## COURT OF APPEALS SECOND DISTRICTOFTEXAS FORT WORTH
NO. 2 - 0 5 - 1 4 3 - CV
I N T HE M AT T E R OF TH E GU A RD I A N SH I P O F KATH RYN H O USEW O RTH GI BBS, AS AN I NC AP AC I T AT E D P E R S ON

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FR O M PROBATE CO URT O F DENTO N CO UN TY

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### OP I NI ON ON R E HEAR I NG

----- ----- -- W e w i t hdr aw ouropi ni on ofO cto b e r 5 , 200 6 and su bs t i t ut e t he f ol l ow i ng. W e d enyA ppe l l ee ’ s M ot i on f orRehe ar i ng. I . I nt r oduc t i on H ow ar d Ki r k Gi bbs , Candac e Gi bbsW at so n, and Kennet h V er non Gi bbs ( col l ect i vel y, appel l ant s) appeal f r om an adver se j udg m ent f or K i p H . G i bbs, as N ex t F ri e nd f orKat hr yn House w ort h Gi bbsan d Co- G uar di an oft he Es t at e o f K at hr yn H ousew ort h G i bbs. I n t en i ssues, appel l ant s cont end t hat( 1) t he t r i al2

cour t , w hi ch i s a st at ut or y pr obate court , l acked subj ectm at t erj ur i sdi ct i on ov er K ip ’s c la im s , (2 ) t h e t r ia l c o u rtc o m m it t e d h a r m f u l e r r o rb yf a ilin g t o t im e lyf ile f i ndi ngs off ac tan d c onc l u si onsofl aw , ( 3)

- ( 4) t he t r i al co urter r ed i n hol di ng
a pp e l l a nt s l i a bl e f ort a x pe na l t i e s be c a us e t ha tc l a i m w a s n e ve rp l e a de d, ( 5)

- ( 8) t he evi den ce i s l ega l l y a nd f ac t ual l y i ns uf f i ci entt o s upportKi p’ s cl ai m s f or br ea ch of f i duc i ary dut y and r es t i t ut i on a nd t o s upportt he dam age s aw ar ds f or t hose cl ai m s, ( 9) t he t r i a l c o u rt e r r ed by r em ovi ng app el l ant s as t r ust benefi ci ar i es, and ( 10 ) t he cour t ’ s aw ar d of at t or ney’ s f ees i s i m pr operbecause i tl ac ksa st at ut or y or con t r ac t ual bas i s. W e r eve r set he t r i al co urt ’ s j udgm ent and r enderj udg m entdi sm i ssi ng t he case.

II . B a c k g ro u n d F a c tsa n d P ro c e d u ra lH i s to ry Th e M ary L. H ousew ort h R evocabl e Tr ust( H ousew ort h T r ust ) w as est abl i shed by M ar y L. H ousew ort h on Ju l y 17 , 19 90 . The H ousew ort h T r ust p rov i d e d for m o n th l yd i stri b u ti o n s to M a ry’s d a u g h ter, K a th ryn H o u se w o rt h G i bbs . Upon Kat hr yn ’s d e a th , Kat hr yn’ s f ourch i l dr en, t he app el l ant s and appel l ee her ei n, w er e t o be t he f i nal t r ustbenef i ci ar i es. M ar y H ousew ort h di ed i n 1 9 9 1 , h e r w i l l w a s p ro b a te d , a n d th e re v o c a b l e tru s t b e c a m e i rre v o c a b l e . Th e K at hr yn H ousew ort h G i bbs I r r evocabl e Tr ust( G i bbs Trust ) w as al so
e s ta b l i s h e d i n 1 9 9 0 . T h e b e n e fi c i a ri e s o f th e G i b b s T ru s t w e re M a ry H o u s e wo rt h , K a t h r y n Gi b b s , a n d K a t h r y n ’ s f o u r c h i l d r e n . T h e Gi b b s Tr ust3

pr ovi ded f or di st r i but i ons t o anyoft he ben ef i ci ar i esf orhe al t h e m er gen ci esan d pr ovi ded f orco or di nat i on of m ai nt ena nce di st r i but i onst o Kat hr yn f orhe rl i vi ng
e x p e n se s. A s w i th th e H o u se w o rt h T rus t, K a th ryn ’s ch i l d ren w e re th e u l ti m a te t r ustbenef i ci ar i es. The Gi bbs Tr us t al so pr ovi ded t hat , i f Kat hr yn and any t hr ee ofhe rf our chi l dr en agr ee d i n w r i ti ng, ad di t i ona l t r us tf undsco ul d ber em ove d f r om t he Trustf orK at hr yn’ s benef i t . I n 1 99 8, a ll e g e d l y f ear i ng t he ci r cum st ances
su r r oundi ng t he i m pen di ng Y2 K sc ar e, Kat hr yn and t hr ee of he r four
c hi l dr e n— a pp e l l a nt s — s i gn e d w r i t t e n a ut ho r i z a t i on s t o w i t hd r a w $1, 015, 000 f r om t he G i bbs T r ust . A ppel l ant s used appr oxi m at el y $7 01 , 00 0 o ft he m oney t o p u r c h a s e g o ld c o in s . T h e ya ls o p u r c h a s e d f o o d a n d o t h e rit e m s in p re p a ra ti o n fo r Y 2 K . K ip G ib b sw a s n o tc o n s u lt e d re g a r d in g t h e f u n d s w it h d r a w a l. C ons equ ent l y, i n Sept em ber2000 , K i p f i l ed su i tasne xtf r i end ofKat hr yn agai nstappel l ant s i n D ent on C oun t y Pr o b a te C o urt . I n t he sui t , K i p assert ed cl ai m s aga i ns tap pel l ant s f or r es t i t ut i on/ m one y had an d r ec ei ved an d br ea ch of fi d u c i a ry d u ti e s re l a ted to re m o v a l o f t h e tr u st fu n d s. K i p as k e d tha t a const r uct i ve t r ustbe decl ar ed over al l ofK at hr yn’ s pr opert y and asset s under
a p p e l l a n ts ’ c o n tro l ; a s k e d th e tri a l c o u rt to “ te rm i n a t[e ] . . . a n yri g h t, p o w e r,
oraut hor i t y by any of t he [ appel l ant s] over t he Trust asset s or t he i nt er f er ence1 ... Th e v e r s i on o fp r ob a t e c od e s e c t i on 875( f ) ( 2) i n e f f e c ti n 2001

