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Tarrant County raises court‑appointed guardian investigator rate from $100 to $150 an hour
Summary
The commissioners voted unanimously to increase the hourly fee paid to attorneys serving as guardian ad litems and court‑appointed investigators in court‑initiated guardianship cases, citing workload and retention concerns.
The Tarrant County Commissioners Court voted 4‑0 March 11 to increase the hourly fee for court‑appointed guardianship investigators and guardian ad litems from $100 to $150 per hour.
County officials said the investigator role requires extensive work to determine whether a guardianship is appropriate for people alleged to lack capacity and that higher pay would help retain attorneys willing to serve on the court‑appointed roster. The county judge explained the process for court‑initiated guardianships and said investigators perform time‑intensive duties that justify the higher rate.
An official familiar with indigent defense funding indicated the change would have a minimal overall impact on the county’s indigence defense fund but was nevertheless deemed necessary to ensure qualified counsel is available. The court moved, seconded and approved the rate increase 4‑0; payment will come from the indigence/defense fund as discussed in court.
