Court-Ordered Evaluations in Maine

A court-ordered mental health or substance use evaluation typically includes several structured components to assess an individual’s psychological functioning and its relevance to the legal context. Specific requirements vary depending on the purpose of the evaluation and the referring authority.

A police report or discovery and a copy of the deferred disposition, bail or probation requirements (if present) is required for the clinician to review at least 48 hours prior to the evaluation.

The evaluation may include the following elements, depending on the nature of the referral:

Referral Information

• Reason for evaluation

• Legal questions to be addressed

• Background on the case or legal situation

Heart Stone Counseling most commonly conducts risk assessments. We do not complete evaluations for custody matters or determinations of criminal responsibility.

Clinical Interview

• Events leading to the arrest or legal involvement

• Impact of legal involvement on the individual

• Personal history

• Medical history

• Psychiatric history

• Substance use history (when applicable)

• Current mental state and symptoms

Assessment Measures

• Brief psychological screening tools (when indicated)

• Informal Mental Status Examination (MSE)

Clinical Formulation

• Diagnosis (if applicable)

• Risk assessment

• Strengths and protective factors

• Recommendations

Report Preparation

A written report summarizing findings and recommendations is prepared following the evaluation.

The fee for a Court-Ordered Clinical Evaluation is $349.

This fee includes:

• Pre-appointment review of relevant legal documentation

• A 90-minute clinical evaluation session

• Administration and scoring of assessment tools (when applicable)

• A written report summarizing findings and recommendations

If both a substance use and mental health evaluation are required, the combined fee is $449 due to the additional assessment and report preparation involved.

If additional time beyond 90 minutes is required, extended time is billed at $50 per additional 30 minutes.
If both substance use and mental health evaluations are required, additional time and fees may apply and will be discussed during the initial consultation.

50% is due at the time of evaluation.
The remaining 50% is due upon report completion and prior to release.

Reports are generally completed within 15 days.

Expedited appointments and report preparation may be available for an additional fee depending on scheduling availability.

Court-ordered evaluations are typically not covered by insurance, as they are completed for legal compliance rather than medical treatment.

Insurance is not billed directly for these services. However, upon request, a detailed superbill can be provided for clients who wish to independently seek possible out-of-network reimbursement. Reimbursement is determined solely by your insurance provider and is not guaranteed.

Cash, check, credit card, and HSA payments are accepted.

A free 15-minute video consultation is required prior to scheduling the full evaluation.

This consultation allows us to:

• Confirm appropriateness of the referral

• Clarify legal requirements

• Determine whether additional time may be needed

Following the consultation, a 90-minute evaluation session may be scheduled.

To request a consultation, please email hello@heartstonecounseling.com or call 207-613-2470.

Court-ordered evaluations are currently conducted by Emily Van Cannon.

Emily was a DEEP-certified provider for over five years and has completed hundreds of interviews with individuals involved in the legal system. She is experienced in writing professional, thorough, and fair clinical summaries for court-related matters.

Emily approaches each evaluation with clinical objectivity, clarity, and respect for both the individual and the legal process.