The Order Appointing Mental Health Professional (per R.S. 9:331) is a court order form for the 24th Judicial District Court for the Parish of Jefferson, Louisiana, published by the Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court. It appoints a mental health professional to evaluate the parties and children in a proceeding with pending custody and/or visitation demands. The Clerk's forms page describes its forms as samples for qualified notaries or attorneys only. On FillingPDF you can fill out the form online and download or print the completed PDF; the official PDF is published on the Clerk's website.
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What is Order Appointing Mental Health Professional – Jefferson Parish, LA?
The Order Appointing Mental Health Professional, printed "per R.S. 9:331," is a one-page court order of the 24th Judicial District Court for the Parish of Jefferson, Louisiana, by which the court appoints a named mental health professional to evaluate the parties in a custody and/or visitation dispute.
The order is issued under Louisiana R.S. 9:331 and applies to the pending demands for custody and/or visitation in the captioned proceeding. As printed, it sets the terms of the evaluation:
- Each party must contact the appointed professional within five (5) days to schedule appointments and make other arrangements.
- Each party and the minor children must submit to and cooperate with any evaluation, testing and/or interviews.
- The professional may ask other persons with ties to the parties or the child(ren) to submit to interview and/or evaluation.
- The professional must give the court and the parties a written report no later than fifteen (15) days before the scheduled hearing.
- Each party pays their own fees and one-half (½) of the child(ren)'s fees, and advances the fees for any additional persons tied to that party whom the professional asks to participate. The court reserves the right to tax the fees as costs.
The form is the order itself, not a petition or motion. It is dated "Gretna, Louisiana," and signed by the Domestic Commissioner of the 24th Judicial District Court, with lines for the attorney for plaintiff and the attorney for defendant. It appears among the forms published by the Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court.
Who needs to file Order Appointing Mental Health Professional – Jefferson Parish, LA?
Attorneys and notaries who prepare orders for the 24th Judicial District Court are the audience the Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court gives for its forms: the Clerk's forms page says they are samples for use by qualified notaries or attorneys only, and that Clerk of Court employees may not give legal advice or help complete any form.
The order is used in a proceeding where demands for custody and/or visitation are pending. It names the plaintiff and the defendant in the caption and carries a signature line for the attorney for each side. The Domestic Commissioner of the 24th Judicial District Court signs it.
Once the order is signed, it binds the people it names. Each party and the minor children must cooperate with the evaluation, and other persons with ties to the parties or the child(ren) may be asked to take part. Each party bears their own fees and one-half of the child(ren)'s fees.
The form does not say whether a self-represented party may use it. Anyone unsure should not rely on Clerk staff for guidance, since they cannot give legal advice.
When to file Order Appointing Mental Health Professional – Jefferson Parish, LA
The order is used once demands for custody and/or visitation are pending in the proceeding and the court decides that a mental health professional should evaluate them under Louisiana R.S. 9:331. The form prints no filing deadline of its own.
Once the order is signed, it sets two time limits. Each party must contact the appointed mental health professional within five (5) days to schedule appointments and other arrangements. The professional must give the court and the parties a written report no later than fifteen (15) days before the scheduled hearing. Because the report deadline is counted back from the hearing date, the order needs to be in place well ahead of that hearing.
How to fill out Order Appointing Mental Health Professional – Jefferson Parish, LA
Enter the case number and division
At the top, write the case number after "No.:" and the division letter in the quotation marks after "Division." The heading already reads State of Louisiana, 24th Judicial District Court for the Parish of Jefferson.
Enter the parties in the caption
Write the name of the plaintiff on the first caption line and the name of the defendant on the line after "vs."
Name the mental health professional
In the first paragraph, write the name of the mental health professional the court is appointing to perform the evaluation on the blank line before "a mental health professional."
Check the printed terms
Read the pre-printed terms: contact within five (5) days, written report no later than fifteen (15) days before the hearing, and the fee split. These are part of the order as printed.
Complete the date lines
Under "Gretna, Louisiana," fill in the day, the month and the year in "This ___ day of _, 20."
Leave the Domestic Commissioner line for signature
The Domestic Commissioner of the 24th Judicial District Court signs on the line above the title. Do not sign for the court.
Add the attorney signature lines
The attorney for plaintiff and the attorney for defendant sign on their respective lines at the bottom of the page.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check the names, case number, division and dates, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and handle it as your attorney or the court directs.
How to submit Order Appointing Mental Health Professional – Jefferson Parish, LA
The form names no mailing address, portal or appointment rule for this order. It is signed by the Domestic Commissioner of the 24th Judicial District Court and carries signature lines for the attorneys for both sides.
The Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court's forms page adds two points that apply to all its forms: the forms are samples for use by qualified notaries or attorneys only, and all documents must be submitted with the appropriate fees. The Clerk's Fees page lists the charges that apply, so ask the Clerk of Court for current fees; Clerk employees cannot give legal advice or help with completing a form.
FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the Clerk of Court and court channels, not this site.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Leaving blank the line that names the mental health professional; the appointment is made by that name.
- Omitting the case number, the division or the names of the parties from the caption at the top of the order.
- Describing the parties' payment duty as only their own fees; the order also makes each party responsible for one-half (½) of the child(ren)'s fees.
- Overlooking the five (5) day period in which each party must contact the professional to schedule appointments.
- Planning a hearing without allowing for the written report, which the order requires no later than fifteen (15) days before the scheduled hearing.
- Leaving the date lines ("This ___ day of _, 20") or the Domestic Commissioner signature line unfilled.
- Leaving out the attorney for plaintiff and attorney for defendant signature blocks.
- Expecting Clerk of Court staff to help complete the order; the Clerk's forms page says employees may not give legal advice or assistance with any form.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Order Appointing Mental Health Professional?
It is a 24th Judicial District Court order, printed "per R.S. 9:331," that appoints a named mental health professional to evaluate the parties on pending custody and/or visitation demands. It also sets contact, report and fee terms for the evaluation.
Is this a Jefferson Parish property tax form?
No. It is a court order used in a proceeding with pending custody and/or visitation demands. It is published by the Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court among its 24th Judicial District Court forms and has nothing to do with property tax.
Who signs the Order Appointing Mental Health Professional?
The Domestic Commissioner of the 24th Judicial District Court signs the order. The form also has signature lines for the attorney for plaintiff and the attorney for defendant.
How soon must each party contact the mental health professional?
Within five (5) days. The order requires each party to contact the appointed professional within that time to schedule any necessary appointments and make other arrangements for the evaluations.
When is the evaluation report due?
The mental health professional must give the court and the parties a written report no later than fifteen (15) days before the scheduled hearing.
Who pays the mental health professional under this order?
Each party pays their own fees and one-half (½) of the child(ren)'s fees. Each party also advances the fees for additional persons tied to that party whose participation the professional requests. The court reserves the right to tax the fees as costs.
Can I fill out this order online?
Yes. You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service, is not affiliated with the Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court and does not file or submit the order.
Can Clerk of Court staff help me complete this form?
No. The Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court's forms page says its forms are samples for use by qualified notaries or attorneys only, and that Clerk employees are prohibited from giving legal advice or assistance with completing any form.
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