If you wish to become a guardian for an individual who is unable to care for themselves, either due to physical or mental incapacity, you must petition the probate court after obtaining a qualified physician’s letter.

Guardianship cases involve several different people and moving pieces.

The Applicant who seeks to be named Guardian of the Person and/or Guardian of the Estate of the Proposed Ward must pass a background check and other eligibility requirements under Texas law; and new legislation now requires the Applicant to complete training outside of court before the hearing on the merits and present a JBCC certificate of completion.

The Proposed Ward, the allegedly incapacitated person, will receive several visitors over a short period of time, wherever they live – which could be in the Applicant’s home, an assisted living facility, or perhaps even their own home if they have lived independently. The constable will arrive to serve personal service on the Proposed Ward that the guardianship case has been docketed. The attorney ad litem, once appointed by Order of the Court, will arrange to visit in-person wherever the Proposed Ward lives. The probate court’s investigator in some counties will also make an appearance somewhere in the process. In an uncontested case that would be all; but in a contested case then a Guardian Ad Litem will visit next.

The attorney ad litem is an independent lawyer appointed by Order of the Court to investigate the claims made in the Application and to represent the Proposed Ward. Immediately after being appointed the attorney ad litem will file an Answer to make an appearance in the case and then will physically meet the Proposed Ward and ask him/her questions and gauge their responses.

In cases where the Proposed Ward seems to be capable of handling their own affairs; or when the Proposed Ward vigorously objects to the Applicant (for some reason) becoming their Guardian but is otherwise fine with a guardianship; or when the attorney ad litem has other concerns about the guardianship, the attorney ad litem will report back to the Court seeking a guardian ad litem to be appointed. The main difference between the attorney ad litem and the guardian ad litem is that the attorney ad litem is the voice for whatever the Proposed Ward wants – while the guardian ad litem pursues what is in the best interest of the Proposed Ward.