Tex. Codes » Family Code · TITLE 3. JUVENILE JUSTICE CODE · CHAPTER 51. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Texas Codes

Tex. Fam. Code § 51.20 (2026)

Physical Or Mental Examination

✓ current as of May 2026
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Sec. 51.20. PHYSICAL OR MENTAL EXAMINATION. (a) At any stage of the proceedings under this title, including when a child is initially detained in a pre-adjudication secure detention facility or a post-adjudication secure correctional facility, the juvenile court may, at its discretion or at the request of the child's parent or guardian, order a child who is referred to the juvenile court or who is alleged by a petition or found to have engaged in delinquent conduct or conduct indicating a need for supervision to be examined by a disinterested expert, including a physician, psychiatrist, or psychologist, qualified by education and clinical training in mental health or intellectual disability and experienced in forensic evaluation, to determine whether the child has a mental illness as defined by Section 571.003, Health and Safety Code, is a person with an intellectual disability as defined by Section 591.003, Health and Safety Code, or suffers from chemical dependency as defined by Section 464.001, Health and Safety Code.

(b) If, after conducting an examination of a child ordered under Subsection (a) and reviewing any other relevant information, there is reason to believe that the child has a mental illness or intellectual disability or suffers from chemical dependency, the probation department shall refer the child to the local mental health authority, to the local intellectual and developmental disability authority, or to another appropriate and legally authorized agency or provider for evaluation and services, unless the prosecuting attorney has filed a petition under Section 53.04.

(c) If, while a child is under deferred prosecution supervision or court-ordered probation, a qualified professional determines that the child has a mental illness or intellectual disability or suffers from chemical dependency and the child is not currently receiving treatment services for the mental illness, intellectual disability, or chemical dependency, the probation department shall refer the child to the local mental health authority, to the local intellectual and developmental disability authority, or to another appropriate and legally authorized agency or provider for evaluation and services.

(d) A probation department shall report each referral of a child to a local mental health authority, to a local intellectual and developmental disability authority, or to another agency or provider made under Subsection (b) or (c) to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department in a format specified by the department.

(e) At any stage of the proceedings under this title, the juvenile court may order a child who has been referred to the juvenile court or who is alleged by the petition or found to have engaged in delinquent conduct or conduct indicating a need for supervision to be subjected to a physical examination by a licensed physician.

Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1477, Sec. 4, eff. Sept. 1, 1999. Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 828, Sec. 5(a), eff. Sept. 1, 2001; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 35, Sec. 6, eff. Jan. 1, 2004.

Amended by:

Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 949 (H.B. 1575), Sec. 7, eff. September 1, 2005.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 225 (H.B. 144), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2013.

Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 30 (H.B. 446), Sec. 3.01, eff. September 1, 2023.

Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 950 (S.B. 1727), Sec. 10, eff. September 1, 2023.

Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1166 (S.B. 1585), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2023.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 9 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 2000–2025 · leading case: In re H.C., 562 S.W.3d 30 (Tex. App. 2018).
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In re H.C., 562 S.W.3d 30 (Tex. App. 2018). “51(b) (West Supp. 2017). Under Section 51.20, the juvenile court may order an examination of the child to determine whether the child has a mental illness or an intellectual disability.”
In re J.C.C., 538 S.W.3d 183 (Tex. App. 2018). · cites it 3× “See TEX.FAM.CODE ANN. § 51.20(a) (West 2014).”
in the Matter of A.W.B., a Child, 419 S.W.3d 351 (Tex. App. 2010). “See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 51.20 (Vernon 2008).”
In re B.D., 16 S.W.3d 77 (Tex. App. 2000). “02 (Vernon 1996) (emphasis added), repealed, now codified at Tex. Fam.Code Ann. §§ 51.20, 55.11-.19 (Vernon Supp.”
In Re Bd, 16 S.W.3d 77 (Tex. App. 2000). “02 (Vernon 1996) (emphasis added), repealed, now codified at TEX. FAM.CODE ANN. §§ 51.20, 55.11-.19 (Vernon Supp.”
in the Matter of H.C. (Tex. App. 2018). “TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 51.20(a) ( West 2014 ); see TEX.”
in the Matter of C.C.C., a Juv. (Tex. App. 2022). “See TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. §§ 51.20(a), 54.02(d).”
In the Matter of T.L.J. v. the State of Texas (Tex. App. 2025). “At the conclusion of the hearing, the juvenile trial court waived its exclusive jurisdiction and transferred jurisdiction to the appropriate designated district court in Liberty County, Texas for criminal proceedings: 9 The Court, after considering all of the testimony, the…”
in the Matter of A.W.B., a Child (Tex. App. 2010). “See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 51.20 (Vernon 2008).”
— Tex. Fam. Code § 51.20(a) — 4 cases
In re H.C., 562 S.W.3d 30 (Tex. App. 2018). “51(b) (West Supp. 2017). Under Section 51.20, the juvenile court may order an examination of the child to determine whether the child has a mental illness or an intellectual disability.”
In re J.C.C., 538 S.W.3d 183 (Tex. App. 2018). “See TEX.FAM.CODE ANN. § 51.20(a) (West 2014).”
in the Matter of H.C. (Tex. App. 2018). “TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 51.20(a) ( West 2014 ); see TEX.”
in the Matter of C.C.C., a Juv. (Tex. App. 2022). “See TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. §§ 51.20(a), 54.02(d).”
— Tex. Fam. Code § 51.20(b) — 1 case
In re J.C.C., 538 S.W.3d 183 (Tex. App. 2018). “See TEX.FAM.CODE ANN. § 51.20(a) (West 2014).”
— Tex. Fam. Code § 51.20(c) — 1 case
In re J.C.C., 538 S.W.3d 183 (Tex. App. 2018). “See TEX.FAM.CODE ANN. § 51.20(a) (West 2014).”
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