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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the appointment of an attorney ad litem or an amicus |
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attorney in certain cases of divorce. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 153, Family Code, is amended by adding |
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Section 153.259 to read as follows: |
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Section 153.259. MANDATORY APPOINTMENT OF ATTORNEY AD LITEM |
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OR AMICUS ATTORNEY IN CASES OF DIVORCE. The court shall, for a |
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child under 12 years of age and in divorce cases which the |
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possession of a child by a parent is contested and the possession of |
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the child varies from the standard possession order, appoint an |
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attorney ad litem or amicus attorney for the purpose of assisting |
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the court in determining the best interest of the child. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |