Chapter 37 to the Government Code provides procedures for the appointment
of attorneys ad litem, guardians ad litem, mediators and guardians in counties with a population of 25,000 or more. Thus,
the statute applies to both Waller and Grimes Counties. It applies to any court created by the Texas Constitution or by statute
or that is authorized by statute.
Government
Code Sec. 37.003 requires courts to establish and maintain lists of: 1) all attorneys who are qualified to serve as an attorney
ad litem and are registered with the court, 2) all attorneys and other persons who are qualified to serve as a guardian ad
litem and are registered with the court, 3) all persons who are registered with the court to serve as a mediator, and 4) all
attorneys and private professional guardians who are qualified to serve as a guardian as defined by Section 1002.012, Estates
Code, and are registered with the court.
Attorneys
and others wishing to be placed on one of the lists should consult with Section 37.003, which requires the person to be qualified
to serve in that capacity and register with the court.
Courts are permitted to appoint persons who are not next on the list or who are not on the list but meet the statutory or
other requirements necessary for the appointment in two instances. The first is when the parties have agreed on the person
and the court approves of the appointment. The other is on a finding of good cause, if the appointment is required on a complex
matter, because the person has relevant specialized education, training, certification, skill, language proficiency or knowledge
of the subject matter, has relevant prior involvement with the parties, or is in a relevant geographic location.
The lists maintained by the courts are required to be posted annually at
the courthouse of the county in which the court is located and on any Internet website of the court. The lists on this page
do not include attorneys for indigent defense appointment. See Indigent Defense on this website for more information on criminal appointments.
The lists are maintained by the 506th Judicial District Court by county. Please see below for the county lists.