Speaker and attendees at a UT Law CLE conference presentation
eCourse

2026 Guardianship Bundle for Attorneys Ad Litem

Contains material from Sep 2026
2026 Guardianship Bundle for Attorneys Ad Litem
4.31 out of 5 stars
What was the overall quality of the course (presentation, materials, and technical delivery)?
Rate the overall teaching effectiveness and presentation skills of faculty for the course.

Technical Questions?
512.475.6700
service@utcle.org

Session 1: A Tour Through the CME - This presentation provides a practical walkthrough of the Physician’s Certificate of Medical Examination, examining the specific statutory requirements of the Texas Estates Code and the nuances of documenting incapacity. Learn to identify common pitfalls in these assessments to ensure your evidence withstands judicial scrutiny and accurately supports the legal standard for guardianship.  

Session 2: Alternatives to Guardianship including Support Services - Find the power in your powers, and avoid or limit guardianship through the use of planning tools. The practical implementation of traditional tools such as powers of attorney and supportive decision-making agreements and how to work around their limitations.  

Session 3: Evidentiary, Procedural and Service Issues in Contested and Uncontested Guardianships - “Why Is My Case Not Moving Faster?” - An overview of the required details and common pitfalls to avoid in contested and uncontested guardianship matters at the incipient stages of filing and how to get your matter heard in court expeditiously. 

Session 4: Top Ten Lessons Learned When Handling Contested Guardianships - A discussion of issues that guardianship practitioners should be aware of and prepare to address when involved in guardianship litigation. The discussion includes both pretrial and trial strategies. 

Session 5: Preserving Choice: Legal Standards for Consent and the Need for Guardianship - When does a client have the right to say “yes”—and when does the law step in to say “no”? This course explores the delicate balance between personal autonomy and protection, focusing on a client’s ability to consent and the legal threshold for guardianship. Through practical examples and Texas-specific guidance, attendees will learn how to recognize capacity, preserve client rights, and identify when guardianship is truly necessary.

******************************

PLEASE NOTE: To claim Texas Guardianship Ad Litem credit for the presentations that include guardianship hours, download the guardianship accreditation documentation as you claim your general MCLE credit at the end of this course and submit the affidavit to the State Bar of Texas.

Includes: Video Captions Audio Transcript Paper Slides

  • Total Credit Hours:
  • 4.00 | 2.25 ethics | 4.00 guardianship
  • Credit Info
  • TX, CA, PA
  • TX MCLE credit expires: 8/31/2027
You must be signed in, have purchased this eCourse, and the eCourse must be active to have access.

Sessions

Credit
1. A Tour Through the CME (Sep 2026)

Coleton W. Mayo

0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 | 0.50 ethics | 0.50 guardianship
Downloadable Materials
Transcript (txt)
Paper (pdf) – 20 pgs
Slides (pdf) – 20 pgs

Session 1 —33 mins 0.50 | 0.50 ethics | 0.50 guardianship

A Tour Through the CME (Sep 2026)

This presentation provides a practical walkthrough of the Physician’s Certificate of Medical Examination, examining the specific statutory requirements of the Texas Estates Code and the nuances of documenting incapacity. Learn to identify common pitfalls in these assessments to ensure your evidence withstands judicial scrutiny and accurately supports the legal standard for guardianship.

Originally presented: Jul 2026 Estate Planning, Guardianship and Elder Law Conference

Coleton W. Mayo, Mayo & Poland PLLC - Baytown, TX

2. Alternatives to Guardianship including Support Services
(Sep 2026)

Hon. Clarinda Comstock, Hon. Kenna Seiler

1.00 0.50 1.00 1.00 | 0.50 ethics | 1.00 guardianship
Downloadable Materials
Transcript (txt)
Slides (pdf) – 37 pgs

Session 2 —64 mins 1.00 | 0.50 ethics | 1.00 guardianship

Alternatives to Guardianship including Support Services
(Sep 2026)

Finding the power in your powers, and avoid or limit guardianship through the use of planning tools. The practical implementation of traditional tools such as powers of attorney and supportive decision-making agreements and how to work around their limitations.

Originally presented: Jul 2026 Estate Planning, Guardianship and Elder Law Conference

Hon. Clarinda Comstock, Harris County Probate Court No. Four - Houston, TX
Hon. Kenna Seiler, Montgomery County Probate Court Number One - Conroe, TX

3. Evidentiary, Procedural and Service Issues in Contested and Uncontested Guardianships - “Why Is My Case Not Moving Faster?”
(Sep 2026)

Hon. Lily Leal

0.75 0.25 0.75 0.75 | 0.25 ethics | 0.75 guardianship
Downloadable Materials
Transcript (txt)
Paper (pdf) – 19 pgs
Slides (pdf) – 23 pgs

Session 3 —38 mins 0.75 | 0.25 ethics | 0.75 guardianship

Evidentiary, Procedural and Service Issues in Contested and Uncontested Guardianships - “Why Is My Case Not Moving Faster?”
(Sep 2026)

An overview of the required details and common pitfalls to avoid in contested and uncontested guardianship matters at the incipient stages of filing and how to get your matter heard in court expeditiously.

Originally presented: Jul 2026 Estate Planning, Guardianship and Elder Law Conference

Hon. Lily Leal, Harris County Probate Court No. 5 - Houston, TX

4. Top Ten Lessons Learned When Handling Contested Guardianships
(Sep 2026)

Hon. Fransheneka (Fran) Watson, Sarah Patel Pacheco, Darlene Payne Smith

1.00 0.25 1.00 1.00 | 0.25 ethics | 1.00 guardianship
Downloadable Materials
Transcript (txt)
Paper (pdf) – 32 pgs

Session 4 —59 mins 1.00 | 0.25 ethics | 1.00 guardianship

Top Ten Lessons Learned When Handling Contested Guardianships
(Sep 2026)

Discussion of issues that guardianship practitioners should be aware of and prepare to address when involved in guardianship litigation. The discussion includes both pretrial and trial strategies.

Originally presented: Jul 2026 Estate Planning, Guardianship and Elder Law Conference

Hon. Fransheneka (Fran) Watson, Harris County Probate Court No. 5 - Houston, TX
Sarah Patel Pacheco, Jackson Walker LLP - Houston, TX
Darlene Payne Smith, Crain, Caton & James, P.C. - Houston, TX

5. Preserving Choice: Legal Standards for Consent and the Need for Guardianship
(Sep 2026)

Victoria D. Seybold

0.75 0.75 0.75 0.75 | 0.75 ethics | 0.75 guardianship
Downloadable Materials
Transcript (txt)
Paper (pdf) – 43 pgs
Paper (pdf) – 27 pgs
Paper (pdf) – 25 pgs
Slides (pdf) – 17 pgs

Session 5 —45 mins 0.75 | 0.75 ethics | 0.75 guardianship

Preserving Choice: Legal Standards for Consent and the Need for Guardianship
(Sep 2026)

When does a client have the right to say “yes”—and when does the law step in to say “no”? This course explores the delicate balance between personal autonomy and protection, focusing on a client’s ability to consent and the legal threshold for guardianship. Through practical examples and Texas-specific guidance, attendees will learn how to recognize capacity, preserve client rights, and identify when guardianship is truly necessary.

Originally presented: Jul 2026 Estate Planning, Guardianship and Elder Law Conference

Victoria D. Seybold, Osborne, Helman, Scott, Knisely & Stanton, LLP - Austin, TX

Download eCourse Agenda