pr ovi ded t hatt he w ar d orhe ratt or neyco ul d c ons entf or t he or derap poi nt i ng t he t em por ary gu ar di an t o be ex t end ed u p to 6 0 d a ys aft ert he dat e t he a p p l i c a ti o n fo r te m p o ra ryg u a rd i a n s h i p w a s fi l e d . A c t o f M a y3 0 , 1 9 9 3 , 7 3 rd L e g. , R. S. , c h. 9 5 7 , § 1, s e c . 875( f ) ( 2) , 1993 Te x. Gen . L a w s 4081 , 4152 (am e n d e d 2 0 0 3 ) (cu rr e n t v e rsi o n at T EX . P R OB . C ODE A NN . § 875( f ) ( 2) ( V er non S u p p . 2 0 0 7 ) (p ro v i d i n g fo r o n l ya 3 0 -d a ye x te n s i o n b yc o n s e n t)). 4 w i t h t he dul y app oi nt ed and ac t i ng Tr us t ee ”; an d s oughtpuni t i ve dam age s and
a tto rn e y ’s fe e s . Ther ea f t er , on M ay 7, 2001 , Ki p and hi s w i f e Sandr a f i l ed an app l i ca t i on f ora t em por ary gu ar di ans hi p ov erKat hr yn’ s es t at e. Tha t s a m e d ay, t he pr ob a t e c ou rti s s ue d a n or de ra pp r ov i ng t heg ua r di a ns hi p. On M a y 15, 2001 , t h e t r ia l c o u rte n t e r e d a n o r d e r e x t e n d in g t h e t e m p o r a r yg u a r d ia n s h ip u n t il J u ly 6, 2001 . 1 O n Ju l y 6, t he cou rten t ere d a n or derpur port i ng t o e xt end t he te m p o ra ryg u a rd i a n s h i p u n ti l A u g u s t 3 , 2 0 0 1 . M ea nw hi l e, o n J u n e 29, 2001 , Ki p f i l ed an app l i ca t i on t o c onve rtt he t e mp o r a r yg u a r d i a n s h i p o fK a t h r y n ’ s e s t a t e t o a p e r ma n e n tg u a r d i a n sh i p. A ppe l l ant s nev erco nt es t ed t he a p p l i ca t i on f ora t em por ary gu ar di ans hi p; how ever, on J ul y 13, 2001 , t heyco nt es t ed t he app l i ca t i on f orco nve r si on of th e te m p o ra ryg u a rd i a n s h i p i n to a p e rm a n e n t o n e . O n O c to b e r 5 , 2 0 0 1 , th e tr ia l co u rtag a i n i ss u e d an o rde r pu rpo rt i n g to ext end t he t em por ary gu ar di ans hi p ofK a th ry n ’s es t at e “ unt i l f urt heror derof5

t hi s court . ” A l so i n t he O ct ober5 or d e r, th e tr i al court“t r ansf er r ed as an
anc i l l ary a ct i on to t hi s gua r di ans hi p a ct i on” Ki p’ s r es t i t ut i on a nd br ea ch of f i duc i ary dut y cl ai m s aga i ns t app el l ant s. O n A pr i l 27, 200 4, t he t r i al c o u rt ent er ed an or derpur por t i ng t o conv ertt he t em por ar y guar di anshi p over Kat hryn’ s es t at e i nt o a pe r m ane ntgua r di ans hi p. O n S e p t e m b e r1 3 , 2 0 0 4 , t h e t r ia l c o u rt c a lle d t h e u n d e r ly in g s u itt o t r ia l, but appel l ant s di d not at t end. The t r i al courtr ender ed a f i nal j udg m entagai nst appel l ant s on K i p’ s r est i t ut i on and br each off i duci ary duty cl ai m s and aw ar ded Ki p a t ot al of$1, 060 , 799 . 21 i n ac t ual and puni t i ve dam age s and pr ej udgm ent i nt er est . The t r i al court al so m odi f i ed t he t r ust s t o r em ove app el l ant s as t r ust b e n e fi c i a ri e s . I I I . The St at ut ory Pr oba t e Court ’ s Jur i sd i ct i on In th e i r fi rs t i s s u e , a p p e l l a n ts a s s e rt th a t th e t r i a l c o u rt, a s ta tu to ry pr obate court , had no subj ectm at t erj ur i sdi ct i on ov erK i p’ s cl ai m s agai nstt hem f orr est i t ut i on and br each off i duci ar y duty. A ppel l ant s cont end t hatt he di st r i ct
c o u rth a d e x c lu s iv e ju r is d ic t io n o v e rt h e s e c la im s a n d t h a tt h e g u a r d ia n s h ip pr ovi ded no b as i s f ort he t r i al cou rt ’ s j ur i sd i ct i on bec aus e i tex pi r ed by o per at i on ofl aw on Jul y 6, 20 01 . Ki p contends t hatt he t ria l courthad subj ectm at t er j ur i sd i ct i on ov er hi s r es t i t ut i on and br ea ch off i duc i ary du t y c l ai m s by v i rt ue of2 ... Mobi l O il C o r

p. v. Sh ores, 1 2 8 S .W .3 d 7 1 8 , 7 2 3 (T e x . A p p .— F o rt W o rth 2 0 0 4 , n o p e t.).

3 ... A ctofM ay 19, 198 9, 71stLe g. , R. S. , ch . 1035 , § 2, 1989 Tex. G en. L a w s 4 1 6 2 , 4 1 6 3 ( a m e n d e d 2 0 0 1 , 2 0 0 3 , 2 0 0 5 ) (cu rr e n t ve rsi o n at T EX . P R OB . C ODE A NN . § 5 ( e) ( V er non S upp . 20 07 ) ) . The enab l i ng l egi sl at i on pr ovi des t hat t he 200 1 t hr ough 200 5 am end m ent s app l y onl y t o pr oce edi ngs com m enc ed on o r after the effe c ti v e d a tes o f t h e am e n d m e n t s . A c t of M a y2 3 , 2 0 0 5 , 7 9 th L e g. , R. S. , c h. 551, § 9, 2005 Te x. Gen . L a w s 1476, 1480; Act of M a y 28, 2003, 78t h L e g. , R. S. , c h. 1060 , §17( a ) , 2003 Te x. Gen . L a w s 3052 , 3057 ; Acto fM a y 1, 2001 , 77t h L e g. , R. S. , c h. 63, § 3, 2001 Te x. Gen . L a w s 104, 10 6. Th e under l yi ng sui tw as f i l ed i n S ept em ber20 00 ; t hus, w e appl y f or m er sect i on 5 ( d) t o t hi s case. K i p al so r el i es on a l ocal r ul e of t he D ent on C oun t y Pr obate C our t , w hi ch t r ac ksf or m ers ec t i ons5( d) an d 5A ( c) an d pr ovi dest hat“ [ t ] he Pr oba t e Courtof D e n t o n C o u n t y , T e x a s h e a r s : . . . c o n c u r r e n t ly w it h t h e d is t r ic tc o u rt , . . . a ll ac t i ons i nvol vi ng a n i nt ervi vost r us t. . . a n d . . . a l l ac t i onsi nvol vi ng a t est am ent ar y t r ust [ . ] ” D E N T O N C O UN TY (T EX .) P ROB AT E C O URT L OC . R . 1 .2 (d ). B e c a u s e th e p ro b a te c o u rt’s j u ri s d i c ti o n i s p u re l ys ta tu to ry , Mo b i l O i l Co rp ., 128 S . W . 3d at72 3, i tcannot conferj ur i sdi ct i on on i t sel fby l ocal r ul e beyon d w hat th e l e g i s l a tu re h a s c o n fe rre d b ys ta tu te . C f . I n re Star

k, 126 S. W . 3d 635, 639 ( Tex. A pp. — Beau m ont2004 , or i g. pr oce edi ng) ( st at i ng t hatl oca l r ul esca nnot a l l o w th e tra n s fe r o f c a s e s fro m o n e c o u rt to a n o th e r u n l e s s th e c a s e s a re 6 f or m erpr oba t e c ode s ec t i ons5( d) and 5A ( c) – ( d) an d s ec t i on 115. 001 ( d) oft he T e x a s T ru s t C o d e . A . Pr obate and T r ustC odes A s t a t u t o r yp r o b a t e c o u rtm a y e x e r c is e o n ly t h a t ju r is d ic t io n a c c o r d e d it by st at ut e. 2 For m er sect i on 5( e) pr ovi des t hat“[ a] st at ut or y pr obate courthas
concu r r entj ur i sdi ct i on w i t h t he di st r i ct court . . . i n al l act i ons i nvol vi ng an i nt er
v i v o s tru s t . . . a n d i n a l l a c ti o n s i n v o l v i n g a te s ta m e n ta rytru s t.” 3Li kew i se,w i th i n th e j u ri s d i c ti o n o f th e c o u rt to w h i c h th e c a s e s a re tra n s fe rre d ).
4 ... A ctofM ay 19, 1989 , 71stLe g. , R. S. , ch. 103 5, § 3, 1989 Tex. G en. L a w s 4 1 6 2 , 4 1 6 4 , repeal ed byA ctofM ay 28, 2003 , 78 th L e g. , R. S. , ch . 1060, § 16 , 2003 Te x. Gen . L a w s 3052 , 3057 .

