Arizona Guardianship Forms

The Core Petition Packet

Arizona's Supreme Court Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) publishes a standard adult guardianship petition packet — Form AOCPBGCA11F. This packet contains the petition itself plus the required supplemental forms. You'll file these with the Superior Court in the county where the proposed ward resides.

The packet includes:

• Petition for Appointment of Guardian/Conservator — states who you're petitioning for, why, what type of appointment you're seeking (limited or full), and what less-restrictive alternatives you've explored
• Probate Cover Sheet (pb10f) — administrative routing form required by most counties
• Probate Information Form (pb12f) — identifies all interested parties who must receive notice

Under A.R.S. § 14-5303, the petition must specifically declare whether the proposed ward has executed any existing durable POA or healthcare POA. If they have, copies must be attached. The petition must also state whether you're seeking a general (plenary) or limited guardianship — and if general, you must explain why limited won't work.

The Health Professional's Report

Form AOCPBGCA15F is the most important document in the packet, and the one most likely to cause delays. This statutory medical evaluation must be completed by a licensed physician, psychologist, or registered nurse who is qualified to assess the specific type of impairment the proposed ward has.

The report can't simply state a diagnosis. It must detail the proposed ward's specific cognitive, functional, and decision-making limitations; a diagnosis alone does not satisfy that requirement.

The evaluator must address capacity in concrete terms: Can this person understand medication instructions? Can they manage money without being exploited? Can they evaluate the safety of their living arrangements? The more specific the report, the smoother the hearing.

Fiduciary Training Declaration

Under Rule 38 of the Arizona Rules of Probate Procedure, any family member seeking appointment as guardian or conservator must complete mandatory online training modules approved by the Arizona Supreme Court before the court will issue permanent Letters of Appointment.

After completing the training, you'll print, sign, and file the Declaration of Completion of Training for Non-Licensed Fiduciaries (Form PBT80f) with the Clerk of Court. This isn't optional — the court won't finalize your appointment without it. The only exemptions are for licensed professional fiduciaries and corporate financial institutions.

The training covers fiduciary duties, reporting requirements, and legal limitations.

County-Specific Variations

The forms above are statewide, but counties add their own requirements:

Maricopa County uses the standard AOC forms but has moved subsequent filings (anything after the initial petition) to a digital submission system. The initial petition and original wills still require physical paper filing at the Central Court Complex. The Law Library Resource Center provides free form packets online and in-person assistance.

Pima County routes everything through the Probate Division at 110 W. Congress St. The Pima County Bar Association sells complete filing packets for $25 — which saves time assembling the right forms but isn't required. You can use the free AOC forms directly.

Pinal County publishes forms through the Clerk's online "Other Available Packets" portal. Filing procedures route through Florence.

Filing Fees After the 2024 Increase

Administrative Order 2024-210 implemented an 18% filing fee increase across all Arizona Superior Courts effective December 28, 2024. Baseline petition filing fees now run approximately $279 before county-specific surcharges. Maricopa County's total lands around $350–$367 with local surcharges; Pima County runs about $366 with mandatory certified copy packets.

Court investigator fees sit on top: $400 flat in Maricopa County, $500–$1,000 in Pima (assessed on actual investigative hours), and variable rates in Pinal.

Don't forget post-judgment filing fees. Subsequent petitions and some annual conservatorship accountings may cost $87–$102 depending on the county.

Before You File

Filing a guardianship petition is the heaviest legal tool Arizona offers for disability transition planning. Before committing to that path, document which less-restrictive alternatives you've explored — courts require this under A.R.S. § 14-5304, and skipping this step can result in your petition being denied or delayed.

The Arizona Adult Guardianship & Alternatives Guide includes a decision framework that walks through Supported Decision-Making Agreements, powers of attorney, Representative Payee arrangements, and educational delegation — so you can show the court exactly which alternatives you evaluated and why they're insufficient for your family's situation.

See more Arizona guides →