§ 1151.051 — GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES OF GUARDIANS OF THE PERSON.

Texas § 1151.051

• Jurisdiction: Texas
• Code ES: Estates Code

Text

Sec. 1151.051. GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES OF GUARDIANS OF THE PERSON. (a) The guardian of the person of a ward is entitled to take charge of the person of the ward.
(b) The duties of the guardian of the person correspond with the rights of the guardian.
(c) A guardian of the person has:
(1) the right to have physical possession of the ward and to establish the ward's legal domicile;
(2) the duty to provide care, supervision, and protection for the ward;
(3) the duty to provide the ward with clothing, food, medical care, and shelter;
(4) the power to consent to medical, psychiatric, and surgical treatment other than the inpatient psychiatric commitment of the ward;
(5) on application to and order of the court, the power to establish a trust in accordance with 42 U.S.C. Section 1396p(d)(4)(B) and direct that the income of the ward as defined by that section be paid directly to the trust, solely for the purpose of the ward's eligibility for medical assistance under Chapter 32 , Human Resources Code;
(6) the duty to notify the court, as soon as practicable, if the ward has died or is admitted to a medical facility for acute care for a period of three or more days;
(7) the duty to notify the court not later than the 30th day after the date the ward's residence or address has changed;
(8) the duty to notify the court not later than the 30th day after the date of a change in the guardian's residence, address, phone number, or any other information used by the court to contact the guardian; and
(9) the power to sign documents necessary or appropriate to facilitate employment of the ward if:
(A) the guardian was appointed with full authority over the person of the ward under Section 1101.151 ; or
(B) the power is specified in the court order appointing the guardian with limited powers over the person of the ward under Section 1101.152 .
(d) Notwithstanding Subsection (c)(4), a guardian of the person of a ward has the power to personally transport the ward or to direct the ward's transport by emergency medical services or other means to an inpatient mental health facility for a preliminary examination in accordance with Subchapters A and C, Chapter 573 , Health and Safety Code. The guardian shall immediately provide written notice to the court that granted the guardianship as required by Section 573.004 , Health and Safety Code, of the filing of an application under that section.
(e) Notwithstanding Subsection (c)(1) and except in cases of emergency, a guardian of the person of a ward may only place the ward in a more restrictive care facility if the guardian provides notice of the proposed placement to the court, the ward, and any person who has requested notice and after:
(1) the court orders the placement at a hearing on the matter, if the ward or another person objects to the proposed placement before the eighth business day after the person's receipt of the notice; or
(2) the seventh business day after the court's receipt of the notice, if the court does not schedule a hearing, on its own motion, on the proposed placement before that day.

Legislative History

Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 823 (H.B. 2759 ), Sec. 1.02, eff. January 1, 2014. Amended by: Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 982 (H.B. 2080 ), Sec. 16, eff. January 1, 2014. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 214 (H.B. 39 ), Sec. 14, eff. September 1, 2015. Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 514 (S.B. 39 ), Sec. 9, eff. September 1, 2017. Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 855 (S.B. 1760 ), Sec. 7, eff. September 1, 2025.