Arizona Laws 14-5407. Procedure concerning hearing and order on original petition
A. On the filing of a petition for appointment of a conservator or any other protective order because of minority, the court shall set a hearing date on the matters alleged in the petition. If, at any time in the proceeding, the court determines that the interests of the minor are or may be inadequately represented, it shall appoint an attorney to represent the minor. If the minor is at least fourteen years of age the court shall consider the choice of the minor.
Terms Used In Arizona Laws 14-5407
- Conservator: means a person who is appointed by a court to manage the estate of a protected person. See Arizona Laws 14-1201
- Court: means the superior court. See Arizona Laws 14-1201
- Disability: means cause for a protective order as described in section 14-5401. See Arizona Laws 14-1201
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- including: means not limited to and is not a term of exclusion. See Arizona Laws 1-215
- Interested person: includes any trustee, heir, devisee, child, spouse, creditor, beneficiary, person holding a power of appointment and other person who has a property right in or claim against a trust estate or the estate of a decedent, ward or protected person. See Arizona Laws 14-1201
- Investigator: means a person who is appointed by the court under section 14-5308. See Arizona Laws 14-5101
- Minor: means a person who is under eighteen years of age. See Arizona Laws 14-1201
- Person: means an individual or an organization. See Arizona Laws 14-1201
- Petition: means a written request to the court for an order after notice. See Arizona Laws 14-1201
- Proceeding: includes action at law and suit in equity. See Arizona Laws 14-1201
- Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
- United States: includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See Arizona Laws 1-215
B. On the filing of a petition for appointment of a conservator or any other protective order for reasons other than minority, or on the filing of a petition for continuation of a conservatorship or other protective order pursuant to section 14-5401, subsection B, the court shall set a hearing date. Unless the person to be protected has counsel of that person’s own choice, the court shall appoint an attorney to represent that person. If the alleged disability is mental illness, mental deficiency, mental disorder, physical illness or disability, chronic use of drugs, or chronic intoxication, the court shall appoint an investigator to interview the person to be protected. On petition by an interested person or on the court’s own motion, the court may direct that an appropriate medical or psychological evaluation of the person be conducted. The investigator and the person conducting the medical or psychological evaluation shall submit written reports to the court before the hearing date.
C. In any case where the United States department of veterans affairs is or may be an interested party, a certificate of an authorized official of the United States department of veterans affairs that the person allegedly in need of protection has been found incapable of handling the benefits payable, on examination in accordance with the laws and regulations governing the United States department of veterans affairs, is prima facie evidence of the necessity for appointment of a conservator.
D. The person allegedly in need of protection is entitled to be present at the hearing, to be represented by counsel, to present evidence and to cross-examine witnesses, including any court appointed examiner and investigator. The issue may be determined at a closed hearing if the person allegedly in need of protection or that person’s counsel so requests.
E. At the initial hearing on the petition, the court shall read into the record the notice of right to a trial by jury as stated in the notice of hearing.
F. After the hearing, and after making specific findings on the record that a basis for the appointment of a conservator or any other protective order has been established, the court shall make an appointment or other appropriate protective order.