5 ... Id . 6 ... See i

d.
7 ... Mo b i

l O i l Co rp ., 128 S. W . 3d a t724.
8 ... T EX . P R OP . C ODE A NN . § 1 1 5 .0 0 1 (d ) (V e rn o n S u p p . 2 0 0 6 ). 7 f or m ers ec t i on 5A ( c) pr ovi dest hat“ [ a] s t at ut or y pr oba t e c ourtha s con cur r ent j ur i sd i ct i on w i t h t he di st r i ctco urti n a l l ac t i ons. . . ( 2) i nvol vi ng a n i nt ervi vos tru s t; . . . a n d (4 ) i n v o l v i n g a te s ta m e n ta rytru s t.” 4Fo r m ers ec t i on 5A ( d) pr ovi dest hat“ [ a] s t at ut or y pr oba t e c ourtm ay exe r ci se th e p end entan d
a n c i l l a ryj u ri s d i c ti o n n e c e s s a ry to p ro m o te j u d i c i a l e fficie n c ya n d e c o n o m y .” 5 Beca us e a s t at ut or y pr oba t e c ourt ’ s j u ri sd i ct i on ov erac t i onsi nvol vi ng tr u sts is co n c u rr e n t w i th tha t of th e d i stri c t co u rt , 6th e d i s tri c t c o u rt’s j ur i sd i ct i on ov erac t i ons i nvol vi ng t r us t s det er m i nest he ext entofa st at ut o ry pr obate court ’ s j ur i sdi ct i on over such act i ons. 7Sect i on 1 15 . 00 1( a) oft he t r ust cod e p r ovi des t hat a di st r i ct cou rtha s or i gi nal an d e xcl us i ve j ur i sd i ct i on— exc ept fo r j u ri s d i c ti o n c o n fe rre d b yl a w o n a s ta tu to ry p r o b a te c o u rt 8

— o v e ra ll pr oce edi ngs “ con ce r ni ng t r us t s, ” i ncl udi ng pr oce edi ngst o: (1 ) co n stru e a tru st i n stru m e n t;9 ... Id. § 1 1 5 .0 0 1 (a ).
10 ... Mo b i

l O i l Co rp ., 128 S . W . 3d at724 & n. 23 and c as esci t ed t her ei n; InreNa ti

o n s Ba n k, N.A ., N o . 0 1 -9 8 -0 0 5 8 2 -C V , 1 9 9 9 W L 2 1 3 1 0 0 , a t * 3 -5 (Tex. A pp. — H ous t on [ 1stD i st . ] A pr i l 14, 1999 , or i g. pr oce edi ng) ( not des i gna t ed f orpubl i ca t i on) an d c as esci t ed t her ei n. 8 (2 ) d e term i n e the l a w ap p l i c a b l e to a tr u st i n stru m e n t; ( 3) appoi ntorr em ove a t r ust ee; ( 4) de t er m i ne t he po w e rs , res pons i bi l i t i es , dut i es , an d l i abi l i t y of a t r ust ee; ( 5) ascert ai n benefi ci ar i es; ( 6) m ak e d e t er m i nat i onsoff ac taf f ec t i ng t he adm i ni st r at i on, d i stri b u ti o n , o r du rati o n o f a trus t; ( 7) d e t e r mi n e a q u e s t i o n o f f a c t a r i s i n g i n t h e a d mi n i s t r a t i on or d i stri b u ti o n o f a trus t; ( 8) r el i evea t r us t ee f r om any oral l oft he dut i es , l i m i t at i ons , an d r est r i ct i ons ot her w i se exi st i ng un dert he t er m s oft he t r ust i nst r um entoroft hi s subt i t l e; ( 9) r equ i r e a n a cc ounti n g by a t r us t ee , r evi ew t r us t ee f ee s, an d se t t l e i nt er i m orf i nal ac cou nt s; an d ( 10 ) sur char ge a t r ust ee. 9 Tex as court s const r ui ng sect i on 1 15 . 00 1( a) and i t s pr edecessor , Texas T r ust A ctart i cl e 7425b- 24A , ha ve con si st ent l y he l d t hatt hes e s t at ut es pr ovi de t he excl usi ve l i stofact i ons “concer ni ng t r ust s” overw hi ch a di st r i ctcourthas j ur i sd i ct i on. 1011 ... Conti nental Cas. Co. v. D owns, 8 1 S .W .3 d 8 0 3 , 8 0 5 (T e x . 2 0 0 2 ); Nat ’ l Li ab. & Fi re I ns . Co. v. A l

len, 1 5 S .W .3 d 5 2 5 , 5 2 7 (T e x . 2 0 0 0 ).
12 ... T h e p a rti e s d o n o t a s s e rt th a t a n y o f t h e s ta tu te s i n th i s c a s e a re am bi guo us.

13 ... D owns, 8 1 S .W .3 d a t 8 0 5 ; seeT EX . G OV ’ T C ODE A NN . § 3 11 . 01 1( a) ( V er non 20 05 ) ( “W or ds and phras es shal l be r ead i n contextand const r ued a c c o rd i n g to th e ru l e s o f g ra m m a r a n d c o m m o n u s a g e . ” ); i d. § 3 12 . 00 2( a) (p ro v i d i n g th a t w o rd s s h a l l b e g i v e n th e i r o rd i n a rym e a n i n g ).

14 ... C& HNati

onwi de, I nc. v. Thomps on, 9 0 3 S . W . 2 d 3 1 5 , 3 2 2 n .5 (T e x . 1 9 9 4 ), a b roga te d o no th er gro un ds, Ba ttagl i av. A lexa n der, 177 S. W . 3d 8 9 3 (T e x . 2 0 0 5 ); Sh a rp v. Ho us eo f L lo yd , I n c ., 815 S. W . 2d 245 , 249 ( Tex. 1 9 9 1 ).

15 ... Helena Chem . Co. v. W i l ki ns, 4 7 S .W .3 d 4 8 6 , 4 9 3 (T e x . 2 0 0 1 ). 9 T h e g o a l o f statu to ry c o n stru c ti o n i s to g i v e e ffec t to l e g i slati v e i n ten t. 11 U nl ess a st at ut e i s am bi guo us, 12 w e d i sc er n t hati nt entf r om t he l ang uag e o ft he sta tu te i tse l f. 13A s ta tu to ryp ro v i s i o n w i l l n o t b e c o n s tru e d to l e a d to a n a b s u rd
r es ul ti ft he pr ovi si on i s su bj ec tt o a noth e r m or e r ea so nab l e i nt er pr et at i on. 14 F urt he r , w e co ns i de r t he prov i si on s of a stat ute as a w ho l e an d n o t in i so l at i on. 15 Ki p’ s ca us esofac t i on a ga i ns tap pel l ant s f orr es t i t ut i on a nd br ea ch of f id u c ia r yd u t ya r e n o te n u m e r a t e d in s e c t io n 1 1 5 .0 0 1 (a ), n o rd o t h e yf a ll w it h in i t s scope. K i p has assert ed f r aud- t ype cl ai m s agai nstappel l ant s, al l egi ng t hat K a th ry n w a s “ e x tre m e l yg u l l i b l e ,” “ i n c a p a b l e o f p ro te c ti n g h e r o w n i n te re s ts ,”
a n d wa s “ b r o wb e a t e n , ” “ c a j o l e d , ” a n d “ t e r r o r i z e d ” b ya p p e l l a n t s i n t o s i g n i ng16 ... S tar k, 126 S. W . 3d a t642.
17 ... S ee S orokol

itv. Rh odes, 889 S. W . 2d 239 , 241 ( Tex. 1994 ) ( st at i ng th a t w e m a yn o t en la rge the m e a n i n g o f an yw o rd i n a s tatu te b e y o n d i ts o rd i n a rym e a n i n g ).

