What happens after an Application for Court Ordered Evaluation (COE) is filed with the court?

Once the application is filed by the screening agency, a judge reviews the:

• application you gave to the screening agency
• supporting application from the screening agency

If the judge finds reasonable cause to believe that the person is:

• a danger to self,
• a danger to others,
• persistently or acutely disabled, or 
• gravely disabled, AND
• unable or unwilling to receive a voluntary mental health evaluation.

The judge issues an order for evaluation.  When the order is signed, the court appoints an attorney to represent the patient.  Depending on the situation and geographic location, the patient is then either taken into the custody of a medical facility or an evaluation takes place within the community of the proposed patient.