Texas Family Code
§ 107.011 — MANDATORY APPOINTMENT OF GUARDIAN AD LITEM
FA § 107.011Title 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. B. APPOINTMENTS IN CERTAIN SUITS
Statute text
View on source(a)Except as otherwise provided by this subchapter, in a suit filed by a governmental entity seeking termination of the parent-child relationship or the appointment of a conservator for a child, the court shall appoint a guardian ad litem to represent the best interests of the child immediately after the filing of the petition but before the full adversary hearing.
(b)The guardian ad litem appointed for a child under this section may be:
(1)a charitable organization composed of volunteer advocates or an individual volunteer advocate appointed under Subchapter C;
(2)an adult having the competence, training, and expertise determined by the court to be sufficient to represent the best interests of the child; or
(3)an attorney appointed in the dual role.
(c)The court may not appoint a guardian ad litem in a suit filed by a governmental entity if an attorney is appointed in the dual role unless the court appoints another person to serve as guardian ad litem for the child and restricts the role of the attorney to acting as an attorney ad litem for the child.
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Legislative history
Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 971 (S.B. 2049), Sec. 7, eff. September 1, 2021.