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The probate courts' standing order (signed Jan. 27, 2025; amending SO-2015-00007 and SO-2015-00008) requiring the Clerk to collect a $600 retainer deposit, administrative fee waived, in every application for determination of heirship (Estates Code § 53.052(a)) and every guardianship application (§ 1053.052(a), except applicants described in §§ 1053.052(c) and 1155.151(a-2)) filed on or after Feb. 1, 2025, held for the attorney ad litem's fees; the Clerk releases the approved fee to the ad litem and any balance to the applicant within 30 days of the fee order, and the applicant pays any excess within 30 days.
Texas > Denton County > Probate Court No. 1 and Probate Court No. 2 — applicants in determinations of heirship and guardianships filed on or after Feb. 1, 2025; attorneys ad litem; the County Clerk.
"IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that as provided in Tex. Est. Code § 53.052(a), for all applications for Determination of Heirship filed on or after February 1, 2025, the Clerk of the Court shall collect a Retainer Deposit in the amount of $600.00, with administrative fee waived, in every cause in which an application for determination of heirship is filed. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that as provided in Tex. Est. Code § 1053.052(a), for all applications for guardianship filed on or after February 1, 2025, the Clerk of the Court shall collect a Retainer Deposit in the amount of $600.00, with administrative fee waived, in every cause in which an application for guardianship is filed other than those applications filed by persons described in Tex. Est. Code § 1053.052(c) and Tex. Est. Code § 1155.151(a-2). The aforementioned Retainer Deposits shall be held by the Clerk of the Court for the payment of the fees of the attorney ad litem upon a proper order directing the taxing of the same as costs in the proceeding and the filing of an Order for Mandatory Report of Judicial Appointment and Fees. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that if the Court ordered amount of reasonable and necessary attorney's fees and expenses to be paid to the Attorney Ad Litem is less than the $600.00 Retainer Deposit and the Attorney Ad Litem has been discharged from his or her duty, the Clerk shall release from the Retainer Deposit to the Attorney Ad Litem … the amount for reasonable and necessary attorney's fees and expenses approved in the case. After payment to the Ad Litem, the Clerk shall then release … the remaining amount of the Retainer Deposit to the Applicant within thirty (30) days from the Court's signed Order approving attorney's fees and expenses. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that if the Court ordered amount … is more than the $600.00 Retainer Deposit, the clerk shall release the $600.00 Retainer Deposit … to the Attorney Ad Litem in the case within thirty (30) days from the Court's signed Order approving attorney's fees and expenses. The remaining balance of the attorney's fees owed to the Attorney Ad Litem shall be paid by the Applicant in accordance with the Court's signed Order within thirty (30) days. SIGNED on January 27, 2025."
"IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that as provided in Tex. Est. Code § 53.052(a), for all applications for Determination of Heirship filed on or after February 1, 2025, the Clerk of the Court shall collect a Retainer Deposit in the amount of $600.00, with administrative fee waived, in every cause in which an application for determination of heirship is filed. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that as provided in Tex.
Reviewer note: Text-layer registration (2 pp) read in full 2026-09-06; quoted verbatim; signed by Judge Christopher J. Everett (Court No. 2). Composed benchpath-ajr8-denton. County-site receipt(s) in custody 2026-09-06: https://www.dentoncounty.gov/DocumentCenter/View/10305/Standing-Order-Regarding-Security-of-Cost-for-Attorney-Ad-Litem-PDF (identical edition).
Standing order of the 109th Judicial District Court for every pending or later-filed case in Andrews, Winkler and Crane Counties: any attorney or self-represented litigant who uses any form of artificial intelligence for legal research or drafting in a case must, before using AI-generated information in a court submission or proceeding, sign and submit the court's certification form stating that all language, quotations, sources, citations, arguments and legal analysis created or contributed to by generative AI were verified as accurate by a human through traditional (non-AI) legal sources, and acknowledging responsibility and potential sanctions for their or their co-counsel's failure to comply. Effective immediately; in effect until rescinded or replaced.
Standing order of the 109th Judicial District Court for every pending or later-filed case in Andrews, Winkler and Crane Counties: any attorney or self-represented litigant who uses any form of artificial intelligence for legal research or drafting in a case must, before using AI-generated information in a court submission or proceeding, sign and submit the court's certification form stating that all language, quotations, sources, citations, arguments and legal analysis created or contributed to by generative AI were verified as accurate by a human through traditional (non-AI) legal sources, and acknowledging responsibility and potential sanctions for their or their co-counsel's failure to comply. Effective immediately; in effect until rescinded or replaced.