89R2604 KFF-F
By: Thompson H.B. No. 1954
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to guardianship matters.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 1002.013, Estates Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 1002.013. GUARDIAN AD LITEM. "Guardian ad litem"
means a person appointed by a court to represent the best interests
of an incapacitated person or proposed ward in a guardianship
proceeding.
SECTION 2. Section 1054.051(a), Estates Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) Subject to Subsection (b), the judge may appoint a
guardian ad litem to represent the interests of an incapacitated
person or proposed ward in a guardianship proceeding.
SECTION 3. Section 1054.054(b), Estates Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) A guardian ad litem shall protect the incapacitated
person or proposed ward whose interests the guardian has been
appointed to represent in a manner that will enable the court to
determine the action that will be in that person's best interests.
SECTION 4. Section 1054.056(a), Estates Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) Subject to Subsection (b), a guardian ad litem appointed
under this subchapter or Section 1102.001 or 1202.054 to represent
the interests of an incapacitated person or proposed ward in a
guardianship proceeding involving the creation, modification, or
termination of a guardianship is not liable for civil damages
arising from a recommendation made or an opinion given in the
capacity of guardian ad litem.
SECTION 5. Section 1055.001(b), Estates Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) A person who has an interest that is adverse to a
proposed ward or incapacitated person may not:
(1) file an application to create a guardianship or
for the appointment of a guardian for the proposed ward or
incapacitated person;
(2) contest the creation of a guardianship for the
proposed ward or incapacitated person;
(3) contest the appointment of a person as a guardian
of the proposed ward or incapacitated person; [or]
(4) contest an application for complete restoration of
a ward's capacity or modification of a ward's guardianship; or
(5) file a motion or complaint to request the removal
of a guardian or contest the request for removal of a guardian.
SECTION 6. Subchapter D, Chapter 1151, Estates Code, is
amended by adding Section 1151.156 to read as follows:
Sec. 1151.156. DUTY TO PRESERVE WARD'S ESTATE PLAN. (a)
The guardian of the estate who on appointment has actual knowledge
of the existence of the ward's estate plan shall preserve, to the
extent reasonably possible, the plan, including probate and
nonprobate planning, if preserving the plan is consistent with the
ward's best interest based on all relevant factors, including:
(1) the value and nature of the ward's estate;
(2) the ward's foreseeable obligations and need for
maintenance;
(3) minimization of income, estate, inheritance, or
other taxes payable out of the ward's estate; and
(4) eligibility for resources reasonably available to
the ward, including government benefits available under state or
federal law.
(b) The guardian of the estate shall obtain court approval
before:
(1) changing or canceling the ward's beneficiary
designation under an account, contract, or another arrangement that
authorizes designation of a beneficiary in existence when the
guardian was appointed, including an insurance or annuity contract,
a qualified or nonqualified retirement plan, and an employment
agreement, such as a deferred compensation agreement;
(2) changing or canceling the designated payee under
the ward's payable or transfer on death account in existence when
the guardian was appointed; or
(3) closing an account described by Subdivision (1) or
(2).
(c) The guardian of the estate may request the court's
permission to restore the designated beneficiary described by
Subsection (b)(1) or designated payee described by Subsection
(b)(2) if the beneficiary or payee, as applicable, was canceled or
required to be canceled due to closure of the ward's account. On
receipt of the request, the court may grant the guardian's request
and grant the guardian authority to execute the beneficiary
designation form or payable or transfer on death form required by
the financial institution or other entity.
SECTION 7. Section 1163.051, Estates Code, is amended by
adding Subsections (d) and (e) to read as follows:
(d) If the court approves the annual account, the court
shall enter an order to that effect.
(e) If the court does not approve the annual account, the
court shall enter an order to that effect and require the guardian
of the estate to file another annual account within a period
prescribed by the order, which may not be later than the 20th day
after the date the order is entered.
SECTION 8. Section 1163.104, Estates Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as
follows:
(a) If the judge is satisfied that the facts stated in the
report are true, the court shall approve the report and enter an
order to that effect.
(a-1) If the court does not approve the annual report, the
court shall enter an order to that effect and require the guardian
of the person to file another annual report within a period
prescribed by the order, which may not be later than the 20th day
after the date the order is entered.
SECTION 9. Sections 1054.051, 1054.054, 1054.056,
1055.001, 1163.051, and 1163.104, Estates Code, as amended by this
Act, apply to a guardianship proceeding that is pending or
commenced on or after the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 10. Section 1151.156, Estates Code, as added by
this Act, applies only to the appointment of a guardian made on or
after the effective date of this Act. An appointment made before
the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect
immediately before the effective date of this Act, and the former
law is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 11. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.