18 ... See, e. g. , Retzl af f v. D eshay

, No. 14- 03- 00833

- CV , 2004W L 2 1 6 3 1 7 3 , a t * 5 (T e x . A p p .— H o u s to n [1 4 th D i s t.] S e p t. 2 8 , 2 0 0 4 , n o p e t.) ( m em . op. ) ( hol di ng t hata cl ai m f orbr each off i duci ar y duty agai nsta t r ust ee 10 a b l a n k e t au th o r iz a ti o n for w i th d raw a l o f t rus t f u n d s, w h i c h ap p e l l a n ts
w r ong f ul l y used t o t ake cont r ol oft he t r ustpr opert y f ort hei row n pur poses. N one of t he cat egor i es l i st ed i n sect i on 1 15 . 00 1( a) encom passes t hese t ypes ofcl ai m s. “ A l l of[ t he ac t i onsen um er at ed i n s ec t i on 115. 001 ( a) ] i nvol ve act i ons r el at i ng t o t he t r u s t its e l fort he oper at i on t her eof . N one i nvol ves
a n y t h i n g r e m o te l yre s e m b l i n g a to rt a c ti o n .” 16F u rt h e r , n o t h in g in t h e p la in l angu age ofsect i on 1 15 . 00 1( a) aut hor i zes t he t r i al courtt o m o d ify t he t r ust d o c u m e n ts, a s K i p req u e ste d , to term i n a te a p p e l l a n ts’ ri g h ts a s b e n e fi c i a ri e s to th e tru s t a s s e ts . N ot w i t hs t and i ng t he st at ut or y l i m i t at i ons on t he t r i al cou rt ’ s j ur i sd i ct i on, K i p c o n t e n d s t h a tt h e t r i a l c o u rth a d c o n c u r r e n tj u r i s d i c t i o n wi t h t h e d i s t r i ct
cou rtove rhi s cl ai m s bec aus e t hey “ re l a t [ ed] t o” t he H ous ew ort h a nd Gi bbs Tr us t s. W e dec l i ne t o r ea d t he st at ut es so br oad l y. 17 Th e m er e f actt hatt r ust f undsar e i m pl i ca t ed by a c l a i m doe s nott r ans f or m t he cl ai m i nt o one “concer ni ng” or“i nvol vi ng” t r ust s. 18 U nde rKi p’ s t heo r y, ev ery l aw su i tt ouc hi ngd i d n o t c o n c e rn a tr u s t w i th i n th e m e a n i n g o f s e c ti o n 1 1 5 .0 0 1 (a )); Mo b il O il

Co rp ., 12 8 S . W . 3d at72 4- 25 ( hol di ng t hatt he m er e f actt hatt he pl ai nt i f fw as a t r us t ee di d not t r ans f or m t he su i t i nt o one “c onc er ni ng t r us t s” unde rs ec t i on 1 1 5 .0 0 1 (a )); S tar

k, 126 S . W . 3d at 6 4 2 (h o l di ng t hatcl ai m s f orf r aud , conspi r acy, and br each off i duci ar y duty w er e notcl ai m s “concer ni ng t r ust s” w i t hi n t he m ea ni ng ofs ec t i on 115. 001 ( a) or cl ai m s “i nvol vi ng t r us t s”w i t hi n t he m e a n i n g o f fo rm e r p r o b a te c o d e s e c ti o n 5 A (c )); Nati onsBank, 1 9 9 9 WL 213 100 , at*4 ( hol di ng pr oce edi ngs“ con ce r ni ng t r us t s” u n d e rs ec t i on 115 . 001 ( a) di d n o ti ncl ude cl ai m s f orne gl i gen tm i sr epr es ent at i on, br ea ch of fi d u c i a ryd u ty , o r o th e r to rts a l l e g e d l yc o m m i tte d b y t h e tru s te e ); Mayf lower T rus tCo . v. No well, 413 S. W . 2d 783, 786 ( Te x. C i v . App.

— Hous t on 1967 , w r i tdi sm ’ d) ( hol di ng t hat f or m er art i cl e 742 5b- 24A , t he pr ede ce ss ort o s ec t i on 115 . 001 ( a) , di d notco ver a su i tby t r us tbe nef i ci ar i esag ai ns tt he t r us t ee an d o th e rs a l l e g i n g c o n v e rs i o n o f tru s t a s s e ts , fra u d , a n d o th e r to rts ).

19 ... S ee Mobi

l O i l C o rp ., 1 2 8 S .W .3 d a t 7 2 5 ; Nati onsBank, 1 9 9 9 WL 2 1 3 1 0 0 , a t * 4 n .1 0 (b o th h o l d i n g s a m e ).

20 ... C& HNa ti

o n wi de, I n c ., 903 S. W . 2d a t322 n. 5.
21 ... Mo b i

l O i l Co rp ., 1 2 8 S .W .3 d a t 7 2 5 ; se e State ex rel . State Dep’tof High ways an d Pub . T ran sp . v. G on zalez, 82 S . W . 3d 322, 327 ( Te x. 2002 ) (stati n g tha t co u rt s re a d a s tatu te a s a w h o l e an d i n terp ret i t t o g i v e effe c t t o 11 on t r ust f und s, how ever sl i ghtl y ort angen t i al l y, w oul d com e w i t hi n t he subj ect
m at t er ju ris di ct i on of t he st at ut or y pr obate court s, r egar dl ess oft he subj ect
m at t er . I ndeed , const r ui ng sect i on 11 5. 00 1( a) as K i p suggest s w oul d r ender
m eani ngl ess t he car ef ul l y dr af t ed cat egor i es enum er at ed i n t he st at ut e. 19 W e
m ay not const r ue a st at ut e t o l ead t o an absur d r esul ti f i t i s subj ectt o another
m or e r ea so nab l e i nt er pr et at i on. 20 M o r e o v e r , w e m a yn o tc o n s t r u e a s t a t u t e in any m annert hat f ai l s t o gi ve ef f ect t o al l t he pr ovi si ons t he l egi sl at ur e enact ed
ort hatr educes any pr ovi si on t o m er e sur pl usage. 21e v e ryp a rt); Helen a Ch em . Co ., 47 S. W . 3d at 493 ( st at i ng t hatco urt s m us tnot

con si ders t at ut or y pr ovi si ons i n i so l at i on orgi ve one pr ovi si on a m ea ni ng ou tof h a rm o n yo r i n c o n s i s te n t w i th o th e r p ro v i s i o n s ).

