A Fort Bend County probate judge appointed Judy Barry Davis as guardian of both the person and the estate for 76‑year‑old Minnie Dugas after finding Dugas totally incapacitated by clear and convincing evidence. The court set bond at $15,000, discharged the attorney ad litem and ordered a $650 fee for the attorney ad litem.

The appointment followed testimony and a filed medical certificate from Dr. Chris Merkel dated June 7, 2025, establishing dementia and a need for 24‑hour care. Davis told the court she lives in Georgia, has six siblings (three of whom waived notice), and that facility staff at Park Manor of Quail Valley had agreed to the guardianship filing. The court found less‑restrictive alternatives such as powers of attorney or supported‑decision agreements insufficient given the medical findings.

Davis said she is prepared to file annual reports and an annual accounting with the court and that she had completed the Judicial Branch Certified Guardian training and fingerprint/background requirements. The court named a local resident agent for service in the county and instructed Davis to seek letters and then proceed to verify assets, including bank accounts and potential inheritance from Dugas’s late spouse.

“After listening to testimony, the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that Minnie Dugas is totally incapacitated,” the judge said, then appointed Davis as guardian with full authority over the person and the estate and set bond at $15,000. The court noted that a waiver from the facility and service/notice documentation were on file and that Davis will need to report yearly.