Filing for Authority in Arizona
Families dealing with conservatorship across state lines face a practical challenge: how does the conservator appointed in the home state manage property located in Arizona? This statute provides a streamlined answer. If no Arizona conservator has been appointed and no petition is pending, the out-of-state conservator can file certified copies of their appointment and any official bond with an Arizona court in the county where the property sits.
If no local conservator has been appointed and no petition in a protective proceeding is pending in this state, a domiciliary foreign conservator may file with a court in this state in a county in which property belonging to the protected person is located certified copies of his appointment and of any official bond he has given.
A.R.S. § 14-5432Once that filing is complete, the out-of-state conservator gains the same authority as a locally appointed conservator. They can manage, sell, lease, or otherwise handle Arizona assets, and they can bring or defend lawsuits in Arizona courts.
Practical Limits to Keep in Mind
This authority only applies when there is no competing local conservatorship and no pending petition. If someone has already petitioned an Arizona court for a protective order, the out-of-state conservator cannot simply step in. The statute also notes that the foreign conservator remains subject to any conditions Arizona imposes on nonresident parties generally. For families with property in multiple states, this provision can save significant time and expense by avoiding a second full conservatorship proceeding.