Courts reviewing a guardianship must review specified reports and accounts, and court investigators or court visitors must prepare and document an additional report every three years unless the court orders more frequent reporting.
Sec. 1201.053. METHOD OF DETERMINATION. (a) In reviewing a guardianship under Section 1201.052, a statutory probate court shall review any: (1) report prepared by: (A) a court investigator under Section 1054.153 or 1202.054; (B) a guardian ad litem under Section 1202.054; or (C) a court visitor under Section 1054.104; (2) annual account prepared under Subchapter A, Chapter 1163; and (3) report prepared under Subchapter C, Chapter 1163. (a-1) Unless a court orders that a report be completed more frequently, if a report described by Subsection (a)(1) is required under Section 1054.153 or 1054.104, the court investigator or court visitor, as appropriate, shall prepare an additional report described by Subsection (a)(1) every three years beginning on the date the original letters of guardianship are issued. (a-2) Before preparing an additional report under Subsection (a-1), the court investigator or court visitor, as appropriate, shall: (1) meet with the ward in person, using necessary and appropriate communication supports; (2) present the bill of rights for wards under Section 1151.351 to the ward in the ward's preferred language and manner of communication; (3) document the ward's statement of guardianship, as described by Subsection (a-3); and (4) document the supports and services currently available to the ward and whether the guardian's rights and powers can be limited because a less restrictive alternative to guardianship is appropriate. (a-3) The ward's statement of guardianship: (1) must include: (A) whether the ward desires a full restoration of the ward's capacity or modification of the ward's guardianship; and (B) any other information the ward wishes to share with the court; and (2) may be in the form of: (A) a written statement made by the ward and filed with the court by the court investigator or court visitor preparing the report; (B) a verbal statement made to the court investigator or court visitor, as applicable, that is documented in writing and filed with the court by the person receiving the statement; or (C) a verbal or written statement made by the ward during a hearing either in person or remotely through other means. (b) A court that is not a statutory probate court: (1) shall review: (A) any account prepared under Subchapter A, Chapter 1163; and (B) any report prepared under Subchapter C, Chapter 1163 or Subsection (a-1); and (2) may use any other method to review a guardianship under Section 1201.052 that is determined appropriate by the court according to the court's caseload and available resources. Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 823 (H.B. 2759), Sec. 1.02, eff. January 1, 2014. Amended by: Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 939 (S.B. 1624), Sec. 12, eff. September 1, 2023.