Last updated 2026-08-18
TL;DR
Arizona does not require a license for most conservators. The superior court appoints a family member or friend under A.R.S. Title 14. You will usually post a bond, file an inventory within 90 days, and account annually. Filing fees vary by county. A clean uncontested case commonly takes one to three months.
Is there a conservator board in Arizona?
Arizona does not have a licensing board you apply to before you can become a conservator. The court makes that appointment. A.R.S. § 14-5401(1) calls a conservator 'a person who is appointed by a court to manage the estate of a protected person.' The protected person is usually an adult who cannot handle their own money because of illness, injury, or age-related impairment. [1]
What people call the conservator board in Arizona is mostly the probate department of the county superior court. Maricopa, Pima, Yavapai, and the other counties run their own calendars but follow the same Title 14 rules. Paid professional fiduciaries, not family members, fall under a separate Arizona Supreme Court licensing framework. For a spouse or adult child taking over Mom's bills, there is no board exam and no state license.
Do you need a license for conservator in Arizona?
Most people need no license. The court may appoint any competent person. A spouse, adult child, parent, or other adult can be named conservator without taking a test or getting a state license. A.R.S. § 14-5407 sets a priority list that starts with a person the protected person nominated, then a spouse, an adult child, a parent, and after that other persons the court finds suitable. [4]
If you are doing this once for a relative, you are not entering a licensed profession. You are accepting a court supervised job. A paid professional fiduciary who manages money for multiple clients is different. Arizona law sets out licensing for that commercial work under A.R.S. § 14-5651. [10] The court still reviews every appointment, even a professional one.
How long does conservator take in Arizona?
An uncontested family conservatorship usually takes one to three months from petition to signed order. The exact time depends on the county calendar, how fast notice is served, and whether anyone objects. [3]
Emergency temporary conservatorships move faster. Under A.R.S. § 14-5419 the court can appoint a temporary conservator after a hearing. Temporary appointments usually last at most six months, which gives the full petition time to move through. [8] If you have a true emergency, like unpaid medical bills or a landlord threatening eviction, you can ask for a temporary order. If someone contests the medical evidence or fights your appointment, the case can stretch for many months because it becomes litigation.
How much does conservator cost in Arizona?
Arizona has no license fee for a family conservator. The real first-year costs are filing fees, service or certified mail, and a bond premium. Each county clerk sets the current filing fee locally. That number is not buried in a single state fee schedule, so you confirm it when you file.
If you hire a lawyer, attorney fees become the largest line item. Bond premium is set by a surety broker after the court fixes the bond amount. The protected person's estate typically pays the bond premium because the bond protects the estate, not the conservator personally. Ask the clerk for the filing fee and ask two surety brokers for bond quotes before you start.
What is the bond requirement for Arizona conservators?
The court decides whether to require a bond and its amount. A.R.S. § 14-5408 lets the court require a bond from the conservator. [5]
The amount usually tracks the value of the property in the conservator's control plus one year of expected income, less any assets restricted by court order. A bond is not insurance for you. It protects the protected person if you mishandle funds. If the estate grows later, the court can require a larger bond. A broker will want the court's bond order before quoting a premium.
First-year paperwork: the 90-day inventory and annual accounting
Once appointed, you do more than write checks. You file an inventory with the court within 90 days after appointment under A.R.S. § 14-5413. That inventory lists all known assets, their fair market value, and any debts. [6] Then you account to the court annually under A.R.S. § 14-5414. The accounting shows every receipt, every payment, and the running balance. [7]
This is the paper path that trips people up. Missing the 90-day inventory or filing a sloppy annual account can get you removed. Use the court's forms, not a homemade spreadsheet. ConservatorPath's Bond + Accounting Kit costs $199 one time and has fill-in-the-blank inventory and accounting worksheets matched to those Arizona deadlines. It is a paperwork shortcut, not legal advice.
Who can the court appoint as conservator?
The court follows the priority list in A.R.S. § 14-5407. A person named in the protected person's written documents usually comes first. Then a spouse, adult child, parent, and other relatives or friends. The court can pass over a priority person who is unsuitable, has a conflict, or cannot handle the job. [4]
You do not need to be an Arizona resident, but local appointees often get preference because hearings and records checks are easier. The court cares about your ability to manage money, your availability, and whether you have a history of financial crime or mishandled another estate.
How does a temporary conservatorship work in Arizona?
A temporary conservator handles only the urgent matters. Under A.R.S. § 14-5419, the court can appoint a temporary conservator after a hearing when the protected person's property or welfare needs immediate action. The order is usually limited in time, often no more than six months, and limited to acts the court lists, like paying the mortgage or releasing frozen funds. [8]
You still must prove an emergency and show why a permanent conservator cannot wait. The temporary conservator may still need a bond, but the court can set a lower amount for only the assets being protected. A temporary order does not replace the full hearing. It fills the gap while you finish notice and medical evaluation.
Conservator vs guardian in Arizona: what is the difference?
A guardian handles the person. A conservator handles the money. Arizona keeps those roles separate. An adult child might be appointed guardian of their mother to make medical and housing decisions, and a different person might be appointed conservator to manage her accounts.
If the person only needs money management, you petition for conservator. If they also need someone to consent to surgery or choose a facility, you petition for guardian. Both use separate forms and separate orders. A.R.S. § 14-5410 gives the conservator authority to manage the estate after appointment. [9]
How do I file a conservatorship petition in Arizona?
File in the superior court for the county where the protected person lives. Use the Arizona courts self-service forms, not a generic internet packet. You will need a petition, medical evaluation evidence, a proposed notice, and an order. The petition must state the protected person's estate value and why a conservator is necessary. [2]
Serve the protected person and all interested people. The clerk sets the hearing. Bring originals and copies. If you are unsure about a local box, call the probate clerk before you file. They will tell you the current filing fee and any county-specific forms. No one can guarantee a hearing date until the clerk calendars it.
