What This Statute Says
This is a narrowing rule. A.R.S. 12-502 pauses the clock for minors and adults of unsound mind, but only when the disability exists at the moment the cause of action accrues. This section blocks two natural follow-up arguments: that the clock should re-pause when a new disability appears later, and that a series of disabilities should be added together.
The period of limitation shall not be extended by the connection of one disability with another. When the law of limitation begins to run it shall continue to run notwithstanding a supervening disability of the party entitled to sue or liable to be sued.
A.R.S. § 12-503When This Statute Comes Into Play
This matters when:
- An adult with a live claim later develops dementia. The clock keeps running while their capacity declines.
- A minor with a tolled claim reaches age eighteen and then suffers a serious cognitive injury. The new injury does not extend the tolled period.
- A claimant tries to argue that several brief periods of incapacity should be added together to extend the deadline.
What This Means for Arizona Families
Many families care for a relative whose mental capacity is in decline. They assume that if the relative cannot act, the law will keep their claims alive indefinitely. Section 12-503 closes that door. Once the limitation period begins, it keeps running through later incapacity. Acting promptly when capacity first becomes an issue is the only safe approach.
If you are managing the affairs of an aging parent or a family member with diminishing capacity, take a hard look at any potential claims early. The window often closes during the relative's lifetime, not after. Our FAQ on guardianship and conservatorship proceedings in Arizona covers the formal tools available when capacity has failed. An Arizona probate attorney can identify which deadlines are still open and which have closed despite the disability. Acting before a conservatorship is even needed often gives a family more options, including informal resolution that avoids the courts entirely.