New Cases vs. Existing Cases
When Arizona adopted the Uniform Adult Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Jurisdiction Act, the legislature needed to address an important question: what happens to guardianship and conservatorship cases that were already underway? This statute provides the answer by drawing a clear line between new and existing proceedings.
This chapter applies to guardianship and protective proceedings begun on or after the effective date of this chapter.
A.R.S. § 14-12503(A)For any case started after the law took effect, the entire chapter applies. That includes all the rules about determining which state has jurisdiction, how cases can be transferred between states, and how out-of-state guardianship orders are enforced in Arizona.
Retroactive Application for Key Provisions
The statute does not leave older cases entirely outside the new framework. Even for cases that began before the law took effect, certain critical provisions still apply.
Articles 1, 3 and 4 of this chapter and sections 14-12501 and 14-12502 apply to proceedings begun before the effective date of this chapter regardless of whether a guardianship or protective order has been issued.
A.R.S. § 14-12503(B)This means the general provisions, transfer rules, and enforcement mechanisms apply to all proceedings, regardless of when they started. The practical effect is that older guardianship cases benefit from the interstate coordination framework even if they were filed before Arizona adopted the uniform act. For families with existing guardianship orders who later need to move or enforce those orders across state lines, this retroactive coverage provides an important safeguard.