A sibling is not independently listed as a wrongful death beneficiary under Arizona Revised Statutes § 12-612 simply because he or she is the deceased person’s brother or sister.
Arizona identifies surviving spouses, children, and parents as beneficiaries, with specific provisions involving guardians and personal representatives. If none of the designated beneficiaries survive, a claim may potentially be pursued for the benefit of the estate.
Family relationships and estate issues can become complicated, so the correct claimant and beneficiaries should be determined before a lawsuit is filed.
