Sec. 107.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Amicus attorney" means an attorney appointed by the court in a suit, other than a suit filed by a governmental entity, whose role is to provide legal services necessary to assist the court in protecting a child's best interests rather than to provide legal services to the child, including by acting as a witness or making recommendations to the court.
(2) "Attorney ad litem" means an attorney who provides legal services to a person, including a child, and who owes to the person the duties of undivided loyalty, confidentiality, and competent representation.
(3) "Developmentally appropriate" means structured to account for a child's age, level of education, cultural background, and degree of language acquisition.
(4) "Dual role" means the role of an attorney who is appointed under Section 107.0125 to act as both guardian ad litem and attorney ad litem for a child in a suit filed by a governmental entity.
(5) "Guardian ad litem" means a person appointed to represent the best interests of a child. The term includes:
(A) a volunteer advocate from a charitable organization described by Subchapter C who is appointed by the court as the child's guardian ad litem;
(B) a professional, other than an attorney, who holds a relevant professional license and whose training relates to the determination of a child's best interests;
(C) an adult having the competence, training, and expertise determined by the court to be sufficient to represent the best interests of the child; or
(D) an attorney ad litem appointed to serve in the dual role.
Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., R.S., Ch. 20 (H.B. 655), Sec. 1, eff. April 20, 1995.
Amended by:
Acts 1995, 74th Leg., Ch. 751 (H.B. 433), Sec. 15, eff. September 1, 1995.
Acts 1997, 75th Leg., Ch. 1294 (S.B. 349), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 1997.
Acts 2003, 78th Leg., Ch. 262 (H.B. 1815), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2003.
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 1.031, eff. April 2, 2015.
Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 594 (H.B. 2530), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2025.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in
58
cases (
10 in the last 5 years), 1996–2026 · leading case:
Zeifman v. Nowlin, 322 S.W.3d 804 (Tex. App. 2010).
Zeifman v. Nowlin, 322 S.W.3d 804 (Tex. App. 2010).
· cites it 8× “" Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 107.001 (2) (West 2008).”
Brice v. Denton, 135 S.W.3d 139 (Tex. App. 2004).
· cites it 6× “" See TEX. FAM.CODE ANN. § 107.001(2) (Vernon Supp.”
O'Connor v. O'Connor, 245 S.W.3d 511 (Tex. App. 2007).
· cites it 4× “See TEX. FAM.CODE ANN. §§ 107.001, 107.003, 107.”
in the Interest of S.A.G., a Child, 403 S.W.3d 907 (Tex. App. 2013).
· cites it 5× “Laws 1173 , 1173–83 (amended 2005) (current version at TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. §§ 107.001–.010 (West 2008)).”
Smith v. Smith, 143 S.W.3d 206 (Tex. App. 2004).
· cites it 2× “Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 107.001. In Hefley v.”
In Re Bishop, 8 S.W.3d 412 (Tex. App. 1999).
· cites it 2× “See Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 107.001(b) (Vernon Supp.”
Dallas Cnty. v. Halsey, 87 S.W.3d 552 (Tex. 2002).
“This statute was repealed in 1995 and is now codified at Texas Family Code § 107.001, which gives a court the general power to appoint a guardian ad litem.”
in the Interest of E.A.F., Child, 424 S.W.3d 742 (Tex. App. 2014).
“” Tex. Fam.Code § 107.001(2). The Family Code sets out the powers and duties of an attorney ad litem appointed to represent the interests of a parent in a termination proceeding brought by a government entity.”
Baize v. Baize, 93 S.W.3d 197 (Tex. App. 2002).
· cites it 2× “003(b), (c); see also Tex. Fam.Code § 107.001 (stating that “the purpose of the statute requiring an ad litem for the child is to protect the child’s best interest”).”
In the Interest of A.R., 236 S.W.3d 460 (Tex. App. 2007).
“See Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 107.001(1), § 107.003 (Vernon 2006) .”
— Tex. Fam. Code § 107.001(1) — 23 cases
Zeifman v. Nowlin, 322 S.W.3d 804 (Tex. App. 2010).
“" Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 107.001 (2) (West 2008).”
in the Interest of S.A.G., a Child, 403 S.W.3d 907 (Tex. App. 2013).
“Laws 1173 , 1173–83 (amended 2005) (current version at TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. §§ 107.001–.010 (West 2008)).”
In the Interest of A.R., 236 S.W.3d 460 (Tex. App. 2007).
“See Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 107.001(1), § 107.003 (Vernon 2006) .”
— Tex. Fam. Code § 107.001(2) — 2 cases
Brice v. Denton, 135 S.W.3d 139 (Tex. App. 2004).
“" See TEX. FAM.CODE ANN. § 107.001(2) (Vernon Supp.”
in the Interest of E.A.F., Child, 424 S.W.3d 742 (Tex. App. 2014).
“” Tex. Fam.Code § 107.001(2). The Family Code sets out the powers and duties of an attorney ad litem appointed to represent the interests of a parent in a termination proceeding brought by a government entity.”
— Tex. Fam. Code § 107.001(5) — 1 case
— Tex. Fam. Code § 107.001(a) — 4 cases
Baize v. Baize, 93 S.W.3d 197 (Tex. App. 2002).
“003(b), (c); see also Tex. Fam.Code § 107.001 (stating that “the purpose of the statute requiring an ad litem for the child is to protect the child’s best interest”).”
— Tex. Fam. Code § 107.001(b) — 1 case
In Re Bishop, 8 S.W.3d 412 (Tex. App. 1999).
“See Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 107.001(b) (Vernon Supp.”
— Tex. Fam. Code § 107.001(f) — 1 case
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