Texas Family Code

§ 107.001 — DEFINITIONS

FA § 107.001Title 5. THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP AND THE SUIT AFFECTING THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP · Part A. GENERAL PROVISIONS · Ch. 107. SPECIAL APPOINTMENTS, CHILD CUSTODY EVALUATIONS, AND ADOPTION EVALUATIONS · Art. A. COURT-ORDERED REPRESENTATION IN SUITS AFFECTING THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP

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In this chapter:

(1)"Amicus attorney" means an attorney appointed by the court in a suit, other than a suit filed by a governmental entity, whose role is to provide legal services necessary to assist the court in protecting a child's best interests rather than to provide legal services to the child, including by acting as a witness or making recommendations to the court.

(2)"Attorney ad litem" means an attorney who provides legal services to a person, including a child, and who owes to the person the duties of undivided loyalty, confidentiality, and competent representation.

(3)"Developmentally appropriate" means structured to account for a child's age, level of education, cultural background, and degree of language acquisition.

(4)"Dual role" means the role of an attorney who is appointed under Section 107.0125 to act as both guardian ad litem and attorney ad litem for a child in a suit filed by a governmental entity.

(5)"Guardian ad litem" means a person appointed to represent the best interests of a child. The term includes:

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Legislative history

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., Ch. 751 (H.B. 433), Sec. 15, eff. September 1, 1995. Acts 1997, 75th Leg., Ch. 1294 (S.B. 349), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 1997. Acts 2003, 78th Leg., Ch. 262 (H.B. 1815), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2003. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 1.031, eff. April 2, 2015. Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 594 (H.B. 2530), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2025.