Lake County Court of Common Pleas
 Probate Division

Ted Klammer, Probate Judge 

Lake County
Probate Court
25 North Park Place
Painesville, OH 44077

Phone:      (440) 350-2626
West End: (440) 918-2626
Fax:            (440) 350-2628
West End: (440) 918-2628


Hours of Service:
Monday-Friday
7:30 am to 5 pm*

*Closed on holidays
observed by
Lake County

CIVIL COMMITMENT

Definition of Civil Commitment

Civil commitments are legal proceedings in which the Lake County Probate Court orders a mentally ill individual into a facility for treatment. The term “mentally ill” is defined in R.C. § 5122.01 (A) as " a substantial disorder of thought, mood, perception, orientation, or memory that grossly impairs judgment, behavior, capacity to recognize reality, or ability to meet the ordinary demands of life." The provisions of Chapter 5122 of the Ohio Revised Code govern civil commitments.

The civil commitment process begins when an individual files an affidavit with the Lake County Probate Court. The affidavit must contain sufficient statements of fact to establish probable cause to commit the mentally ill individual to a facility.