THE AD LITEM MANUAL FOR 2017 FOR GUARDIANSHIP & HEIRSHIP PROCEEDINGS IN TEXAS PROBATE COURTS STEVE M. KING JUDGE TARRANT COUNTY PROBATE COURT NUMBER ONE FORT WORTH , TEXAS REVISION DATE – JULY 2017 FOR CURRENT REVISION : SEARCH FOR : “T HE AD LITEM MANUAL FOR TARRANT COUNTY ” GUARDIANSHIP (From the Ad Litem’s Perspective) Appl’n to Appoint Guardian § 1101.001 App. K ‘Information Letter’ § 1102.003 rec’d App. C CI § 1054.051 Who initiates? GAL Ct Appts AAL Is GAL needed ? Yes CI Apptd § 1054.001 No CI Files Appl GAL Apptd §§ 1054.051, 1102.001 Hearing Date Set App. O and Conf Ltr Sent App. V GAL files Appl App. K Dr’s Ltr/DID? No App. C Yes Exam AAL Files Answer App. L CME Filed § 1101.103 Assessment by AAL Assessment by CI Assessment by GAL see ‘Duties’ see ‘Duties’ “Affidavit of Inability?” TRCP 145 App. H Consider Less Restrictive Alternatives & Supports & Services §1101.031 § 1001.101 App D. App D-1 and act appropriately EPO, TRO, Temp Inj’n, Temp Grdn § 1251.0014; Yes Immediate Action Needed? No Receivership §1354.001 AAL “Amplified” Yes Active Contest by AAL? No Answer App. M Active Contest Considerations: IME App. U Set on Uncontested GAL Report Secy for Costs App. R/ Mtn to Show Authy Docket, send Conf Ltr App. Q App. S./ Mtn Appt SPJ/ DCO/ Discovery/ Jury App. V Demand/ Mtn to Disqual/Mediation Mtn in Limine App. T/ Appeal IME Mtn/ Ntc/ Hearing Yes IME? Poster Citation § 1051.102/ Pers Svc on IME Perf’d/ CME filed Prop Ward § 1051.103 / Svc on “Laundry § 1101.103 App. U Citation, Service and Notice List” § 1051.104/Waivers § 1051.105 App. F § 1051 Ward’s Preference §§ 1104.002, 1104.054 Notice Affidavit §1051.104 Filed App. G CI Report Filed § 1054.153 Matter Dismissed Proof Hearing & Testimony Safekeeping “Freeze” Agreement Fails §§ 1055.051, 1051.253, 1101.101ff § 1105.155 App. Ad App. W Order Appointing Guardian §§1101.151ff App. Aa Ad Litems Discharged Bond & Oath § 1105.002 App. Ab, Ac Issuance of Letters § 1106.001 GAL, AAL apply for fees and discharge §§ 1054.005, 1102.005, 1155.051 App. Ae, Af “Administration” Begins 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS GUARDIANSHIP (From the Ad Litem’s Perspective) ....................................................................... Frontispiece I. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................................... 7 A. Initial Query: Why Should the Judge Care? ........................................................................................ 7 B. Certification Requirements .................................................................................................................. 7 C. Liability and Immunity ........................................................................................................................ 7 D. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel ........................................................................................................ 8 II. AREAS IN WHICH AD LITEMS ARE APPOINTED ............................................................................... 8 A. Appointment of a Guardian ................................................................................................................. 8 B. Restoration/Modification of Guardianship- Attorney Ad Litem .......................................................... 8 C. Removal of Community Administrator – Attorney Ad Litem ............................................................. 8 D. Heirship Determinations – Attorney Ad Litem .................................................................................... 9 E. Disclaimers – Guardian Ad Litem ....................................................................................................... 9 F. Probate of Will After Four Years – Attorney Ad Litem ...................................................................... 9 G. Partition Actions – Guardian Ad Litem ............................................................................................... 9 H. Trust Construction or Modification Actions – Guardian Ad Litem ..................................................... 9 I. Mental Health Commitments – Attorney Ad Litem ............................................................................. 9 J. Purchase of Estate Property by Guardian – Attorney Ad Litem .......................................................... 9 K. Sale of Minor’s Interest in Property ..................................................................................................... 9 L. Sports and Entertainment Contracts Entered Into by Minors – Guardian Ad Litem ............................. 9 M. Inspection by Guardian of Ward’s Estate Planning Documents – Guardian Ad Litem ....................... 9 N. Show Cause and Compliance Actions – Guardian Ad Litem and Attorney Ad Litem ........................ 9 O. Proper Investment by Guardian – Guardian Ad Litem ...................................................................... 10 P. Establishment of Pooled Trust Subaccount – Attorney Ad Litem ..................................................... 10 Q. Final Settlement of Guardianship Estate - Attorney Ad Litem .......................................................... 10 R. Judicial Bypass Proceedings– Guardian Ad Litem and Attorney Ad Litem ...................................... 10 S. Family Code Appointments - Guardian Ad Litem and Attorney Ad Litem ....................................... 10 T. “Utility Outfielder” Appointments - Attorney Ad Litem ................................................................... 10 U. “Utility Outfielder” Appointments - Guardian Ad Litem .................................................................. 10 III. EMBRACE THE TECHNOLOGY ......................................................................................................... 10 A. Electronic Resources ......................................................................................................................... 10 B. E-Filing & E-Notice .......................................................................................................................... 12 IV. A to Z FOR AD LITEMS IN GUARDIANSHIP PROCEEDINGS ........................................................ 11 A. Study this Manual .............................................................................................................................. 11 B. Guardianship Summary ..................................................................................................................... 11 C. Can You Get There From Here? ........................................................................................................ 11 D. Mechanics of Appointment: The Ad Litem Wheel ............................................................................ 11 E. The Language of Guardianship: Less Restrictive Alternatives & Supports and Services .................. 11 New! The PRACTICAL Tool ............................................................................................................ 12 F. Local Rules ........................................................................................................................................ 12 G. Standing Orders ................................................................................................................................. 12 H. What Documents to Expect ............................................................................................................... 12 I. Fundamentally Understand Your Role .............................................................................................. 12 MAJOR CAVEAT : Scope of Appointment ......................................................................................... 12 1. The Role of the Attorney Ad Litem ............................................................................................... 12 a. Legal Counsel .......................................................................................................................... 12 b. The Prime Directive ................................................................................................................ 12 c. “But I don’t want a guardian” ............................................................................................... 13 d. Duties/ Notes on Medical Records .......................................................................................... 13 2. The Role of the Guardian Ad Litem .............................................................................................. 13 a. Defined .................................................................................................................................... 13 b. Personal Representative .......................................................................................................... 14 c. Assess & Recommend ............................................................................................................. 14 3 d. Duties: Jiminy Cricket or Quarterback? .................................................................................. 14 e. Additonal Duties ..................................................................................................................... 14 J. Is Immediate Action Required? ......................................................................................................... 15 K. Temporary Guardianships ................................................................................................................. 15 L. AAL: File an Answer .......................................................................................................................