When a person facing a court-ordered mental health evaluation or treatment petition is already admitted to a licensed screening or evaluation agency, a court may now let that agency's employees hand-deliver the required court papers to the person.
Official title: service of process; evaluation agencies
- September 12, 2026
What changes
BeforeRequired court papers had to be personally handed to the person by a peace officer, a process server or another person authorized by rule 4 of the Arizona Rules of Civil Procedure.
NowThe papers must be personally handed to the person by a peace officer, a process server, or another person as prescribed by law or court rule or as ordered by the court.
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NowIf the proposed patient is admitted to a facility licensed as a screening agency or evaluation agency when the petition is filed, the court may authorize an employee of that agency to serve the papers on the patient.
BeforeA county, city or town that employs peace officers could contract with a process server or another person authorized by rule 4 to serve the papers instead of using a peace officer.
NowA county, city or town that employs peace officers may contract with a process server, a screening agency or an evaluation agency to serve the papers instead of using a peace officer.
BeforeAn evaluation agency was not financially responsible for serving the papers.
NowAn evaluation agency or screening agency is not financially responsible for serving the papers under the general personal-service rule.
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NowA screening or evaluation agency may only be reimbursed for serving papers under the court-authorized option through a contract with a county.
Who it affects
- People ordered to undergo involuntary mental health evaluation
- People who are the subject of a petition for court-ordered mental health treatment
- Licensed screening agencies and evaluation agencies and their employees
- Counties, cities and towns that employ peace officers
- Courts handling mental health petitions
- Peace officers and process servers
What you need to do
Nothing.
What the law doesn't answer
- How a court decides whether to authorize an agency employee to serve the papers
- Whether agency employees who serve papers need any training or qualifications
- How much an agency may be reimbursed under a county contract
- Whether the proposed patient can object to being served by agency staff
This summary describes the law as enacted. Later laws, court rulings or referendum petitions can change the picture. Check the official text for the current wording.