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§ 137.011.Form of Declaration for Mental Health Treatment

Title 6. Miscellaneous Provisions · Chapter 137. Declaration for Mental Health Treatment · Last amended 2017 · Last verified August 29, 2026

In one sentenceSection 137.011 prescribes the statutory form, covering psychoactive medications, convulsive treatment, emergency preferences, execution and a notice to the person signing.

Full Text of § 137.011

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The declaration for mental health treatment must be in substantially the following form: DECLARATION FOR MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT I, __________________, being an adult of sound mind, wilfully and voluntarily make this declaration for mental health treatment to be followed if it is determined by a court that my ability to understand the nature and consequences of a proposed treatment, including the benefits, risks, and alternatives to the proposed treatment, is impaired to such an extent that I lack the capacity to make mental health treatment decisions. "Mental health treatment" means electroconvulsive or other convulsive treatment, treatment of mental illness with psychoactive medication, and preferences regarding emergency mental health treatment. (OPTIONAL PARAGRAPH) I understand that I may become incapable of giving or withholding informed consent for mental health treatment due to the symptoms of a diagnosed mental disorder. These symptoms may include: ________________________________________________________________ PSYCHOACTIVE MEDICATIONS If I become incapable of giving or withholding informed consent for mental health treatment, my wishes regarding psychoactive medications are as follows: _____ I consent to the administration of the following medications: ________________________________________________________________ _____ I do not consent to the administration of the following medications: ________________________________________________________________ _____ I consent to the administration of a federal Food and Drug Administration approved medication that was only approved and in existence after my declaration and that is considered in the same class of psychoactive medications as stated below: ________________________________________________________________ Conditions or limitations: ________________________________ CONVULSIVE TREATMENT If I become incapable of giving or withholding informed consent for mental health treatment, my wishes regarding convulsive treatment are as follows: _____ I consent to the administration of convulsive treatment. _____ I do not consent to the administration of convulsive treatment. Conditions or limitations: ________________________________ PREFERENCES FOR EMERGENCY TREATMENT In an emergency, I prefer the following treatment FIRST (circle one) Restraint/Seclusion/Medication. In an emergency, I prefer the following treatment SECOND (circle one) Restraint/Seclusion/Medication. In an emergency, I prefer the following treatment THIRD (circle one) Restraint/Seclusion/Medication. ______ I prefer a male/female to administer restraint, seclusion, and/or medications. Options for treatment prior to use of restraint, seclusion, and/or medications: ________________________________________________________________ Conditions or limitations: ________________________________ ADDITIONAL PREFERENCES OR INSTRUCTIONS ________________________________________________________________ Conditions or limitations: ________________________________ Signature of Principal/Date: ______________________________ SIGNATURE ACKNOWLEDGED BEFORE NOTARY PUBLIC State of Texas County of_________ This instrument was acknowledged before me on ______(date) by ___________(name of notary public). _____________________ NOTARY PUBLIC, State of Texas Printed name of Notary Public: _____________________________ My commission expires: _____________________________ SIGNATURE IN PRESENCE OF TWO WITNESSES STATEMENT OF WITNESSES I declare under penalty of perjury that the principal's name has been represented to me by the principal, that the principal signed or acknowledged this declaration in my presence, that I believe the principal to be of sound mind, that the principal has affirmed that the principal is aware of the nature of the document and is signing it voluntarily and free from duress, that the principal requested that I serve as witness to the principal's execution of this document, and that I am not a provider of health or residential care to the principal, an employee of a provider of health or residential care to the principal, an operator of a community health care facility providing care to the principal, or an employee of an operator of a community health care facility providing care to the principal. I declare that I am not related to the principal by blood, marriage, or adoption and that to the best of my knowledge I am not entitled to and do not have a claim against any part of the estate of the principal on the death of the principal under a will or by operation of law. Witness Signature: ______________________________________________ Print Name: _____________________________________________________ Date: ______________________ Address: _______________________________________________________ Witness Signature: ______________________________________________ Print Name: _____________________________________________________ Date: ______________________ Address: _______________________________________________________ NOTICE TO PERSON MAKING A DECLARATION FOR MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT This is an important legal document. It creates a declaration for mental health treatment. Before signing this document, you should know these important facts: This document allows you to make decisions in advance about mental health treatment and specifically three types of mental health treatment: psychoactive medication, convulsive therapy, and emergency mental health treatment. The instructions that you include in this declaration will be followed only if a court believes that you are incapacitated to make treatment decisions. Otherwise, you will be considered able to give or withhold consent for the treatments. This document will continue in effect for a period of three years unless you become incapacitated to participate in mental health treatment decisions. If this occurs, the directive will continue in effect until you are no longer incapacitated. You have the right to revoke this document in whole or in part at any time you have not been determined to be incapacitated. YOU MAY NOT REVOKE THIS DECLARATION WHEN YOU ARE CONSIDERED BY A COURT TO BE INCAPACITATED. A revocation is effective when it is communicated to your attending physician or other health care provider. If there is anything in this document that you do not understand, you should ask a lawyer to explain it to you. This declaration is not valid unless it is either acknowledged before a notary public or signed by two qualified witnesses who are personally known to you and who are present when you sign or acknowledge your signature.
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Plain-English Summary

The form, and reading it is the quickest way to understand what a declaration can do.

It must be in substantially the following form, so it is a model rather than a script.

It opens with the principal’s own statement that they are an adult of sound mind making the declaration wilfully and voluntarily, to be followed if a court determines that their ability to understand a proposed treatment is impaired to the extent that they lack capacity.

An optional paragraph invites the principal to describe their own symptoms of a diagnosed mental disorder — information nobody else can supply as well.

The medication section offers three choices, and the third is the forward-looking one: consent to a federal Food and Drug Administration approved medication that only came into existence after the declaration and is in the same class as one named. Without it a declaration would go stale as new drugs appeared.

The convulsive treatment section is a straight consent or refusal, with room for conditions or limitations — and a refusal here cannot be overridden under the disregard section, which excludes convulsive treatment from both its exceptions.

The emergency preferences section asks the principal to rank restraint, seclusion and medication first, second and third, to state a preference for a male or female to administer them, and to list options for treatment prior to their use.

That ranking is what the disregard section tests. Treatment contrary to the declaration is permitted in an emergency only where these instructions have been tried and have not reduced the severity of the behavior.

The form then carries both execution routes — a notarial acknowledgment block and a two-witness statement made under penalty of perjury reciting each disqualification the execution section imposes.

It closes with a plain-language notice to the person signing, explaining the three treatments covered, the court finding required, the three-year term, the right to revoke, and that revocation is not possible once a court considers the person incapacitated.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is in the statutory form?

Sections on psychoactive medications, convulsive treatment, emergency preferences and additional instructions, plus execution blocks and a notice to the signer.

Can it cover medications that do not exist yet?

Yes. The form allows consent to a later FDA-approved medication in the same class as one named.

What does the emergency section ask for?

A ranking of restraint, seclusion and medication, a preference for who administers them, and options to try beforehand.

Must the form be followed exactly?

No. It must be in substantially that form.

Amendment History

  • Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1318, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.
  • Amended by:
  • Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 349 (H.B. 1787), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2017.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from Texas Legislature Online (statutes.capitol.texas.gov). Enacted by the Texas Legislature. Current through May 14, 2026. Last verified August 29, 2026. · Official source