22 ... A ct of Sept em ber 1, 199 3, 73r d Le g. , R. S. , ch 957 , §1, 1993 Tex. G e n . L a w s 4 0 8 1 , 4 0 8 4 , repeal ed by A c t o f S e p te m b e r 1 , 2 0 0 3 , 7 8 L e g ., R .S ., th c h 549, §33, 2003 Te x. Gen . L a w s 1858 , 1870 . 12 Fort hes e r ea so ns , w e h ol d t hat Ki p’ s cl ai m s f or r es t i t ut i on and br ea ch of f id u c ia r y d u t y d o n o t “ in v o lv e ” o r“ c o n c e r n ” t r u s t s a s t h o s e t e r m s a r e u s e d in t he st at ut es and, t her ef or e, ar e not w i t hi n t he st at ut or y pr obate court ’ s l i m i t ed st at ut or y j ur i sd i ct i on. Accor di ngl y, Ki p c ann otr el y on f or m erpr oba t e c ode
se ct i ons 5( d) an d 5A ( c) –( d) ort r us tco de se ct i on 115. 001 asa bas i s f ort he t r i al court ’ s subj ectm at t erj ur i sdi ct i on i n t hi s case. B . T e m p o r a ryG u a r d ia n s h ip N e x t , w e c o n s id e r w h e t h e r t h e t e m p o r a r yg u a r d ia n s h ip p r o v id e d a b a s is f or t h e t r i a l c o u rt ’ s s u b j e c t ma t t e r j u r i s d i c t i o n o v e r K i p ’ s c l a i ms u n d ert hen p ro b a te c o d e s e c ti o n s 6 0 7 (d ), 6 0 8 a n d 5 A (d ). F o rm e r Pro b a te C o d e se c ti o n 6 0 7 (d) p rov i d e s th a t “[a] statu to ry p rob a te
c o u rtm a yex e rci se the p e n d e n t an d an c i l l a ry j u ri sd i c ti o n n e c e ss a ry to p rom o te j u d i c i a l e fficie n c ya n d e c o n o m y .” 22For m ersect i on 6 08 pr ovi des, A j u d g e o f a s tatu to ry p rob a te c o u r t , o n the m o ti o n o f a p a rt yto t he act i on orofa per son i nt er est ed i n a guar di anshi p, m ay t r ansf er to the j u d g e ’ s c o u rtfr o m a d i stri c t, co u n ty, o r statu to ry c o u rta c a u se o f a c ti o n a p p e rt a i n i n g to o r i n c i d e n t to a g u a rdian sh i p es tate23 ... A ctofSept em ber1, 1999 , 76t h L eg. , R. S. , ch 1431 , §2, 1999 Tex.

G e n . L a w s 4 8 7 6 ( a m e n d e d 2 0 0 3 ) (cu rr e n t v e rsi o n a t T EX . P R OB . C ODE A NN . § 6 0 8 (V e rn o n S u p p . 2 0 0 7 )).

24 ... T EX . P R OB . C ODE A NN . § 8 75 ( h) ( V er non Su pp. 20 07 ) ( “Exceptas pr ovi ded by Subse ct i on ( k) of t hi s se ct i on, a t em por ary gua r di ans hi p m ay not re m a i n i n e ffe c t fo r m o re th a n 6 0 d a y s .” ); see I n re G uardi

anshi p of So beranes, 1 0 0 S .W .3 d 4 0 5 , 4 0 7 (T e x . A p p .— S a n A n to n i o 2 0 0 2 , n o p e t. ) (stati n g tha t a t em por ary g uar di ans hi p m ay notr em ai n i n e f f ec tf orm or e t han s i xt y da ys u n l e s s i t i s c o n te s te d d u ri n g th a t ti m e p e ri o d ). 13 t hati s pen di ng i n t he st at ut or y pr oba t e cou rt or a ca us e ofac t i on i n w h i ch a p er so nal r epr es ent at i ve ofan es t at e p end i ng i n t he st at ut ory pr oba t e c ourti s a p art y a nd m ay con so l i dat e t he t r ans f er r ed ca us e o fac t i o n w i t h t he ot herpr oce edi ngsi n t he st at ut or y pr obate courtr el at i ng t o t he guar di anshi p est at e. 23 K i p contends t hatt he guar di anshi p est at e cr eat ed by t he t r i al court ’ s M ay 7 , 2 0 0 1 o rd e r a p p ro v i n g th e te m p o ra ry g u a rd i a n w a s p e n d i n g i n th e tri a l c o u rt at t he t i m e of t he t r i al court ’ s O ct ober5, 20 01 t r ansf eror der , and, t her ef or e, t hatth e tri a l co urtha d t he aut hor i t y un ders ec t i on 608 t o t r ans f eran d consol i dat e K i p’ s cl ai m s w i t h t hi s pendi ng gu ar di anshi p est at e. W e di sagr ee. P r o b a t e c o d e s e c t io n 8 7 5 (h ) p r o v id e s t h a ta t e m p o r a r yg u a r d i a n s h ip exp i r esby ope r at i on ofl aw s i xt y da ys afte r th e g uar di ans hi p i s com m enc ed,
u nl es s i ti s con t es t ed w i t hi n t he si xt y- daype r i od. 24I n t hi s c a s e , t hes i xt i e th d a ya fte r th e tri a l c o u rt i s s u e d th e M a y7 , 2 0 0 1 o rd e r a p p ro v i n g th e te m p o ra ry gua r di ans hi p w asJul y 6, 2001 . A ppe l l ant s di d notco nt es tt he app l i ca t i on f or25 ... T EX . P R OB . C ODE A NN . § 8 7 5 (h ); I n re G uardi

anshi p of So beranes, 100 S. W . 3d a t407.

26 ... I n re John G
. KenedyMem ’ l Found. , 159 S . W . 3d 133, 145– 46 ( Tex. A p p .– C o rp u s C h ri s ti 2 0 0 4 , o ri g . p ro c e e d i n g ).

27 ... T EX . P R OB . C ODE A NN . §§ 878 –79 ( V er non 2003) . Thes e a ct i ons i ncl ude d r evi ew i ng t he t em p o ra r y gu ar di an’ s f i nal ac cou nt i ng; “ i m m edi at el y” o rd e ri n g th e te m p o ra ryg u a rd i a n to d e l i v e r th e e s ta te re m a i n i n g i n th e te m p o ra ry gua r di an’ s pos se ss i on t o t he per so n l ega l l y e nt i t l ed t o pos se ss i on ofi t ; an d di schar gi ng t he t em por ar y guar di an upo n pr oof t hatt he guar di an had del i ver ed th e e s ta te p ro p e rtya s re q u i re d b yth e s ta tu te . Id.

