Criteria:

A person may be taken to a receiving facility for an involuntary examination if there is reason to believe that they are mentally ill when:

• The person has refused voluntary examination or



• The person is unable to determine whether an examination is necessary.



• Without care or treatment the person is likely to suffer from:

• Neglect
• May be a threat of substantial harm to their well-being
• May cause serious bodily harm to themselves or others
• The person is located in Pasco County

Procedure:

• A petition may be filed in the Clerk’s Office by any interested person(s)

• The initiating petition can be completed online using Adobe Acrobat and then printed on your printer.
Other required forms are available in the Clerk's Office. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat installed on your computer, click the link below to download the free Adobe Reader.



DISCLAIMER: This document is not an attempt by the Clerk to practice law or give legal advice, it is intended to provide notice of procedures followed by the Clerk's Office at the direction of the Courts. All forms are derived from either the Supreme Court promulgated forms or Sixth Judicial Circuit Court approved forms. Forms are subject to change without further notice by the Courts.

• The Court will review the petition and either grant or deny the petition

• If the Court grants the petition, a certified copy of the documents filed is sent to the Sheriff’s Office

• The Sheriff’s Office will serve the individual and deliver them to the nearest receiving facility

• A person may not be held in a receiving facility for involuntary examination longer than 72 hours