Who can file a petition for court ordered evaluation?
Any responsible person can file an application for a court ordered evaluation if they believe that, due to a mental disorder, a person is:
- a danger to self,
- a danger to others,
- gravely disabled, or
- persistently and acutely disabled.
Usually the person filing is a social worker, family member, or friend. The application asks a mental health agency to conduct an evaluation to determine whether the person is in need of court ordered evaluation for potential court ordered treatment for their mental disorder. These agencies are known as screening agencies; the initial application is turned into them.