Involuntary holds are more common than many people realize. If you are taken in on a 5150 mental health hold, you will need the legal guidance and support of a Buena Park 5250 hearings lawyer at the Simmrin Law Group to help you get released.
With our firm backing you up, you can protect your rights and avoid a longer hold time. Contact our team for a confidential consultation today to learn more about how 5250 hearings work and what to expect going forward.
Involuntary Holds in Buena Park
Involuntary holds happen in Buena Park more often than they should. Unfortunately, there are many instances in which healthcare providers and law enforcement officials find it necessary and appropriate to place an individual on a mental health hold.
This means someone who appears to be a threat to themselves or others or is incapable of taking care of themselves can be held against their will at a mental health treatment facility. However, specific requirements must be met for a 5150 or 5250 hold to apply. These include:
- Someone is making threats against others or actively following through on a threat to harm someone else
- Someone is exhibiting signs of suicide
- Someone has shown that they are incapable of providing for or taking care of themselves
During any involuntary hold, patients must adhere to the rules and regulations of the facility, or the hold could remain in effect for an extended period of time. Your 5250 hearings lawyer in Buena Park, CA is here to help you avoid an involuntary hold or conservatorship, get the medical treatment you need, and regain control of your life.
For a free legal consultation with a 5250 hearings lawyer serving Buena Park, call (310) 896-2723
When You Will Attend a Buena Park 5250 Hearing
5250 hearings are necessary when law enforcement or healthcare providers have placed an individual on a 5150 hold. 5150 holds only last up to 72 hours. The treatment facility has up to 72 hours to examine the patient’s well-being and determine whether it is appropriate to keep them under an involuntary hold so they can get further treatment.
However, before extending the hold, healthcare providers, the patient, and their 5250 hearings attorney in Buena Park, CA, must attend a certification review hearing. Here, a mental health hearing referee will hear both parties’ cases to determine whether it is in the patient’s and the public’s best interests for the hold to extend up to 14 days on a 5250 hold. Also in attendance should be the patient’s patient rights advocate, who will work with the patient’s attorney to prioritize their needs.
After being placed on a 5150 hold, your 5250 hearings lawyer will scrutinize the facts of your case to determine why the hold was enacted, whether it was just, and what options may be available next.
Buena Park 5250 Hearings Lawyer Near Me (310) 896-2723
What Happens in a Buena Park 5250 Hearing
A judge does not oversee 5250 hearings. Instead, the mental health hearing referee will review the evidence presented by the mental health treatment facility, the patient rights advocate, and your 5250 Hearings attorney. Both parties will introduce compelling evidence that shows why the patient should be kept on a hold and why a hold is no longer appropriate, necessary, or was never just.
After reviewing the evidence, the mental health hearing referee will determine what should happen next. In some cases, they may decide that you should be released, as you are mentally capable of taking care of yourself and are not a threat to others or yourself. However, if they determine you are still a threat, you could be placed on a 5250 hold for up to 14 days and potentially find yourself under a conservatorship.
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Your Rights During a 5250 Hold in Buena Park
Just because you have been placed in an involuntary hold does not mean that you do not have rights. If you have been placed in a 5150 or 5250 hold, the rights you retain include the following:
- The right to support from a patient rights advocate
- The right to present evidence to support your release during your 5250 hearing
- The right to hire a 5250 hearings attorney to advocate for you with the mental health hearing referee
- The right to a written notice that details the reasons for your 5150 or 5250 hold
Although your rights may be restricted more during a 5150 hold, with your patient rights advocate and your 5250 hearings lawyer working on your case, you can rest easier knowing we will work tirelessly to protect your rights. This way, you can increase your chances of getting released from your involuntary hold.
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Preparing for Your 5250 Hearing in Buena Park
Preparing for your 5250 hearing in Buena Park is crucial. Your lawyer will handle the legal details and gather the evidence needed to support your case. Here are some of the top ways you can prepare for your 5250 hearing:
Follow the Treatment Facility’s Protocol
Make sure you follow the mental health treatment facility’s rules and regulations. They will have instructions you must follow at all times. Do your best to follow their treatment recommendations, sleep, eat, and show staff that you can care for your mental and physical health and well-being.
Take Advantage of the Medical Care
It is not unusual for individuals placed in 5150 or 5250 holds to struggle with mental health. If you can obtain medical treatment for your mental health condition, doing so could favor your case. This could also show healthcare providers that you are capable of maintaining good physical and mental health with the proper treatment.
Contact a 5250 Hearings Lawyer in Buena Park for Help
Make sure you hire a 5250 hearings attorney for help before you meet with the mental health hearing referee. Your attorney will determine what options are best suited for your case, gather the evidence needed to secure your release, and aid in getting you into a mental health diversion program if you are facing criminal charges.
Schedule a Confidential Consultation with a Buena Park 5250 Hearings Attorney Today
When you have been placed on an involuntary hold, a 5250 hearing is nearly inevitable. Make sure you are prepared. Get help from an experienced Buena Park 5250 hearings lawyer at the Simmrin Law Group today.
Schedule your free, no-obligation consultation by completing our confidential contact form or calling our office today.
Call or text (310) 896-2723 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form