Casey's Law

A Hopeful Option

To Finding Recovery

Casey’s Law is an intervention tool that provides parents, relatives, and/or friends a way to intervene on a loved one who has a substance use disorder, regardless of substance, age (over age 18), and without any criminal charges. Casey’s Law offers hope for a life in recovery.

Casey’s Law is a legal proceeding that results in a court order for involuntary treatment. This is a civil case, not a criminal case.

Casey's Story

Matthew "Casey" Wethington

Matthew “Casey” Wethington died of a drug overdose at only 23 years old after his parents were unable to intervene on his behalf. Casey’s Law, named in his honor, is an instrumental tool for helping Kentucky families navigate the court system and get the life-saving help they need for their loved ones.

How Can Addiction Recovery Care Help?

While the court system can sometimes be confusing to navigate, ARC stands ready to help you understand the Casey’s Law process. Contact our team of Casey’s Law Advocates at caseyslaw@arccenters.com or (606) 638-0938.

ARC’s Casey’s Law Advocates make every effort to consult pro-bono with families prior to filing Casey’s Law. ARC does a limited amount of court-ordered pro-bono clinical and medical assessments via telehealth for Casey’s Law.

Casey's Law Steps

Casey’s Law works. It does require multiple steps to move forward in getting your loved one the help they need and deserve. Do not be discouraged. There is help and resources available. The basic steps required are as follows:

Prepare Petition, Form 700A, providing careful attention to questions #3, 4, and 5.
- For Question #3, provide as much history and evidence as possible, attaching extra pages as needed.
- For Question #4, provide examples of behavior or driving under the influence, but always include a note that each time they use they are a danger to themselves.
- For Question #5, only check one box.
Petitioner is required to schedule appointments with two Qualified Health Professionals (QHPs), one must be a physician. A list of what professions qualify as a QHP is included with the Evaluation Form 703A. Appointment dates, times, and provider information should be attached to the petition when filed.
File the Petition, Form 700A, with the Circuit Court Clerk. DO NOT SIGN! Signature must be witnessed and notarized by the Clerk. Petitioner should review that county’s procedures with the Clerk. Petitioner should retain a copy of the completed Form 700A, for their own reference and to provide a copy to each of the evaluators. There is no fee to file.
Upon review and approval from the Judge, the Clerk will complete a summons containing the names and addresses of the Qualified Health Professionals (evaluators) along with the dates/times and scheduled appointments.
Sheriff will then serve the Respondent with the summons. Some counties do charge a fee for the summons to be served. Once the Respondent is served, their failure to cooperate and attend evaluations, court date, or treatment program could result in contempt of court. This is only intended to incentivize cooperation.
Petitioner must also attend the evaluation appointment and obtain the completed Certifications/Evaluations. The completed Form 703A must remain in a sealed envelope until opened by the Clerk. The Petitioner is advised to give a copy of the completed Form 700A to the evaluator, providing all the same evidence presented to the court.
Petitioner must return the completed Certifications/Evaluations to the County Clerk’s office within 24 hours. This is REQUIRED by law. Failure to do so can result in the complete dismissal of the case. Once received by the Clerk, Petitioner is entitled to receive a copy of these evaluations.
It is the responsibility of the Petitioner (not the court) to secure a treatment program for the Respondent to attend in the event treatment is ordered by the court. This could be outpatient or inpatient treatment, based on the recommendations of the two evaluations. A placement should be available to provide to the court at the final hearing.
Petitioner and Respondent will be required to attend court on a specified date.
Once the treatment is ordered by the court for the Respondent, it is the Petitioner’s duty to keep the court informed of any changes in the status of the Respondent.

Finding Joy:

Rebecca Rohl's Story

Rebecca’s mother watched as her daughter’s life slowly drifted away. It was then that Melinda Hill became among the first in the state of Kentucky to file Casey’s Law to help her daughter.

Rebecca began her treatment journey but went on to relapse multiple times. Her mother utilized Casey’s Law three times before getting her daughter back.

CALL NOW TO BEGIN THE CASEY'S LAW PROCESS

Speak to our trained, professional intake team

Call to Get Help Today: (606) 638-0938

Casey's Law — Don't Wait for Rock Bottom

Addiction is an issue that is a difficult situation for family and loved ones of someone suffering from addiction. It can damage family relationships and cause tension. Addiction can endanger both the individual and the loved ones around them if they do not seek treatment. If your loved one isn’t willing to enter treatment voluntarily and refuses they have a problem, what can you do?

Casey’s Law allows loved ones to petition a court for drug rehabilitation. Parents, relatives, or friends of an addicted person can lawfully intervene and request involuntary, court-ordered addiction treatment for their addicted loved one through Casey’s Law. Involuntary treatment can be just as successful as voluntary. Most individuals suffering from addiction eventually reach a stage where they are court ordered to treatment since drugs and criminal activity often go hand in hand because addicts are forced by their disease to resort to any means necessary to obtain their drug. Court-ordered treatment can be effective regardless of who initiates it.

If you would like help sending your loved one to treatment using Casey’s Law, we can help with this process.

How we can help you with Casey’s Law

Loved ones can begin the process by filing a Casey’s Law petition with their local court system in Kentucky or Ohio. The petition is a short, three-page form that must be completed by the individual requesting the court to order a loved one to treatment. The form must also be notarized. Our intake coordinators can assist you with the completion of the form and notarization of the petition.

Because the petition requires a guarantee of payment from the petitioner, our intake coordinators can also speak with you about how to make the guarantee. In Kentucky and Ohio, the Medicaid program covers the costs of residential and outpatient treatment for individuals that qualify.

Occasionally, Casey’s Law petitioners may wish to have a conversation with an attorney, since the process involves a court proceeding. At Addiction Recovery Care, we have an attorney on staff that can answer any questions you may have about the process.

Physician and qualified health professional assessments

Our physicians and counselors can complete Casey’s Law assessments via telehealth. Once the petition has been filed with the court, the individual suffering from substance abuse must have two assessments by medical professionals completed within 14 days. One of these assessments must be completed by a physician.

Our intake coordinators can schedule telehealth assessments for the individual in the Casey’s Law petition, and an Addiction Recovery Care physician and counselor can evaluate and complete the assessments at no charge to you, the petitioner, or to the individual that is being assessed.

We can complete these assessments in person or via telehealth, which means that the individual can be assessed by video conference within the privacy of their home.

Our providers will complete the Casey’s Law assessment form for the court and return it to the court upon completion.

Finding a center for treatment

As part of the process, our intake coordinators can schedule an intake date for your loved one at one of our residential facilities. Once a judge determines that your loved one will be ordered to complete treatment, we will provide a bed for them. If you are interested in beginning the Casey’s Law process for a loved one, please contact us at (606) 638-0938 or complete the form below.