28 ... S eeA ctofSept . 1, 1995 , 74 Le g. , R. S. , ch 103 9, 1995 Tex. G en. th L a w s 5 1 6 8 ( a m e n d e d 2 0 0 3 )( c u rr e n t ve rsi o n at T EX . P R OB . C ODE A NN . § 14 t em por ary gu ar di ans hi p. Ther ef or e, t he t em por ary gu ar di ans hi p e xpi r ed by op e r a t i on o fl a w o n Ju l y 6, 2001 . 25 Becau se t he guar di anshi p had expi r ed bef or e t he t r i al court ’ s at t em pt ed t r ansf erofK i p’ s cl ai m s, t her e w as no est at e pend i ng t hatw oul d t r i ggert he t r i al
cour t ’ s t r ansf er pow er und er t he pr obate code. 26 Th e t r i al court , t her ef or e, had
n o a u t h o r it yt o t r a n s f e rt h e c la im s b y i t s O c t o b e r5 , 2 0 0 1 o r d e r . T h e o n ly
ac t i ons t he t r i al cou rt w as aut hor i z ed t o t ak e w er e t hos e nec es sa r y t o c l os e t he gua r di ans hi p a nd di sc har ge t he t em por ary gu ar di an. 27 K i p contends, how ever , t hathi s Sept e m b e r 2 00 0 l aw sui tagai nst app el l ant s w asa con t es t f or pur pos es of se ct i on 875 ( h) an d ( k) t hatga ve t he t r i al co urts t at ut or y a ut hor i t y t o e xt end t he t em por ary gu ar di ans hi p be yond t he si xt i et h da y. 28W e di sa gr ee . The c ont es tr ef er enc ed i n t hi s se ct i on r ef er s t o a8 7 5 (k )( V e r n o n S u p p . 2 0 0 7 ) ) (p r o v id in g t h a tift e m p o r a r yg u a r d ia n s h ip is

c o n te s te d , tri a l c o u rt m a ya p p o i n t n e w te m p o ra ryg u a rd i a n ); In reG ua rd ia n sh ip of So branes , 10 0 S . W . 3d at40 7 ( hol di ng t hatt em por ar y guar di anshi p m ay re m a i n i n e ffe c t m o re th a n s i x tyd a y s , i f c o n te s te d ).

29 ... S ee Acto fSe pt e m be r 1, 1995, 74 L e g. , R. S. , c h 1039, §64, 1995 th T e x . G e n . L a w s 5 1 6 8 ( a m e n d e d 2 0 0 3 )( c u rr e n t ve rsi o n at T EX . P R OB . C ODE A NN . § 8 7 5 (k )(V e rn o n S u p p . 2 0 0 7 )).

30 ... O nce a t em por ar y guar di anshi p expi r es by oper at i on ofl aw , “a j udi ci al dec r ee i s notav ai l abl e t o c ont i nue t he adm i n i s tra ti o n, ort o di r ec tt he adm i ni st r at ort o f urt heract . ” Hurl e yv. W h ite , 66 S. W . 2d 393, 395 ( Tex. Ci v. A p p .– D a l l a s 1 9 3 3 , n o w ri t).

31 ... K enneth G i bbs i s one oft he appel l ant s. 15 cha l l eng e t o t he t em por ary gu ar di ans hi p i ts e l f , nott o a l aw su i tf i l ed by t he t em por ar y guar dia n a g ai nstt hi r d part i es. 29Ki p’ s Se pt e m be r2000 l aw su i t

— w hi ch pr eda t ed t he t em por ary gu ar di ans hi p byei ghtm ont hs

— di d not
con t es tt he t e m p o ra r y gu ar di ans hi p. Conse que nt l y, t he t r i al co urtw asnot sta t ut or i l y a ut ho r i z e d t o f urt he re xt e nd t het e m po r a r y gu a r di a ns hi p byi ts O c to b e r 5 , 2 0 0 1 o rd e r. 30 Ki p a l s o a r g u e s t h a t a p p e l l a n t s h a v e a d mi t t e d t h a t t h e y c o n t e s t e d t he t em por ary gu ar di ans hi p be f or e J ul y 6, 2001 , be ca us e t heyf i l ed a l i s pen den s
s t a t i ng t ha tt he y ha d c on t e s t e d t he t e m po r a r y gu a r di a ns hi p on M a y 15, 2001 . T h e l i s p e n d e n s s tate s, h o w e v e r, tha t Ka thryn com m enc ed a l aw su i ti n t he t e m por ary gu ar di ans hi p pr oce edi ng a gai ns t“ Kennet h Ver non Gi bbs , an d ot her s” 31 on M ay 15, 2001 , t he pur pos e o fw hi ch w ast o “ pr ot es tt he32 ... A l th o u g h a c o n te s t to a n a p p l i c a ti o n t o c o n v e rt a te m p o ra ry

g u a rd i a n s h i p i n to a p e rm a n e n t o n e c a n p re c l u d e th e e x p i ra ti o n o f a te m p o ra ry g u a rd i a n s h i p b yo p e ra ti o n o f l a w , seeA ctofSept . 1, 1995 , 74 Le g. , R. S. , ch . th 103 9, §64, 1995 Tex. G en. La w s 516 8 ( am end ed 200 3) , no s uch ap pl i ca t i on w a s p e n d i n g i n M a y2 0 0 1 .

33 ... Mo b i

l O i l Co rp ., 1 2 8 S .W .3 d a t 7 2 3 ; seeT EX . P R OB . C ODE A NN . §§ 878–7 9. 16 app oi nt m entofunqu al i f i ed per m ane ntgua r di ansofthe W ar d, Kat hr yn H o u s e w o rt h G ib b s a n d p r o t e c tt h e e s t a t e o fs a i d W a r d . ” N o t h in g in t h e lis p e n d e n s s h o w s th a t K a t h r y n o r a p p e l l a n ts c o n te s te d th e te m p o ra ry gu a r di a ns hi p on M a y 15, 2001 . 32 F in a lly , K i p a r gu es tha tt he t r i al co urtha d the au t ho r i t y to tr an sferh is
c l a i m s a g a i n s t a p p e l l a n ts i n to th e e x p i re d g u a rd i a n s h i p b e c a u s e a s ta tu to ry p r o b a t e c o u rtd o e s n o tlo s e ju r is d ic t io n o v e ra t e m p o r a r yg u a r d ia n s h ip u n t il it i sc l o s e d a n d , i n c l o s i n g t h e g u a r d i a n s h i p , t h e c o u rtc a n e x e r c i s e j u r i s d i c t i on
overcl ai m s anci l l ar y t o t he t em por ar y guar di anshi p such as K i p’ s cl ai m s agai nst appel l ant s. Ki p assert s t hat t he expi r at i on of a t em por ar y guar di anshi p und er sect i on 8 75 ( h) i s pr oced u ra l a n d does notaf f ectt he cour t ’ s subj ectm at t er j u ri s d i c ti o n . W e agr ee t hata st at ut or y pr obate court does not l ose j ur i sdi ct i on ov eran
e x p i red tem p o raryg u a rdian sh i p u n ti l i t i s c l o se d ; h o w e v e r, th e c o u rt ’s au th o ri ty
overan uncon t est ed, expi r ed t em por ar y guar di anshi p i s l i m i t ed by st at ut e. 33 A s34 ... T EX . P R OB . C ODE A NN . § § 8 7 8

– 7 9 . T o the e x ten t t h a t Inre

G uardi anshi p of Bayn e, 1 7 1 S .W .3 d 2 3 2 , 2 3 8 (T e x . A p p .— D a l l a s 2 0 0 5 , p e t. d e n ie d ) , h o ld s t h a ta t r ia l c o u rtm a yc o n t in u e a t e m p o r a r yg u a r d ia n s h ip i n d e fi n i tel y , w e b e l i e v e tha t Baynei s c o n tr a ry to se c t io n 8 7 5 an d d e c l i n e to fo l l o w i t. S e e, e .g ., T EX . P R OB . C ODE A NN . § 8 7 5 (h ).

