How Good-Faith Payments Protect Debtors and Property Holders
A person may die in another state but still have assets in Arizona. Someone here may owe money to the estate or hold personal property that belonged to the deceased.
This statute answers a key question: can they safely hand over assets to a foreign personal representative?
Payment or delivery made in good faith on the basis of the proof of authority and affidavit releases the debtor or person having possession of the personal property to the same extent as if payment or delivery had been made to a local personal representative.
A.R.S. § 14-4202The answer is yes. The foreign representative must show valid proof of authority and a proper affidavit under A.R.S. 14-4201. Once those steps are done, the person paying gets a full discharge.
In other words, they are treated the same as if they had dealt with an Arizona-appointed representative.
Why This Matters for Arizona Residents
This protection helps banks, employers, tenants, and others in Arizona. Without it, they might refuse to release assets. They could fear that a different claimant might show up later.
The good-faith discharge removes that worry. It keeps estate settlement moving across state lines.
If a local administration opens later in Arizona, different rules may apply. But for payments made in good faith before that happens, the discharge stands.