Legal Question in Family Law in Kentucky

Mental health care

I am not sure if Family Law is the proper area for this question...

My step son (age 23) has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Some time ago he was hospitalized in Virginia and released to the care of his mother agreeing that he would get treatment for his condition. The problem I am having is that I do not believe that his mother is mentally capable of caring for him. His parents divorced after 30+ years because she had mental/violence issues and regardless of her husband, her family and medical doctors and psycologists/psychiatrists urgings she feels that she does not have a problem and will not take medication even if prescribed to her.

The young man was released to his mother in Virgina (where she was living at the time...she is now in Kentucky) because the authorities were apparently only able to ascertain her name from the boy. After taking him to Kentucky, she kept his living there a secret from his father for several months. We is worried about her capabilities to care for him and would like to know what legal recourses and resourses are available to us.

Thank you


Asked on 12/12/02, 4:14 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Martin Kasdan, Jr. Martin Z. Kasdan, Jr., Attorney at Law

Re: Mental health care

Your best bet is to contact Adult Protective Services for the county where they reside. APS is empowered to investigate to determine if there are any issues of neglect (or abuse or exploitation) of an adult. Also, there may be a need to initiate guardianship proceedings. The county attorney in the county where they reside should be able to offer guidance on this. Best wishes.

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Answered on 12/12/02, 7:34 pm


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