ESTATES CODE

TITLE 3. GUARDIANSHIP AND RELATED PROCEDURES

SUBTITLE D. CREATION OF GUARDIANSHIP

CHAPTER 1102. COURT-INITIATED PROCEDURE TO APPOINT GUARDIAN



This section was amended by the 84th Legislature. Pending publication of the current statutes, see H.B. 1438, 84th Legislature, Regular Session, for amendments affecting this section.

Sec. 1102.001. COURT-INITIATED INVESTIGATION. If a court has probable cause to believe that a person domiciled or found in the county in which the court is located is an incapacitated person, and the person does not have a guardian in this state, the court shall appoint a guardian ad litem or court investigator to investigate the person's conditions and circumstances to determine whether:

(1) the person is an incapacitated person; and

(2) a guardianship is necessary.

Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 823 (H.B. 2759), Sec. 1.02, eff. January 1, 2014.



Sec. 1102.002. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROBABLE CAUSE FOR INVESTIGATION. To establish probable cause under Section 1102.001, the court may require:

(1) an information letter about the person believed to be incapacitated that is submitted by an interested person and satisfies the requirements of Section 1102.003; or

(2) a written letter or certificate from a physician who has examined the person believed to be incapacitated that satisfies the requirements of Section 1101.103, except that the letter must be:

(A) dated not earlier than the 120th day before the date of the appointment of a guardian ad litem or court investigator under Section 1102.001; and

(B) based on an examination the physician performed not earlier than the 120th day before that date.

Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 823 (H.B. 2759), Sec. 1.02, eff. January 1, 2014.



This section was amended by the 84th Legislature. Pending publication of the current statutes, see H.B. 1438, 84th Legislature, Regular Session, for amendments affecting this section.

Sec. 1102.003. INFORMATION LETTER. (a) An interested person who submits an information letter under Section 1102.002(1) about a person believed to be incapacitated must, to the best of the interested person's knowledge:

(1) state the person's name, address, telephone number, county of residence, and date of birth;

(2) state whether the person's residence is a private residence, health care facility, or other type of residence;

(3) describe the relationship between the person and the interested person submitting the letter;

(4) state the names and telephone numbers of any known friends and relatives of the person;

(5) state whether a guardian of the person or estate has been appointed in this state for the person;

(6) state whether the person has executed a power of attorney and, if so, the designee's name, address, and telephone number;

(7) describe any property of the person, including the estimated value of that property;

(8) list the amount and source of any monthly income of the person;

(9) describe the nature and degree of the person's alleged incapacity; and

(10) state whether the person is in imminent danger of serious impairment to the person's physical health, safety, or estate.

(b) In addition to the requirements of Subsection (a), if an information letter under that subsection is submitted by an interested person who is a family member of the person believed to be incapacitated, the information letter must:

(1) be signed and sworn to before a notary public by the interested person; or

(2) include a written declaration signed by the interested person under penalty of perjury that the information contained in the information letter is true to the best of the person's knowledge.

Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 823 (H.B. 2759), Sec. 1.02, eff. January 1, 2014.

Amended by:

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 982 (H.B. 2080), Sec. 11, eff. January 1, 2014.



Sec. 1102.004. APPLICATION FOR GUARDIANSHIP FOLLOWING INVESTIGATION. A guardian ad litem or court investigator who, after an investigation as prescribed by Section 1102.001, believes that the person is an incapacitated person and that a guardianship is necessary shall file an application for the appointment of a guardian of the person or estate, or both, for the person.

Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 823 (H.B. 2759), Sec. 1.02, eff. January 1, 2014.



This section was amended by the 84th Legislature. Pending publication of the current statutes, see H.B. 1438, 84th Legislature, Regular Session, for amendments affecting this section.

Sec. 1102.005. COMPENSATION OF GUARDIAN AD LITEM. (a) A court that appoints a guardian ad litem under Section 1102.001 may authorize compensation of the guardian ad litem from available funds of the proposed ward's estate, regardless of whether a guardianship is created for the proposed ward.

(b) After examining the proposed ward's assets and determining that the proposed ward is unable to pay for services provided by the guardian ad litem, the court may authorize compensation from the county treasury.

Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 823 (H.B. 2759), Sec. 1.02, eff. January 1, 2014.

Amended by:

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 982 (H.B. 2080), Sec. 12, eff. January 1, 2014.