What This Statute Says
A.R.S. § 46-457 establishes the elder abuse central registry maintained by the Department of Economic Security. The registry tracks substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, or exploitation and is used to screen prospective caregivers.
A. A person who files an action under this article shall serve notice and one copy of the pleading with the attorney general within thirty days after the action is filed in the superior court. The notice shall identify the action, the person against whom the civil complaint has been filed and that person's attorney. The person who files an action is responsible for submitting a report on the final disposition of the case within thirty days after the final action is taken.
A.R.S. § 46-457The registry is a database of substantiated APS findings. Caregiver agencies, long-term care facilities, and certain other employers are required to check the registry before hiring. A person on the registry generally cannot be hired into a position that involves direct care of a vulnerable adult.
Listing is not automatic. The statute and its companion § 46-458 require notice and an opportunity for a hearing before a person is added to the registry. Listed individuals can later petition for removal under specific conditions.
For families hiring private caregivers for an aging parent, asking whether the worker has been screened against the registry is a reasonable due diligence step.
When This Statute Comes Into Play
This statute typically becomes relevant in three situations. A family is responding to a current crisis involving a vulnerable adult. An attorney is building safeguards into a long-term estate plan. Or a civil or criminal case is being evaluated after harm has already occurred. The statute is part of a larger framework in chapter 4 of title 46, and it usually operates alongside the related sections cross-linked below.
What This Means for Arizona Families
Arizona's vulnerable adult protection laws can feel distant until they suddenly become very personal. A parent's bank calls about suspicious activity. A neighbor wonders about an aging family member. A care facility raises a concern. When that moment arrives, the rules in chapter 4 of title 46 are the framework you are working inside.
If you are worried about an older relative or a family member with a disability, you usually have several tools available. A private conversation with the bank using the trusted-contact rules. A call to Adult Protective Services. A referral to the long-term care ombudsman. Or a petition for guardianship or conservatorship in superior court. Each tool fits a different fact pattern. Our FAQ on how guardianship and conservatorship proceedings work in Arizona covers the court track in detail, and our FAQ on whether it is safe to add a child to a parent's bank account covers the everyday financial step that often comes up first.
If you are building an estate plan that anticipates your own future incapacity, the back-end protections in chapter 4 are part of why a well-drafted durable power of attorney and a healthcare directive matter. A trusted agent with clear authority is the front line. The statutes are the safety net behind them.