A.R.S. § 12-511

Arizona's Extra Year for Crime Victims to Sue After Criminal Proceedings End

Verified May 17, 2026 • 57th Legislature, 1st Regular Session

Crime victims in Arizona get an extra year to bring a civil case after the criminal proceeding against the defendant ends. The extension applies even when the ordinary statute of limitations has run during the criminal case. The rule helps victims pursue financial recovery alongside or after the prosecution.

Title 12, LIMITATIONS OF ACTIONS

azleg.gov

What This Statute Says

When someone is charged criminally and then later acquitted, convicted, or otherwise resolved, the victim may want to pursue a civil action for damages. This section ensures the victim has at least one year after the criminal case ends to bring the civil claim, even if the usual statute of limitations would have already run.

A.R.S. § 12-511

When This Statute Comes Into Play

This extension matters when:

A caregiver or fiduciary is charged with financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult, and the family wants to pursue civil recovery.
A criminal case drags on for years, eating into the time the victim would otherwise have for a civil lawsuit.
The family of an exploited or assaulted family member learns of the criminal resolution and needs time to assess civil remedies.

What This Means for Arizona Families

When a relative is criminally victimized, the family is rarely focused on civil litigation. They are dealing with the police, the prosecutor, hospitals, and the basic facts of what happened. By the time the criminal case finally ends, ordinary lawsuit deadlines can have come and gone. This section keeps the civil door open.

If a family member has been financially exploited, physically harmed, or otherwise victimized and a criminal case is pending or recently concluded, do not assume civil claims are dead. The one-year extension in this section may give you time to pursue restitution beyond what the criminal court orders. Our FAQ on whether to add a child to a parent's bank account covers a common fact pattern that leads to financial exploitation prosecutions. Combined with A.R.S. 46-456, which provides damages up to double the assets taken plus fees, the civil remedies can be more meaningful than the criminal restitution. The personal representative of an exploited person's estate should consult with an Arizona probate attorney about both tracks of recovery.

A. Notwithstanding sections 12-505 and 12-542, if a defendant is charged by a criminal complaint or indictment the statute of limitations for any civil cause of action that is brought by a victim against the defendant for criminal conduct against the victim is extended for one year from the final disposition of the criminal proceedings, regardless of whether the defendant is convicted of criminal conduct against the victim. B. There is no duty under a policy of insurance to defend or indemnify for any loss resulting from criminal conduct if the civil action is not commenced within the time period that would be applicable without any tolling or extension of the statute of limitations pursuant to this section. C. This section does not toll or extend any statute of limitations applicable to a civil cause of action brought against the employer or former employer of any defendant who is subject to this section. D. This section does not shorten any other applicable tolling provisions. E. In any action brought pursuant to this section, the standard of proof is by the preponderance of the evidence. F. This section applies to all cases in which the victim files a civil action within one year after the final disposition of the defendant's criminal proceedings, regardless of when the defendant committed the criminal conduct. G. For the purposes of this section: 1. "Civil cause of action" means any civil claim that the victim could have brought against the defendant for criminal conduct committed against the victim regardless of whether any of these incidents was criminally prosecuted. 2. "Criminal conduct": (a) Means any act, including all preparatory offenses, in violation of section 13-1103, 13-1104, 13-1105, 13-1202, 13-1203, 13-1204, 13-1208, 13-1304, 13-1404, 13-1405, 13-1406, 13-1410, 13-1417, 13-2314.04, 13-2915, 13-2916, 13-2921, 13-2921.01, 13-3019, 13-3552, 13-3553, 13-3554, 13-3601 or 13-3601.02. (b) Includes any act involving sexual assault of a spouse that was committed before the effective date of this amendment to this section. 3. "Defendant" means a natural person. 4. "Final disposition" has the same meaning prescribed in sections 8-382 and 13-4401. 5. "Victim" has the same meaning prescribed in sections 8-382 and 13-4401.

View on azleg.gov

This page provides general legal information about Arizona statutes and is not legal advice. For guidance on how this law applies to your situation, speak with a qualified attorney.

Related Statutes

§ 12-501Tolling the Statute of Limitations When Someone Leaves Arizona

§ 46-456Arizona's Financial Protection for Vulnerable Adults

§ 12-516Arizona's Pandemic Liability Shield for Health Professionals and Hospitals

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