Sec. 574.003. APPOINTMENT OF ATTORNEY. (a) The judge shall appoint an attorney to represent a proposed patient within 24 hours after the time an application for court-ordered mental health services is filed if the proposed patient does not have an attorney. At that time, the judge shall also appoint a language or sign interpreter if necessary to ensure effective communication with the attorney in the proposed patient's primary language.
(b) The court shall inform the attorney in writing of the attorney's duties under Section 574.004.
(c) The proposed patient's attorney shall be furnished with all records and papers in the case and is entitled to have access to all hospital and physicians' records.
Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 76, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1991.
Structure Texas Statutes
Title 7 - Mental Health and Intellectual Disability
Subtitle C - Texas Mental Health Code
Chapter 574 - Court-Ordered Mental Health Services
Subchapter A. Application for Commitment and Prehearing Procedures
Section 574.001. Application for Court-Ordered Mental Health Services
Section 574.002. Form of Application
Section 574.003. Appointment of Attorney
Section 574.004. Duties of Attorney
Section 574.005. Setting on Application
Section 574.007. Disclosure of Information
Section 574.008. Court Jurisdiction and Transfer
Section 574.0085. Associate Judges
Section 574.009. Requirement of Medical Examination
Section 574.010. Independent Psychiatric Evaluation and Expert Testimony
Section 574.011. Certificate of Medical Examination for Mental Illness
Section 574.012. Recommendation for Treatment
Section 574.013. Liberty Pending Hearing
Section 574.014. Compilation of Mental Health Commitment Records