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A.R.S. § 33-404

Trust Beneficiary Disclosure Requirements for Arizona Real Estate

Verified April 4, 2026 • 57th Legislature, 1st Regular Session

When real property in Arizona is held by a trustee, the deed must disclose who the beneficiaries are. This statute requires that any deed to or from a trustee identify the beneficiaries by name and address, or reference a recorded document that does.

Title 33, CONVEYANCES AND DEEDS

azleg.gov

Why Arizona Requires Beneficiary Disclosure on Deeds

When someone holds title to real estate as a trustee, the public record does not automatically reveal who benefits from that arrangement. This statute closes that gap. Any deed conveying Arizona real property to or from a trustee must identify the trust beneficiaries by name and address, or point to a recorded document that does.

Every deed or conveyance of real property, or an interest in real property, located in this state which is executed after June 22, 1976 in which the grantee is described as a trustee or acts as a trustee shall disclose the names and addresses of the beneficiaries for whom the grantee holds title and shall identify the trust or other agreement under which the grantee is acting.

A.R.S. § 33-404(A)

This applies to both incoming and outgoing deeds. If a trustee acquires property, the deed must include beneficiary information. If a trustee sells or transfers property, the same disclosure applies to the outgoing deed.

What Happens When Beneficiaries Change

The obligation does not end at the original recording. If the trustee learns of a change in beneficiary after the deed is recorded, they have thirty days to record a notice of the change with the county recorder. That notice must include the legal description of the property and an updated list of current beneficiaries.

There is one practical exception: if a beneficiary passes away and their interest automatically vests in other beneficiaries already identified in a previous recording, no new filing is required. But if a new beneficiary enters the picture, the thirty-day clock starts.

Any conveyance of real property or an interest in real property which does not include the disclosures required by this section with respect to the property so conveyed is voidable by the other party to the conveyance.

A.R.S. § 33-404(E)

Failure to disclose is not without consequence. The other party to the conveyance can void the transaction within two years of recording. That said, a bona fide purchaser who acquires the property for value is protected even if the disclosure was missing.

A. Notwithstanding section 33-411, subsection D, every deed or conveyance of real property, or an interest in real property, located in this state which is executed after June 22, 1976 in which the grantee is described as a trustee or acts as a trustee shall disclose the names and addresses of the beneficiaries for whom the grantee holds title and shall identify the trust or other agreement under which the grantee is acting or refer by proper description to the document number or the docket and page of an instrument or other writing which is of public record in the county in which the property so conveyed is located in which such matters are disclosed. B. Notwithstanding section 33-411, subsection D, every deed or conveyance of real property, or an interest in real property, located in this state which is executed after June 22, 1976 by a grantor who holds title to the property as a trustee, whether or not such capacity is identified on the document through which title was acquired, shall also disclose the names and addresses of the beneficiaries for whom the grantor held title to the property and shall identify the trust or other agreement under which the grantor is acting or refer by proper description to the document number or the docket and page of an instrument or other writing which is of public record in the county in which the property so conveyed is located in which such matters are disclosed. C. Notwithstanding section 33-411, subsection D, a grantee who holds title as a trustee under a trust or other agreement which is subject to the disclosure requirements of this section and who receives actual knowledge after August 18, 1987 of a change in beneficiary, within thirty days after receiving such actual knowledge, shall record with the county recorder of the county in which the property is located a notice of the change. The recording and any subsequent recording of any change in any beneficiary shall identify the trust or other agreement under which the grantee holds title and shall include the legal description of the property and a list of the then current names and addresses of the beneficiaries. D. Notwithstanding subsections A, B and C of this section, a trustee is not required to record a change of beneficiary if, upon the death of a beneficiary of a real property trust, the interests of the deceased beneficiary vest in the beneficiary's estate or in other beneficiaries identified in a previous recording. If the interest of the deceased beneficiary vests in a beneficiary not identified in a previous recording, the trustee shall comply with the recording requirements of this chapter within thirty days of receipt of both knowledge of the death and the name and address of the successor beneficiary or beneficiaries or within thirty days of the first distribution of income or principal to a successor beneficiary or beneficiaries, whichever occurs first. E. Any conveyance of real property or an interest in real property which does not include the disclosures required by this section with respect to the property so conveyed is voidable by the other party to the conveyance. Any action to void the conveyance shall be commenced within two years after the date of recordation of the document effecting the conveyance. F. If real property or any interest in real property, or any mortgage, deed of trust or other lien on real property, is acquired for value, the title, interest, mortgage, deed of trust or other lien is not impaired or in any way adversely affected by reason of the failure of any person to comply with the requirements of this section. G. As used in this section, "trustee" does not include an agent for a disclosed principal, a conservator, a guardian, a personal representative, an attorney-in-fact, a lessor or lessee under a lease, a trustee in a bankruptcy or receivership proceeding, a trustee under a deed of trust, a trustee under a business trust or a trustee under an indenture for security holders.
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 Questions

How is real estate managed during trust administration or probate in Arizona?

If property is in a trust, the successor trustee can manage it immediately. If it goes through probate, the personal representative must wait for court authority. Either way, mortgage, taxes, insurance, and maintenance obligations continue.

Why is funding your trust so important?

An unfunded trust provides no probate protection because it only controls assets it actually holds. Re-funding is needed after life changes like refinancing, new accounts, or inheritances.

Can a beneficiary deed protect my home from ALTCS or Medicaid recovery in Arizona?

A beneficiary deed does not protect your home from ALTCS or Medicaid estate recovery. AHCCCS can still file a claim against your estate. Arizona's five-year lookback period penalizes transfers made before applying for benefits.

Related Statutes

§ 33-401Formal Requirements for a Valid Property Deed in Arizona
§ 33-402Arizona Deed Forms: Quitclaim, Conveyance, Warranty, and Mortgage
§ 33-403Easement Descriptions and Validity for Utility Rights-of-Way in Arizona

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