Mental Health Forms

Petition to Begin CARE Act Proceedings

This form starts the legal process to help someone who is experiencing a mental health crisis or substance abuse problem get court-ordered treatment and support services instead of going through the criminal justice system. Prosecutors, law enforcement, social workers, or other authorized people use it to petition the court to intervene and provide care and treatment to someone who needs help.

Mental Health Declaration—CARE Act Proceedings

This form allows someone to declare that they are experiencing a mental health crisis and need help getting court-ordered mental health treatment and support services. Family members, healthcare providers, or other concerned people use this form to start a CARE Act case, which is a legal process to help someone get mental health care without requiring them to be arrested or hospitalized.

Petition to Begin Care Act Proceedings By Licensed Behavioral Health Professional Only

This form allows a licensed behavioral health professional to start legal proceedings to get court authorization for involuntary mental health treatment or conservatorship for someone who cannot care for themselves due to a mental health condition. A psychiatrist, psychologist, clinical social worker, or other qualified mental health professional uses this form when they believe a patient needs immediate protective intervention and court-ordered care.

Order to Provide Information to Respondent's Attorney in Related Proceedings

This form is used to order a party to share information with the respondent's attorney in cases that are connected to each other. Family law attorneys use this form when they need to make sure the other side's lawyer gets important documents and details in related court proceedings, such as custody, support, or restraining order cases.

Order for CARE Act Report

This form is used by a court to order a detailed report about a person's health, mental state, and ability to care for themselves as part of a conservatorship case. Conservators, family members, or court-appointed investigators use this form to request and document information needed to determine if someone requires a conservator to manage their personal care and finances.

Notice of Order for CARE Act Report

This form notifies a person that a court has ordered a mental health evaluation report to be prepared under the CARE Act, which allows for court-ordered mental health treatment for certain individuals. Judges, mental health professionals, and court staff use this form to inform someone that they may be subject to involuntary mental health evaluation and potential court-ordered treatment based on their behavior or statements suggesting they pose a danger to themselves or others.

Proof of Personal Service of Notice of Order for CARE Act Report

This form proves that someone was officially given a notice about a court order requiring a report related to child abuse or neglect investigations under California's CARE Act. Parents, guardians, social workers, or court officials use this form to document that the notice was properly delivered to the person who needs to comply with the reporting requirement.

Notice of Initial Appearance—CARE Act Proceedings

This form notifies a person that they have a court hearing for a case involving the CARE Act, which allows families to get court help treating a loved one's substance abuse or mental health crisis. Family members and others use this form to formally tell someone they're required to appear in court for proceedings that could result in court-ordered treatment or care.

Proof of Personal Service of Notice of Initial Appearance—CARE Act Proceedings

This form documents that someone was officially notified about their first court appearance in a case involving a gun violence restraining order under the CARE Act. A court clerk, sheriff, or process server files this form to prove they delivered the notice to the person who needs to appear in court.

Notice of Respondent's Rights—CARE Act Proceedings

This form notifies a person (the respondent) about their legal rights when someone files a petition to remove them from a healthcare facility or deny them visitation rights under the CARE Act. Court staff, healthcare facilities, and attorneys use this form to ensure respondents understand their rights to respond, attend hearings, and request a lawyer before decisions are made about their care or visitation.

Notice of Hearing—CARE Act Proceedings

This form notifies a person that they have a court hearing for a case involving the CARE Act, which allows courts to order mental health treatment as an alternative to criminal prosecution or jail for people with serious mental illness. The form is used by courts and prosecutors to inform defendants and their lawyers about when and where they must appear in court for their CARE Act hearing.

Proof of Personal Service of Notice of Hearing—CARE Act Proceedings

This form documents that notice of a court hearing has been properly delivered to all required parties in a case involving removal of a child from parental custody under the CARE Act. Child protective services agencies, parents, and their attorneys use this form to prove to the judge that everyone involved in the custody and dependency case was officially notified about the hearing date.

Notice of Hearing or Continuance

This form notifies a person that a court hearing related to a domestic violence restraining order case has been scheduled or postponed to a new date. Domestic violence victims, defendants, and court staff use this form to communicate hearing dates and any changes to those dates in restraining order proceedings.

Notice of Dismissal

This form notifies the court and involved parties that a civil harassment or domestic violence restraining order case is being dismissed. It is used by prosecutors, victims, or their attorneys to officially close a restraining order case when they decide not to pursue the protection order or when the case no longer needs court involvement.

Request for New Order and Hearing—CARE Act Proceedings

This form allows someone to ask a court to create a new protective order and hold a hearing in a case involving a person at risk of abuse under California's CARE Act (a law protecting adults from violence by caretakers or family members). Someone who is being abused or neglected by a caregiver or family member uses this form to request court protection through a restraining order and get their day in court to present their situation to a judge.

Court Referral to the CARE Act Court

Court files referral form sending individual to CARE Act Court when mental health crises warrant specialized judicial oversight and intervention services.

Ruling or Order on Court Referral to the CARE Act Court

Judge files ruling approving or denying referral of individual to CARE Act Court for mental health crisis intervention and treatment services.