AZ SB1296

Expands definitions in Arizona guardianship law to include new terms: "contact," "contact order," "joint legal decision-making," "legal decision-making," "parenting time," "significant relationship," and "visitation."

Requires guardians to encourage contact between wards and persons with significant relationships, but allows guardians to limit contact if reasonably believed detrimental to the ward's health, safety, or welfare.

Establishes procedures for persons with significant relationships to the ward and wards themselves to petition courts for contact orders, with courts considering factors including past relationships, ward's wishes, health, and history of abuse or substance issues.

Provides that persons with legal decision-making authority over a child at age eighteen are presumptively appointed as the child's guardian upon incapacity, and allows co-guardian appointments when two persons had joint legal decision-making.

Requires guardians to notify family members when an adult ward is hospitalized for more than three days or dies, including information about funeral arrangements.