All permanent guardianships are monitored by investigators assigned to the Court Visit Program (CVP). Permanent Guardianships are defined as guardianship cases that have been issued an order to Appoint a Permanent Guardian of Person and/or Estate.
The following staff are the investigators assigned to the Court Visit Program:
| Nurenia Spencer, LMSW | Chief Court Visitor Supervisor of Court Visitor Program | Supervises the Court Visitor Program. Post adjudication guardianship Investigations. Internship Program Coordinator and community engagement. | (214) 653-6533 | Nurenia.Spencer@dallascounty.org |
| Mozali Lopez, LMSW | Elder Financial Safety Center Coordinator Court Investigator Post-adjudication over 50 population | The Elder Safety Coordinator Court Investigator monitors guardianship cases for the age group 50 + and conducts investigations and restoration requests for the 50+ population. | (214) 653-7644 | Mozali.Lopez@dallascounty.org |
| Sarita Thomas, LMSW | Program Coordinator Court Investigator Post-adjudication Under 50 population | Program Coordinator/Court Investigator monitors guardianship cases for the under 50 age group and conducts investigations and restoration requests for the under 50 population. | (214) 653-6328 | Sarita.Thomas@dallascounty.org |
| Doris Aguilar, LMSW | Program Coordinator Court Investigator Post-adjudication Under 50 population | Program Coordinator/Court Investigator monitors guardianship cases for the under 50 age group and conducts investigations and restoration requests for the under 50 population. | (214) 875-2586 | Doris.A.Aguilar@dallascounty.org |
The Court Visit Program staff investigate issues with existing guardianships and file reports based on investigations arising from Section 1054.152 of the Texas Estates Code.
The CVP investigators may contact you outside of your normal visit schedule to address issues that may have been reported to the Court Investigators’ Office.
Common examples include, but are not limited to the following:
- Death or illness of a current Guardian
- Resignation of current Guardian
- Successor Guardianships: Family or friends wanting to take over a guardianship
- Recent contact from Adult Protective Services (APS)
- Recent law enforcement or criminal justice contact
- Reports from interested persons or service providers
- Transfer of guardianships outside of Dallas County
- Restoration of Rights
- Pending lawsuits
- Any other concerns or court requests
To Report a Concern or Issue with a Guardianship
Please contact the CVP Investigator assigned to the case, or refer to the Addressing Concerns in Guardianship and follow the instructions. A failure to cooperate with the court visit, or a court visit investigation, may result in a Show Cause or Status Conference with the court.
To Become a Successor Guardian
To become a Successor Guardian and take over a current guardianship case, please contact the CVP investigator assigned to the court, and refer to the Successor Guardianship Checklist below or in the forms section. These steps must be completed to have an investigator assigned to your application or request to take over guardianship. A failure to complete the steps may result in a delay of processing your request, and/or the potential appointment of a third-party guardian in exigent circumstances.
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