{"id":534,"date":"2022-06-22T21:48:44","date_gmt":"2022-06-22T21:48:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jacksonwhitelaw.com\/guardianships-conservatorships\/?page_id=534"},"modified":"2024-05-01T23:43:49","modified_gmt":"2024-05-01T23:43:49","slug":"faqs","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.jacksonwhitelaw.com\/guardianships-conservatorships\/faqs\/","title":{"rendered":"Frequently Asked Questions"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Guardianship & Conservatorship FAQs<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat is the Difference Between a Guardian and a Conservator?<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t
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The court establishes Arizona guardianships for people who need assistance with medical decisions, and establishes Arizona conservatorships for people who need assistance with financial decisions. While the process for establishing both is substantially the same, the duties and obligations of the two are entirely different. Guardians can handle up to $10,000\/year for a ward without a conservatorship, however beyond that dollar amount, they are only able to handle medical issues; and conservators have no authority to handle medical issues, only financial matters.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat Responsibilities Does a Guardian Have?<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t
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Arizona guardians are court appointed to make another person\u2019s health care decisions. While they are extremely limited in what they are able to exercise financially, they are responsible for making appropriate medical care and living arrangements. The court can tailor a guardian\u2019s responsibilities to fit the circumstances, but the range of authority granted to guardians includes:
\u2022 Arranging an appropriate living situation based on the ward\u2019s needs, abilities and financial resources.
\u2022 Placing the ward in an assisted living facility or skilled nursing facility, if necessary.
\u2022 Making sure the ward has appropriate and sufficient clothing.
\u2022 Making sure the ward receives appropriate medical care.
\u2022 Reporting to the court about the ward\u2019s health, welfare and status.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhen is it Necessary to Seek a Guardianship?<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t
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Courts will only appoint a guardian if the proposed ward lacks the capacity to make appropriate medical decisions. Because incapacity is a legal status, it can be difficult to accurately determine whether another person truly lacks capacity. Family members and friends should ask the following questions when determining whether somebody requires a guardian:
\u2022 Does he\/she have difficulty doing familiar tasks?
\u2022 Can he\/she communicate clearly?
\u2022 Does he\/she take medications as directed?
\u2022 Does he\/she have extreme mood swings for no apparent reason?
\u2022 Does he\/she become easily agitated, aggressive or combative?
\u2022 Does he\/she lose things often or put things in inappropriate places?
\u2022 Does he\/she forget where he\/she is?
\u2022 Can he\/she attend to and provide necessary food, shelter, clothing and medical care?<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCan a Guardian Obtain Mental Health Care for a Ward?<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t
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A guardian can only obtain outpatient mental health care for a ward. Under a standard Arizona guardianship, guardians cannot obtain inpatient mental health care for a ward. Upon petition, however, courts may grant a mental health guardianship, which is valid for one year, and allows guardians to obtain inpatient mental health treatment for wards.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat Responsibilities Does a Conservator Have?<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t
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Conservators are court appointed to make financial decisions for somebody who lacks the capacity to do so personally. Once appointed, conservators never have authority to make medical decisions for wards, but they have a wide range of authority over financial and legal issues, including:
\u2022 Paying debts and expenses.
\u2022 Bringing or defending legal actions.
\u2022 Making an inventory indicating the fair market value of the ward\u2019s assets.
\u2022 Prudently investing.
\u2022 Acquiring or disposing of property.
\u2022 Handling insurance claims.
\u2022 Preserving and protecting estate property.
\u2022 Paying income and property taxes.
\u2022 Providing the court with an annual accounting of every expense.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDo Courts Ever Appoint Conservators, but Grant Them Only Limited Authority?<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t
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Where an individual requires some assistance, but not a full conservatorship, the court can make limited arrangements to fit the particular circumstances. For example, the court can authorize a single transaction to re-title a bank account in joint tenancy or transfer assets to a trust. Just like with full AZ conservatorships, however, these limited arrangements require a court hearing and judicial oversight.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhen is it Necessary to Establish a Conservatorship?<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t
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The court will only appoint a conservator for people who do not have capacity to manage their own finances. Oftentimes this incapacity is due to the aging process, but it can also stem from illness, disability or substance abuse. Families questioning whether they should seek a conservatorship should begin by asking:
\u2022 Can he\/she handle every day financial issues, such as writing checks or balancing a checkbook?
\u2022 Could he\/she be easily persuaded to give away money or property?
\u2022 Does he\/she have a grasp of what and where his\/her assets are?<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat Happens if an Agent Under a Power of Attorney Becomes Unable or Unwilling to Act on Behalf of the Principal?<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t
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While those who make advance preparations decrease their likelihood of requiring a conservator, even those with powers of attorney may require a conservatorship if the agent under the power of attorney becomes unable or unwilling to act. Similarly, a conservatorship may be necessary for a person with a power of attorney, but who prevents the agent from assuming any responsibility. Working with a conservatorship attorney to establish an Arizona conservatorship may be the only way to protect an individual who is incapable of making wise financial decisions.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhen Does a Validly Created Arizona Power of Attorney Take Effect?<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t
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When creating a power of attorney, one option is to immediately grant the agent authority to act on the principal\u2019s behalf. Another option is to create a \u201cspringing\u201d power of attorney, which only takes effect in the event that the principal loses capacity. Principals should consider their specific goals when determining which type of power of attorney is most suitable to their situation.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCan a Principal Under a Power of Attorney Revoke the Power of Attorney Once it is Created?<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t
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Principals under Arizona powers of attorney can revoke the power of attorney at any time, so long as they have capacity. A power of attorney that is not revoked dies with the principal, except for circumstances where funeral and burial decisions need to still be made.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Guardianship & Conservatorship FAQs What is the Difference Between a Guardian and a Conservator? The court establishes Arizona guardianships for people who need assistance with medical decisions, and establishes Arizona conservatorships for people who need assistance with financial decisions. While the process for establishing both is substantially the same, the duties and obligations of the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":111,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"default","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-534","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nArizona Guardianship & Conservatorship FAQs<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The attorneys at JacksonWhite Law answer the most frequently asked questions when it comes to Guardianships & Conservatorships.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jacksonwhitelaw.com\/guardianships-conservatorships\/faqs\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Arizona Guardianship & Conservatorship FAQs\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The attorneys at JacksonWhite Law answer the most frequently asked questions when it comes to Guardianships & Conservatorships.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.jacksonwhitelaw.com\/guardianships-conservatorships\/faqs\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Arizona Guardianships & Conservatorships Lawyer - 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