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Mental Health Petitions

In Kentucky, a mental health petition is used to request involuntary hospitalization for individuals deemed a danger to themselves or others due to mental illness. A district court judge reviews the petition, and if criteria are met, may order an evaluation and possible commitment. The individual has the right to a hearing, with protections for their civil rights.

A person with mental illness can be involuntarily hospitalized if

  1. Who presents a danger or threat to self, family or others as a result of a mental illness;

  2. Who can reasonably benefit from treatment; and

  3. For whom hospitalization is the least restrictive alternative mode of treatment presently available.

Involuntary Hospitalization Hearing Process

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1

Filing 

  • A petition for involuntary hospitalization must be filed by a family member or other concerned individual in the District Court of the county where the person to be hospitalized lives or is present at the time of filing.

  • The District Court of the county must set a preliminary hearing date within six (6) days of holding or examination.

  • Notice of the involuntary hospitalization hearing must be given to the mentally ill individual and, if applicable, to the individual’s guardian, spouse, parents, nearest relative or friend, if known.

2

Initial Hearing

  • The District Court will examine the person filing the petition [“petitioner”] under oath about why he or she believe it is necessary to involuntarily hospitalize the mentally ill individual.

  • If the Court find probable cause to involuntarily hospitalize the mentally ill individual, the court will order the person to a facility and set a final hearing within twenty-one (21) days from the examination in the county where the individual is hospitalized.

  • If the court finds that no probable cause exists to involuntarily hospitalize, the proceedings must be dismissed and the individual will be released.

3

Final Hearing

  • After the final hearing, the court can involuntarily hospitalize the individual for a period of sixty (60) to three hundred sixty (360) consecutive days from date of the court order, depending on what was requested in the petition.

Received a Bad Check? 

If you have received a bad check, please bring a copy to our office. We will send a letter to the person who wrote the check, and they will have 18 days from the date of the letter to make payment in a Cashier's Check or Money Order. The Anderson County Attorney’s Office will reimburse the merchant weekly for any funds collected. If the payment is not made within the 18-day period, criminal charges may be pursued.

Need More Info?

You can submit copies of bad checks by bringing them to the office, mailing them, or emailing scanned copies to our office.

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