Arizona Superior Court in Pima County
COURT APPOINTED ATTORNEY. Unless the proposed ward is represented by independent counsel, the court shall appoint an attorney to represent the proposed ward in the proceeding. Arizona Revised Statutes § 14-5310(C); A.R.S. § 5401.01(C); §14-5303(C) and §14-5407(B). *
* The Probate Clerk’s office will provide the Petitioner with the names of three (3) attorneys on the Court Appointed Attorney list. The Petitioner shall call the attorneys on the list and retain a court appointed attorney who is available to represent the ward at the appointed date and time of the hearing. Once a Court Appointed Attorney is chosen, the Petitioner shall notify the Probate Clerk of the name of the retained court appointed attorney to add to the case. In addition, the Petitioner shall advise the Commissioner or Judge’s Judicial Administrative Assistant of the name of the court appointed attorney.
INVESTIGATOR. A person who is appointed by the court. A.R.S. § 14-5407(B) and 14-5308. **
Probate Court Investigators are considered the "eyes and ears of the court." The Probate Court Investigators are responsible for conducting investigations into adult guardianships and conservatorships, adult adoptions, and some minor guardianships and conservatorships
In addition, when a guardian and/or conservator fails to notice the court when a ward's location and/or contact information has changed, Probate Court Investigations will first attempt to locate the "missing" ward and guardian/conservator. Probate Court Investigators also look into cases when someone notifies the court that possible neglect, physical abuse or misuse of funds is suspected in a case.
A Probate Court Investigator will meet and interview all identified interested parties, including the proposed guardian/conservator, the proposed ward, family members, physicians, social workers, case managers, etc.
While remaining completely neutral on issues involving a case, investigators recommend the best actions for the Court to take in each individual case. The Probate Court Investigator will prepare and submit a report to the court with all relevant observations, as well as a recommendation to the court as to the appropriateness of the guardianship/conservatorship and the appropriateness of the nominated guardian/conservator to serve in that capacity.
** The Probate Clerk’s Office assigns a court appointed investigator from a list maintained by the Probate Clerk’s Office and notifies the Petition of the name and contact information of the investigator. The Petitioner must contact the court appointed investigator of their appointment to the case as soon as possible.
Other Probate Contacts
Superior Court Probate Clerk’s Office
110 West Congress Street
1st Floor
Tucson, Arizona 85701
(520) 724-3230
Vicky Nicula
Superior Court Probate Registrar
110 West Congress Street
1st Floor
Tucson, Arizona 85701
(520) 724-3247
Lorenzo Garza
Probate Accountant
110 West Congress Street
Tucson, AZ 85701
(520) 724-3230
Justin Cluck
Pima County Public Fiduciary
32 North Stone Avenue
4th Floor
Tucson, AZ 85701
(520) 724-5454
Elder Law Legal Assistance
(520) 790-7262
Southern Arizona Legal Aid
(520) 623-9461
Lawyers Referral
(520) 623-4625
Pima County Bar Association
(520) 623-8258
