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Dell DeHay Law Library – Tarrant County Page 1 of 2

This research guide provides an overview of resources

related to Court-Appointed Attorneys. These

resources cover attorneys ad litem, guardians ad litem,

& court-appointed attorneys in criminal cases. An

Attorney Ad Litem is an attorney appointed to provide

legal services to a person (such as a child in some

family law cases) & an amicus attorney is an attorney

appointed to advice on a defendant’s ability to stand

trial. Attorneys ad litem are advocates for the

person(s) he/she represents and enters an attorney-

client relationship with that individual. Some examples

of family law cases that might use attorneys ad litem

are CPS cases, child custody, divorce, & adoption. An

amicus attorney does not represent or assist the

defendant in any way. There are also Guardians Ad

Litem. The resources listed below are not exhaustive

and may not include the most up-to-date information.

It is for information purposes only and should not be

construed as legal advice or act as the substitute for

legal counsel.

Texas Statutes Online www.statutes.capitol.texas.gov

Texas Family Code

• Ch. 107 Special Appointments, Child Custody

Evaluations, and Adoption Evaluations

https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/FA/ht

m/FA.107.htm

Texas Government Code

• Ch. 37 Appointments of Attorneys Ad Litem,

Guardians Ad Litem, Mediators, and

Guardians

https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/GV/ht

m/GV.37.htm

• Ch. 79 Texas Indigent Defense Commission

https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/GV/ht

m/GV.79.htm

Texas Code of Criminal Procedure

• §1.051 Right to Representation by Counsel

https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CR/ht

m/CR.1.htm#1.051

• §26.04 Procedures for Appointing Counsel

https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CR/ht

m/CR.26.htm#26.04

Texas Litigation Guide REF KFT 1730 .T4

• Vol. 1 §6:23 Attorney Ad Litem & §10:271

Appointment of Attorney Ad Litem

• Vol. 2 §31.117 Order Appointing Attorney Ad

Litem

• Vol. 22 §370.07 Attorneys Ad Litem,

Guardians Ad Litem, and Amicus Attorneys

• Vol. 23 §381.12 Parent’s Right to Counsel in

Suit Filed by DFPS

Texas Family Law Practice and Procedure REF KFT

1294 .F35

• Vol. 1 §C3.10 Requesting Guardian or

Attorney Ad Litem (Divorce)

• Vol. 2 §E7.102 Judgment for Payment of

Attorney or Guardian Ad Litem Fees and Court

Costs

• Vol. 3 §H3.03 Considering Appointment of

Guardian ad Litem, Attorney ad Litem, or

Amicus Attorney (Modification)

• Vol. 4 §R4.03 Considering Child Custody

Evaluation & Appointment of Guardian or

Attorney ad Litem (Paternity)

• Vol. 4 §S2.03 Considering Appointment of

Guardian ad Litem, Attorney ad Litem, or

Amicus Attorney (Termination)& §S2.100

Order Appointing Guardian or Attorney ad

Litem (Termination)

• Vol. 4 §T4.02 Seeking Appointment of

Guardian or Attorney ad Litem (Adoption)

Court-Appointed Attorneys

Research Guide

**THIS IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR THE ADVICE OF AN ATTORNEY**

Statutes & Codes

Secondary Resources in Print

Overview

Dell DeHay Law Library – Tarrant County (Court-Appointed Attorneys) Page 2 of 2

Texas Probate Forms and Procedures REF KFT

1344 .T4B7

• Form 10-1.1 Application to Appoint Attorney

Ad Litem & Form 10-1.2 Order Appointing

Attorney Ad Litem

Texas Probate, Estate, & Trust Administration REF

KFT 1344 .T465

• Vol. 4 § 70.12 Attorneys and Guardians Ad

Litem

Texas Pretrial Practice REF KFT 1737 .T4B7

• Vol. 1 §6:22 et seq Guardian ad Litem and

Attorney ad Litem

Texas Criminal Lawyer’s Handbook REF KFT 1775

.D36

• Vol. 1, Ch. 4 Right to Counsel and Effective

Assistance of Counsel

Advanced Family Law Course KFT 1294 .S83

• 2021 Ch. 11: Understanding the Amicus

Statute and Making it Work for Your Case

• 2021 Ch. 53: Children in

Court

• 2019 Ch. 26: Do You Have an Appointment?

The Role of Amicus Attorneys, Ad Litems,

Parenting Facilitators, and Parenting

Coordinators

• 2019 Ch. 51: Child Clients: Difficult Issues for

the Attorney Ad Litem

Innovations Breaking Boundaries in Custody

Litigation KFT 1304.6 .A75 I56

• 2022 Ch. 2 Voice of the Child (PDF only)

Handling Your First (or Next) Guardianship Case

KFT 1306 .A75 H36

• 2015 Ch. 6 The Role of the Ad Litem

Attorneys Ad Litem and Amicus Attorneys (Texas Law

Help) https://texaslawhelp.org/article/attorneys-ad-

litem-and-amicus-attorneys-family-law-cases

The Right to a Lawyer in Family Law Cases (Texas

Law Help) https://texaslawhelp.org/article/the-

right-to-a-lawyer-in-family-law-cases

How Do I Get a Free Criminal Defense Lawyer (Texas

Law Help) https://texaslawhelp.org/article/how-do-

i-get-a-free-criminal-defense-lawyer

Lists of Attorneys and Guardians Ad Litem and

Mediators (District Courts)

https://www.tarrantcounty.com/en/civil-

courts/district-courts/appointments.html

Ad Litem Manual (Probate Courts)

https://www.tarrantcountytx.gov/content/dam/mai

n/probate-courts/probate-court-

1/Documents/The_Ad_Litem_Manual.pdf

Checklist for Attorneys Ad Litem (Probate

Courts)http://www.tarrantcounty.com/content/dam

/main/probate-courts/probate-court-

2/CHECKLIST_FOR_ATTORNEYS_AD_LITEM.pdf

What is a Guardian Ad Litem & When is it Used in Fort

Worth (attorney blog)

https://www.divorcelawfortworth.com/blog/what-

is-a-guardian-ad-litem-and-when-is-it-used-in-fort-

worth/

Legal Lines – Ask Attorneys simple legal questions

(free service)

 Tarrant County LegalLine Sign-up

https://www.tarrantbar.org/

 Dallas County LegalLine Sign-up

https://www.dallasbar.org/index.cfm?pg

=legalline

Tarrant County Bar Association Lawyer Referral

Service: 817-336-4101 ($20 for the first 30 minutes)

CLE Materials

Online Resources

Legal Assistance