35 ... Id. § 8 7 5 (h ); see Na t’l L i a b i l ity& F i reIn s . Co ., 15 S .W . 3d a t527 ( hol di ng t hatco urt s con st r ue st at ut est o gi ve ef f ec tt o t he l egi sl at ur e’ s i nt ent a n d p re s u m e th e l e g i s l a tu re i n te n d e d th e p l a i n m e a n i n g o f i ts w o rd s ). A s a n a s i d e , we n o t e t h a ta s t a t u t o r yp r o b a t e c o u rth a s mu c h br oader st at ut or y a ut hor i t y w hen i ti s r equ i r ed t o s e ttle a gua r di ans hi p es t ate b e fo re cl os i ng i t. S eeT EX . P R OB . C ODE A NN . § 606( e) ( V er non Supp . 2007 ) ( se t t i ng f orth t he ext entofa cou rt ’ s aut hor i t y w hen a gua r di ans hi p i s r equ i r ed t o be s e ttled b e fo re c l o s u re ). T h e s e ttlem e n t o f a g u a rd i a n s h i p e s ta te i s a m u c h m o re e l a b o ra te p ro c e s s th a n th e m e re c l o s u re o f o n e . See i d. §§ 7 46, 748 –58 ( V ern o n 2 0 0 3) , § 7 47 ( V er non Su pp. 20 07 ) . A n unco nt est ed, expi r ed t em por ary gu ar di ans hi p i s not r equ i r ed t o be se t t l ed, how eve r , but onl y c l os ed. S e eid. § 7 4 5 (o m i ttin g th e e x p i ra ti o n o f a n u n c o n te s te d te m p o ra ry gua r di ans hi p byope r at i on ofl aw f r om t he l i stofci r cum st anc es i n w h i ch a 17 w e h avenot ed, s ec t i ons 878 and 879 oft he pr oba t e c ode onl y a ut hor i z e t he
c o u rt to ta k e th o s e a c ti o n s n e c e s s a ryto c l o s e a n u n c o n te s te d te m p o ra ry gua r di a n s h i p a nd di sc har ge t he gua r di an. 34Such ac t i onsdo n oti ncl ude t r ans f er r i ng ot herpr oce edi ngsi nt o t he exp i r ed t em por ary gu ar di ans hi p. I nde ed, t o hol d t hat th e courthad t he aut hor i t y t o t r ansf erK i p’ s t ortcl ai m s agai nst
a p p e l l a n ts i n to th e e x p i re d g u a rd i a n s h i p w o u l d re s u l t i n th e te m p o ra ry gua r di ans hi p c ont i nui ng i n d e fi ni t el y— i n di r ec tco nt r ave nt i on oft he l egi sl at i ve i nt entst at ed i n sect i on 8 75 ( h) t hatan unco nt est ed t em por ar y guar di anshi p m ay not r em ai n i n ef f ectm or e t han si xt y days. 35gua r di ans hi p e st at e m us tbe s ett l ed) . Ki p’ s r el i anc e o n I n re Guardi

anshi p of S oberanesa s s u p p o rt fo r h i s a rg u m e n t th a t a n u n c o n te s te d , e x p i re d te m p o ra ry guar di anshi p m ustbe bot h set t l ed and cl osed i s m i spl aced. Th at case i nvol ved a cont est ed t em por ar y guar di anshi p, notan uncon t est ed one t hathad expi r ed byo pe r a t i on o fl a w . 100 S. W . 3d a t406- 07.

36 ... S ee D B Entertai nm ent , I nc. v. W

i ndle, 927 S. W . 2d 283, 289 ( Tex. A p p .— F o rtW o rt h 1 9 9 6 , o r i g . p roc e e d i n g ) (ho l d i n g tha t statu to ry p rob a te c o u rt’s o rd e r tra n s fe rri n g a c a s e to i ts e l f w i th o u t s ta tu to rya u th o ri tyw a s v o i d ).

37 ... A ct of Sept . 1, 199 9, 76 Le g. , R. S. , ch. 829 , §4, 1999 Tex. G en. th L a w s 3 4 6 1 , 3 4 6 2 (am e n d e d 2 0 0 3 )( c u rr e n t ve rsi o n a t T EX . P R OB . C ODE A NN . § 6 8 2 (V e rn o n S u p p . 2 0 0 7 )). 18 F o r a l l o f th e s e r e a s o n s , w e h o l d th a t th e tri a l c o u rt l a c k e d s ta tu to ry
a u t h o r it yt o t r a n s f e rin t o t h e e x p ir e d t e m p o r a r yg u a r d ia n s h ip K ip ’s c la im s aga i ns tap pel l ant s and t hat t he cou rt ’ s O ct obe r5, 2001 or derpur port i ng t o do
so i s voi d. 36Thus , Ki p c ann otr el y on t he t em por ary gu ar di ans hi p a s a bas i s f or t he t r i al court ’ s subj ectm at t erj ur i sdi ct i on i n t hi s case.

C . A ppl i ca t i on t o ConvertTem por ary G u a r d ia n s h ip t o P e r m a n e n tG u a r d ia n s h ip O n r ehe ar i ng, Ki p c ont end s, am ong o t herar gum ent s, t hat hi s A ppl i ca t i on t o Convertt he Tem por ary Guar di ans hi p oft he E s ta te t o Pe r m ane nt G uar di ans hi p oft he Es t at e m ee t s t he st at ut or y r equ i r em ent s ofan ap pl i ca t i on f orper m anent guar di anshi p und er sect i on 6 82 oft he pr obate code, 37an d tha t, because t he appl i cat i on w as pendi ng and co nt est ed by app el l ant s, t he t r i al
c o u rt h a d th e a u th o ri tyto a p p o i n t a te m p o ra ryg u a rd i a n a n d tra n s fe r K i p ’s38 ... I n re John G
. Kenedy Mem ’ l Found. , 1 5 9 S .W .3 d a t 1 4 5 -4 6 ; Pratho v. Zap a ta, 1 5 7 S .W .3 d 8 3 2 , 8 4 0 (T e x . A p p .– F o rt W o rth 2 0 0 5 , n o p e t.). B e c a u s e th e p ro b a te c o u rt m u s t d e te rm i n e th a t a g u a rd i a n s h i p i s n e c e s s a ry b e fo re a p p o i n ti n g a g u a rd i a n , m e re l y i n s ti tu ti n g p ro c e e d i n g s i n th e p ro b a te c o u rt b yf ilin g a n a p p lic a t io n f o r g u a r d ia n s h ip d o e s n o t g u a r a n t e e t h a ta g u a r d ia n w ill b e a p p o in t e d . Ift h e c o u rtd e c lin e s t o a p p o in ta p e r m a n e n tg u a r d ia n , itis i l l ogi ca l t o c onc l ude t hat a g u ar di ans hi p e st at e w aspe ndi ng f r om t he t i m e o f fi l i n g u n ti l th e c o u rt’s re fu s a l . See Pr at ho , 157 S. W . 3d a t840. 19 cl ai m s i nt o t he per m ane ntgua r di a ns hi p pr oce edi ng. As w e h avenot ed, h o w e v e r , t h e r e w a s n o g u a r d ia n s h ip e s t a t e p e n d in g in t h e t r ia l c o u rta tt h e t im e i tatt em pt ed t o t r ans f erKi p’ s cl ai m s. The m er e f i l i ng ofan ap pl i ca t i on f or p e rm a n e n t gu a rdian sh i p i n the tr i a l co u rtd i d n o t crea te a g u a rdian sh i p es tate
orcause a guar di anshi p est at e t o be “pendi ng” f ort he pur pose of t he t r ansf er st at ut e. 38 N ordi d t he t r i al co urt ’ s at t em pt s t o e xt end t he exp i r ed t em p o ra ry gua r di ans hi p w hi l e t he app l i ca t i on f orpe r m an e n t g u ar di ans hi p w aspe ndi ng cause a guar di anshi p est at e t o be pend i ng f ort he pur pose oft he t r ansf er st at ut e. W hen t he t em por ar y guar di anshi p expi r ed w i t hou ta cont est , t he t r i al
cou rtha d no aut hor i t y t o c ont i nue t he gua r di ans hi p, or t o di r ec tt he gua r di ans39 ... S ee supra n o te s 2 6 -2 7 a n d a c c o m p a n y i n g te x t; see al so Hur ley , 66 S. W . 2d at 395 ( “Thead m i ni st r at i on be i ng c l os ed by o per at i on ofl aw an d t he ver y t er m s oft he or deroft he cour tm aki ng t he appo i nt m e n t . . . a j udi ci al dec r ee i s notav ai l abl e t o c ont i nue t he adm i ni st r a ti o n , o r t o di r ec tt he a d m i n i s tra to r to fu rth e r a c t.” ).

