Civil Commitment

(Probate Commitment)

Alabama has specific laws and regulations that apply to situations involving civil commitment. When someone has a mental illness, making the decision to commit them can be extremely difficult. Once you have made the decision, showing that commitment is the right course of action from a legal perspective can be very challenging as well.

Civil commitment is addressed by the probate court in Alabama. It starts with a formal petition that must be served on the patient. Then, a guardian ad litem will be appointed by the Court to ensure that the patient’s rights are protected. A hearing will then be scheduled to review whether the commitment is appropriate. You must prove specific facts at the hearing for the judge to approve the civil commitment.


Alabama allows for assisted outpatient treatment, a form of court-ordered treatment. It serves as an alternative to a civil commitment that can be a good option in some cases.


Alyse Fowler Law LLC can help with both civil commitment and assisted outpatient treatment services petitions in Alabama. Our team is located in Elba, Alabama, and we can serve clients throughout the nearby area, including in Coffee, Covington, Crenshaw, Geneva, Dale and surrounding counties.

Learn more about how we can help by contacting our office today.

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