2905, Yuma, AZ 85366-2905
Arizona Historical Society maintains a regional division presence in Yuma.
Probate & Estate
Losing someone and having to deal with courts and paperwork at the same time is hard. This section won’t make that easier, but it should tell you what to expect, what it costs, and where to go – so at least you’re not walking in blind.
Where to go
Yuma County Superior Court 250 W. 2nd Street, Yuma, AZ 85364 (928) 817-4083 Fax: (928) 817-4044 Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Step 1: figure out which path applies
Arizona recently made this decision much easier for most families – a 2025 law dramatically raised the small-estate thresholds, so many more estates now qualify to skip full probate entirely.
Small Estate Affidavit (personal property) – no court case needed. Effective September 26, 2025 under House Bill 2116 (amending A.R.S. § 14-3971), this applies when personal property is worth $200,000 or less (net of liens), at least 30 days have passed since the death, and no probate case has been opened. Present the signed affidavit directly to the bank or institution holding the property.
Small Estate Affidavit (real property) – for real property with equity of $300,000 or less (net of liens), available after a 6-month wait. Must be filed with the Superior Court and then recorded with the County Recorder.
Informal Probate – the default track for uncontested estates above the small-estate thresholds. Reviewed by a court registrar, not a judge.
Formal Probate – used when the will is contested, there’s no original will, heirs are disputed, or the matter otherwise needs judicial involvement.
Supervised Administration – rare; used only when ongoing court oversight is needed to protect the estate or beneficiaries.
Arizona is a community property state – a surviving spouse already owns their half of community property outright.
If using the small estate affidavit (personal property)
Wait at least 30 days after the death.
Confirm no probate case has already been opened and total personal property (net of liens) is $200,000 or less.
Complete the affidavit under A.R.S. § 14-3971.
Present the signed affidavit with a certified death certificate directly to whoever holds the property.
If using the small estate affidavit (real property)
Wait at least 6 months after the death.
Confirm the real property’s equity is $300,000 or less.
File the affidavit with the Yuma County Superior Court.
Record the certified affidavit with the Yuma County Recorder.
If filing informal probate
Gather the original will (if any), a list of assets/debts/heirs, and identifying information.
File an Application for Informal Probate and Appointment of Personal Representative with the Clerk of the Superior Court.
Notice to known heirs must comply with A.R.S. § 14-3306.
The registrar reviews the application; if complete and unopposed, issues Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration – no hearing required.
Notice to creditors must be published once a week for three consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county.
Creditors then have a 4-month claim window (A.R.S. § 14-3801) – the practical floor on how fast even a simple probate can close; most run 6–12 months.
After debts are resolved, the personal representative distributes the estate and closes it with a final accounting.
If formal probate is required
File a Petition for Formal Probate with the Superior Court.
A judge holds a hearing rather than a registrar reviewing on paper.
The same inventory, creditor-notice, and closing steps apply from there, under direct court supervision.
What it costs
Small estate affidavits: no court filing fee for the personal-property affidavit; the real-property affidavit carries a county recording fee.
Informal or formal probate filing fee: varies by county, typically $250–$400 statewide (confirm current fee with the Yuma County Clerk).
Creditor notice publication: typically $75–$300 depending on the newspaper.
Personal representative compensation: “reasonable compensation” standard – no fixed statutory percentage.
Attorney fees: not fixed by statute; a straightforward, uncontested probate commonly runs $2,000–$7,500.
Probate filings, estate administration, and guardianship matters are handled by the following office(s):
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
141 S. 3rd Ave., Yuma, AZ 85364
(928) 783-4427
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Health Dept
(928) 317-4600
DES / SNAP / Medicaid
(855) 432-7587
Tribal Health
Quechan Indian Tribe; Cocopah Indian Tribe; Colorado River Indian Tribes (La Paz County)
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Yuma County Public Health Services – (928) 317-4600 | yumacountyaz.gov/health
Hospitals: Yuma Regional Medical Center – (928) 344-2000; VMC (Valor Healthcare) for veterans; Cocopah Health Center; Quechan Health Services
Notes: Yuma Regional Medical Center is the primary hospital; agricultural worker health (pesticide exposure, heat illness, musculoskeletal injuries) is a significant occupational health focus; migrant and seasonal agricultural worker health services are important; border health (TB, Chagas disease) monitoring; very large Spanish-speaking population requires bilingual health services; MCAS Yuma military clinic serves active duty
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