40 ... A ct of S ept . 1, 19 93 , 73 Leg. , R . S . , ch. 95 7, §1 , 19 93 Tex. G en r d L a w s 4 0 8 1 , 4 1 5 2 (am e n d e d 2 0 0 3 )( c u rr e n t ve rsi o n at T EX . P R OB . C ODE A NN . § 8 7 5 (g )(V e rn o n S u p p . 2 0 0 7 )). 20 to furth e r ac t. 39 Acc or di ng l y, t he a t t e m pt by t he t r i a l c ou rto n O c t ob e r5, 2001 to ex ten d the ex p i red tem p o raryg u a rdian sh i p w a s o f no effe c t. Th e onl y pr ocedu r e avai l abl e t o t h e tr ial courtf orappoi nt i ng a new t em por ary gu ar di an pen di ng i t s det er m i nat i on ofKi p’ s con t es t ed app l i ca t i on f or per m anent guar di anshi p i s t hatsetf ort h in s e c tion 8 75 oft he Pr obate C ode. S e c t io n 8 7 5 (g ) p r o v id e s , in re le v a n tp a rt , t h a tif th e c o u rt d e te rm i n e s th a t th e a p p l i c a n t [fo r a t e m p o ra ry guar di anshi p] has est abl i shed t hatt her e i s subst ant i al evi dence t hat t h e p e r s o n i s a m in o ro ro t h e rin c a p a c it a t e d p e r s o n , t h a tt h e r e is i m m i nen tda nge rt hatt he ph y s i c a l hea l t h ors af et y oft he re s p o n d e n t w i l l b e s e ri o u s l yi m p a i r e d , o r th a t th e re s p o n d e n t’s e sta te w i l l b e se ri o u sly d a m a g e d o r d i ss i p a ted u n l e ss i m m e d i a te ac t i on i s t ak en, t he cou rts hal l ap poi nta t em por ary gu ar di an by w r i t t en ord e r. T h e courtshal l assi gn t o t he t em por ar y guar di an onl y t hos e p ow ers a nd du t i est hatar e n ec es sa r y t o pr ot ec tt he r es ponde ntag ai ns tt he i m m i nen t dan ger sh ow n. The pow er s and d u ti e s m u st b e d e sc ri b e d i n the o rde r of a p p o i n tm e n t. 40 A ddi t i onal l y, sect i on 8 75 ( k) pr ovi des, I fan ap pl i ca t i on . . . f ora per m ane ntgua r di ans hi p i s cha l l eng ed or con t es t ed, t he cou rt , on t he cou rt ’ s ow n m ot i on oron t he m ot i on41 ... A ctofSept em ber1, 1995 , 74 Le g. , R. S. , ch 1039 , §64, 1995 Tex. th G e n . L a w s 5 1 6 8 ( a m e n d e d 2 0 0 3 )( c u rr e n t ve rsi o n at T EX . P R OB . C ODE A NN . § 8 7 5 (k )(V e rn o n S u p p . 2 0 0 7 )).

42 ... Id. 21 ofany i nt e r est ed part y, m ay appo i nta new t em por ar y guar di an w i t houti ss ui ng a ddi t i ona l ci t at i on i ft he cou rtf i n d s thatt he app oi nt m enti s nec es sa r y t o pr ot ec t th e p ro pos ed w ar d ort he p ro p o s e d w a rd ’s e s ta te . A te mporary guardi an appo i

nted under thi s subsecti

on m ust qual

ify i n the sam e f

or m and m anner

requi red o f ag ua rd

i a nun der thi

sc o de . . . . 41 Th e r ecor d show s t hatt he t r i al courtdi d not at t em ptt o qual i f y a new t em por ar y guar di an “i n t he sam e f or m and m anner r equi r ed of a guar di an” under t hec od e a f t e rt he or i gi na l t e m po r a r y gu a r di a ns hi p e xp i r e d on J ul y 6, 2001 . 42 Th er ef or e, n o est at e w as pendi ng w hen t he t r i al courtat t em pt ed t o t r ansf er Ki p’ s cl ai m s. The t r i al co urt , t her ef or e, h a d n o trans f erj ur i sd i ct i on ov ert he
c l a i m s . In s u m m a ry , n e i th e r th e p ro b a te c o d e , th e tru s t c o d e , th e te m p o ra ry gua r di ans hi p, nort he app l i ca t i on t o c onve rtt he t em por ary gu ar d i a n sh i p t o a per m anent guar dia n shi p gi ves t he t r i al courtsubj ectm at t erj ur i sdi ct i on ov er Ki p’ s t ortcl ai m s aga i ns tap pel l ant s f orr es t i t ut i on a nd br ea ch off i duc i ary du t y. A ccor di ngl y, w e hol d t hatt he t r i al courtl acked subj ectm at t erj ur i sdi ct i on ov er43 ... See DB Entertai nm ent, 9 2 7 S .W .2 d a t 2 8 9 ; se e a l soMapc o, I

nc. v. F o rrest, 7 9 5 S .W .2 d 7 0 0 , 7 0 3 (T e x . 1 9 9 0 ) ( s t a t in g t h a ta ju d g m e n tis v o id “w hen i ti s app ar entt hatt he cou rtr end er i ng t he j udgm ent h a d . . . no j u ri s d i c ti o n o f th e s u bj e c t m a tte r” ).

44 ... I n l i ght ofourdi sposi t i on of t hi s i ssue, w e need not consi der a p p e l l a n ts ’ a n d a p p e l l e e ’s o th e r i s s u e s o r a rg u m e n ts . S eeT EX . R. A PP . P . 4 7 .1 (p ro v i d i n g t h a t a n a p p e l l a te c o u rt n e e d a d d re s s o n l yi s s u e s ra i s e d th a t a re n e c e s s a ryto th e fi n a l d i s p o s i ti o n o f th e a p p e a l ).

45 ... T EX . R. A PP . P . 4 3 .2 (c ); s e eMo b i l O i l Co rp ., 128 S . W . 3d a t725- 26 ( vacat i ng or der s i n cases overw hi ch t he st at ut or y pr obate courthad no sub j ect m a tte r j u ri s d i c ti o n a n d d i s m i s s i n g th e c a s e s ). 22 t h o s e c la im s a n d t h a tit s ju d g m e n t r e n d e r e d a g a in s ta p p e lla n t s o n t h e c la im s is voi d. 43W e sust ai n appel l ant s’ f i r sti ssue. 44 I V . Concl us i on H a v i n g s u s ta i n e d a p p e l l a n ts ’ fi rs t i s s u e , w e v a c a te th e tri a l c o u rt’s j udg m ent and r enderj udg m entdi sm i ssi ng t he cause. 45 A ppe l l ee ’ s M ot i on f or Rehea r i ng i s den i ed.

J OHN CAYCE CHI E FJ UST I CE PA N EL A : C A YC E, C. J. ; G A RD N ER and W A LKER, JJ. DEL I VERE D: Apr i l 3, 2008