Guardianship is what Arizona does when someone can no longer make personal and medical decisions and no document names who should. Under A.R.S. § 14-5301, a court appoints a guardian to make personal and medical decisions for someone found incapacitated. It is a real court case: a petition, notice to family, a hearing, and ongoing court oversight. Families do not choose guardianship. They fall into it.
Guardianship or conservatorship?
Arizona splits the job in two. A guardian handles the person: living arrangements, medical care. A conservator handles the money - see the conservatorship guide. One person can hold both roles, but the court appoints and supervises each, and both come with lawyers, filings, and annual reporting.
You can nominate in advance
Arizona law lets you, by will or other signed writing, name the person you would want as guardian for yourself or for a child - and you can revoke or amend the choice anytime before the court confirms it. It is a safety net worth having inside your estate documents, even though the goal is to never need it.
The honest path: make guardianship unnecessary
A guardianship over a person who signed the right papers is rare, because there is nothing left for the court to decide. The health care power of attorney covers medical decisions. The living will states your wishes. The mental health care POA covers what the others cannot. Together they cost a fraction of one month of a contested guardianship.
Sources
- A.R.S. § 14-5301 (appointment of guardian) (full text, checked 2026-08-09)
- A.R.S. § 36-3221 (health care power of attorney; requirements) (checked 2026-08-09)
Educational information only, not legal advice. Guardianship petitions are legal proceedings - families facing one should consult a licensed Arizona attorney.