Mental Health
The term “mental health” for our purposes, basically refers to several different types of filings in the Probate, Guardianship, and Mental Health Department. These filings include, but are not limited to, Ex Parte Baker Acts and Involuntary Services, Petitions to Determine Incapacity, and Risk Protection Orders. There is no filing fee for any of the mental health filings except for the Petition to Determine Incapacity. Please refer to the Schedule of Fees and Charges document. Additionally, all types of proceedings filed under this category are confidential and are not public record.
Outlined below are Ex Parte procedures pertaining to Baker Acts and Marchman Acts (Substance Abuse Services), Petitions for Involuntary Placement and Risk Protection Orders as these are the most common filings received within our office. Petitions to Determine Incapacity are filed in conjunction with Petitions for Appointment of Guardian, and the petitioner is required to be represented by an attorney.
Ex Parte Procedures
Ex Parte procedures for either Baker Act or Marchman Act cases consists of a layperson, such as a family member or friend, filing a petition with the court to have someone taken into a mental health facility for evaluation and treatment. The person for which treatment is being sought is referred to as the “respondent.”
If the person is located within Marion County, the petitioner fills out an exparte petition. When the petition is complete, the petitioner swears that the allegations contained in it are true to the best of his or her knowledge and signs his or her name before a deputy clerk. Then the petitioner files it with the Clerk’s Office.
The next step is for the clerk to let the judge know there is an emergency petition ready for his or her review. If granted, certified copies are taken to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office for service on the respondent, and for their office to deliver said respondent to the appropriate facility for examination and/or assessment.
Involuntary Placement Procedures
Involuntary Placement cases are filed with the Clerk’s Office by mental health facilities that already have the respondent in their care. Generally, these situations arise when physicians do not feel the respondent is stable or competent enough to leave the facility without being a danger to him or herself or others. For the facility to legally keep the respondent in their care the court must issue an order reflecting that decision.
When a Petition for Involuntary Placement is filed it alerts the Clerk’s Office that there will be a hearing. Once the Clerk’s office is aware that there will be a hearing on a case, a Notice of Hearing on Petition for Involuntary Placement is prepared and processed, and the Public Defender’s Office is appointed to represent the respondent. In addition, the State Attorney’s Office is appointed to represent the facility.
The hearings for these cases are attended by the general magistrate and/or judge, assistant public defender, assistant state attorney, attending physician, and other care providers for the respondent. Family members and/or close friends are also permitted at these hearing.
Upon hearing the testimony of the attending physician, case manager, and other associated health care professionals, a decision is made regarding the treatment of the respondent and an appropriate order is entered.