(a) The surviving parent of an adult individual who is an incapacitated person may, if the parent is the guardian of the person or estate of the adult individual, by will or written declaration appoint an eligible person to serve as guardian of the person or estate, as applicable, of the adult individual:
(1) after the parent dies;
(2) in the event the parent resigns as guardian of the person or estate; or
(3) in the event of the parent’s incapacity.
(a-1) If the surviving parent is both the guardian of the person and estate of the adult individual, the surviving parent may by will or written declaration appoint different eligible persons to serve as guardian of the person and guardian of the estate.

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Terms Used In Texas Estates Code 1104.103

  • Court: means and includes:
    (1) a county court in the exercise of its probate jurisdiction;
    (2) a court created by statute and authorized to exercise original probate jurisdiction; and
    (3) a district court exercising original probate jurisdiction in a contested matter. See Texas Estates Code 22.007
  • Estate: means a decedent's property, as that property:
    (1) exists originally and as the property changes in form by sale, reinvestment, or otherwise;
    (2) is augmented by any accretions and other additions to the property, including any property to be distributed to the decedent's representative by the trustee of a trust that terminates on the decedent's death, and substitutions for the property; and
    (3) is diminished by any decreases in or distributions from the property. See Texas Estates Code 22.012
  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • Person: includes a natural person and a corporation. See Texas Estates Code 22.027
  • Written: includes any representation of words, letters, symbols, or figures. See Texas Government Code 311.005

(b) After the surviving parent dies or resigns as guardian, or if the court finds the surviving parent has become an incapacitated person after being appointed the adult individual’s guardian, the court shall appoint the person or persons designated in the will or declaration to serve as guardian of the person, guardian of the estate, or both, in preference to any other person otherwise entitled to serve as guardian under this title, unless the court finds that the person designated to serve as guardian:
(1) is disqualified;
(2) is deceased;
(3) refuses to serve; or
(4) would not serve the adult individual’s best interests.
(c) Repealed by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 207 (S.B. 1457), Sec. 31, eff. September 1, 2023.