A court may appoint a guardian ad litem or attorney ad litem in a proceeding when representation would otherwise be inadequate, and those appointees are entitled to court-set reasonable compensation.
Sec. 115.014. GUARDIAN OR ATTORNEY AD LITEM. (a) At any point in a proceeding a court may appoint a guardian ad litem to represent the interest of a minor, an incapacitated, unborn, or unascertained person, or person whose identity or address is unknown, if the court determines that representation of the interest otherwise would be inadequate. If there is not a conflict of interests, a guardian ad litem may be appointed to represent several persons or interests. (b) At any point in a proceeding a court may appoint an attorney ad litem to represent any interest that the court considers necessary, including an attorney ad litem to defend an action under Section 114.083 for a beneficiary of the trust who is a minor or who has been adjudged incompetent, if the court determines that representation of the interest otherwise would be inadequate. (c) A guardian ad litem may consider general benefit accruing to the living members of a person's family. (d) A guardian ad litem is entitled to reasonable compensation for services in the amount set by the court to be taxed as costs in the proceeding. (e) An attorney ad litem is entitled to reasonable compensation for services in the amount set by the court in the manner provided by Section 114.064. Amended by Acts 1983, 68th Leg., p. 3332, ch. 567, art. 2, Sec. 2, eff. Jan. 1, 1984. Amended by: Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 148 (H.B. 1190), Sec. 24, eff. January 1, 2006. Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 672 (H.B. 2368), Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2009. Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 672 (H.B. 2368), Sec. 6, eff. September 1, 2009. Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 446 (H.B. 2196), Sec. 5, eff. June 9, 2023.