Cantilever probes are formed from a multilayer structure comprising an upper substrate, a lower substrate, an interior layer, a first separation layer, and a second separation layer, wherein the first separation layer is situated between the upper substrate and the interior layer, the second separation layer is situated between the lower substrate and the interior layer, and wherein the first and the second separation layers are differentially etchable with respect to the first and the second substrates, the interior layer. The upper substrate is a first device layer from which a probe tip is formed. The interior layer is a second device layer from which a cantilever arm is formed. The lower substrate is a handle layer from which a handle, or base portion, is formed. Patterning and etching processing of any layer is isolated from the other layers by the separation layers.