What makes Arizona different from California, Florida, and other states?
Arizona is a court-appointment state, not a licensing state. The same is mostly true elsewhere, but deadlines, bonds, and professional fiduciary rules differ. For a quick comparison, read conservator board in California, conservator board in Florida, and conservator board in Alabama.
Arizona's Title 14 tracks the Uniform Probate Code closely, but the county fee schedules are local. If you later move the protected person between states, the conservator order does not travel automatically. You start over in the new state and ask the old court to transfer. For nearby patterns, see conservator board in Colorado or conservator board in Idaho.
What gets an Arizona conservatorship petition rejected?
The judge rejects papers that prove the wrong thing. Common errors: no current medical evidence of incapacity, incomplete notice, missing bond order, inconsistent asset values, or a proposed conservator with an undisclosed conflict. The petition must show why a conservator is necessary and the estate value. [2]
Before filing, check every form against the court's checklist. Serve everyone named in the code. Do not hide a bank account. The inventory and the petition should agree. If you self-file, ConservatorPath's $199 one-time Bond + Accounting Kit at /start includes a checklist keyed to Arizona's post-appointment deadlines, but the court's local checklist is the controlling document.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a license for conservator in Arizona?
For a family member or friend, no. The superior court appoints the conservator under A.R.S. Title 14. No state examination or conservator license is required. A paid professional fiduciary who handles multiple clients is licensed separately under A.R.S. § 14-5651. The court still approves each individual appointment.
How much does conservator cost in Arizona?
Arizona has no state license fee. You pay a county filing fee, service or mail costs, and usually a bond premium. Attorney fees vary and can be the largest cost. The court can waive filing fees for low-income protected persons. Bond premium depends on the court set bond amount and the surety broker quote. Confirm the current filing fee with the clerk.
How long does conservator take in Arizona?
A clean, uncontested petition often takes one to three months. An emergency temporary conservator can happen much faster after a short hearing. If someone objects or medical evidence is contested, the case can take many months. The judge controls the calendar, and no one can guarantee a date.
What is a conservator in Arizona?
A conservator is a person appointed by an Arizona superior court to manage the estate of a protected person. The protected person is usually an adult who cannot handle money due to illness, injury, or impairment. The conservator pays bills, collects income, and accounts to the court.
Can I be my mother's conservator without a lawyer?
Yes. Arizona allows self-represented conservators. You file the petition, serve notice, present medical evidence, and post bond if ordered. The process is doable for a simple estate, but errors can delay the case. Many people use the court self-service forms and call the probate clerk before filing.
What is the difference between guardian and conservator in Arizona?
A guardian makes personal decisions like housing and medical care. A conservator manages money and property. Someone can hold one role or both. Arizona uses separate petitions, hearings, and orders. If the person only needs help with finances, you petition for conservator.
How much bond does an Arizona conservator need?
The court sets the bond amount after reviewing the estate value. Under A.R.S. § 14-5408 the amount usually covers the property in the conservator's control plus one year of expected income. The court can set a lower amount for small estates or for a temporary conservator.
Does Arizona require a professional license for paid conservators?
Yes. A person who is paid to serve as conservator for multiple clients must meet the professional fiduciary licensing requirements in A.R.S. § 14-5651. A family member serving one relative is not required to get that license, though the court still has to approve the appointment.
Can a conservator be removed in Arizona?
Yes. The court can remove a conservator for failing to file the inventory, filing false accounts, mismanaging money, or becoming unable to serve. An interested person files a petition asking for removal. If the court removes the conservator, it names a successor and orders a final accounting.
What reports does an Arizona conservator file after appointment?
After appointment, the conservator files an inventory within 90 days under A.R.S. § 14-5413. The conservator then files an annual accounting under A.R.S. § 14-5414. The account shows starting balance, income, payments, and ending balance. The court reviews these filings.
What is a temporary conservator in Arizona?
A temporary conservator is appointed for an emergency when the protected person's property needs immediate protection. Under A.R.S. § 14-5419 the court holds a hearing and can appoint a temporary conservator for a limited time, often no more than six months. The full conservatorship petition still moves forward.
Does the bond premium come out of the protected person's estate?
Usually yes. Because the bond protects the protected person's estate, the estate typically pays the premium. The court can order the estate to pay it. If the estate has no funds, the conservator may need to front the premium and ask the court for reimbursement later.
Sources
- Arizona Legislature, A.R.S. § 14-5401: Defines 'conservator' as a person appointed by a court to manage the estate of a protected person.
- Arizona Legislature, A.R.S. § 14-5404: Sets required contents of a conservatorship petition.
- Arizona Legislature, A.R.S. § 14-5405: Requires notice to the protected person and interested persons before hearing.
- Arizona Legislature, A.R.S. § 14-5407: Lists appointment priority among nominated person, spouse, adult child, parent, and other suitable persons.
- Arizona Legislature, A.R.S. § 14-5408: Authorizes the court to require a conservator's bond and sets the amount based on estate value and one year's income.
- Arizona Legislature, A.R.S. § 14-5413: Requires a conservator to file an inventory within 90 days after appointment.
- Arizona Legislature, A.R.S. § 14-5414: Requires annual accountings to the court.
- Arizona Legislature, A.R.S. § 14-5419: Authorizes temporary conservator after hearing for emergency, limited to a period often not exceeding six months.
- Arizona Legislature, A.R.S. § 14-5410: Grants a conservator administrative powers over the estate.
- Arizona Legislature, A.R.S. § 14-5651: Sets licensing requirements for professional fiduciaries paid to serve as guardian, conservator, or personal representative.