Sec. 51.180. ATTORNEY AD LITEM. (a) If the applicant cannot provide evidence to the commissioner to establish the applicant's ownership of all interests as defined by Section 51.172 in the land surrounding the land claimed to be vacant, the commissioner shall investigate the ownership interests of the land claimed to be vacant and the surrounding land to ensure that all necessary parties have been identified and located.

(b) The investigation must conclude not later than the 60th day after the application commencement date. If the investigation yields any evidence that a necessary party may not have been identified and located, as determined by the commissioner, the commissioner shall, not later than the 30th day after the conclusion of the investigation, appoint an attorney ad litem to identify and locate all necessary parties.

(c) The commissioner shall provide the attorney ad litem with all documents submitted by the applicant and the results of the investigation to identify necessary parties, and the attorney ad litem shall search public land records and other available records to identify and locate necessary parties.

(d) If any necessary party cannot be located, the attorney ad litem shall represent the interests of that necessary party.

Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1418, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.

Amended by:

Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 874 (S.B. 1103), Sec. 1, eff. June 17, 2005.

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 682 (H.B. 1679), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2007.

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1175 (H.B. 3461), Sec. 27, eff. June 19, 2009.