State of New York Unified Court System
State of New York
Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Third Judicial Department
Mental Hygiene Legal Service
286 Washington Avenue Extension
Suite 205

Albany, NY  12203

Phone  (518) 451-8710
   Fax  (518) 453-6915

Sheila E. Shea
Director

Shannon Stockwell
  Deputy Director

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Articles

 

The Mental Hygiene Legal Service (MHLS) provides legal services, advice and assistance to persons receiving care or alleged to be in need of care at inpatient and community-based facilities for individuals with mental disabilities and certain patients or residents of residential health care facilities.  Created in 1964 and organized under Mental Hygiene Law article 47, MHLS represents such persons in judicial and administrative proceedings concerning admission, retention, transfer, treatment and guardianship.  In addition to handling judicial proceedings, MHLS  provides advice and representation regarding standards of care and other matters affecting the civil liberties of persons receiving care at facilities for individuals with mental disabilities. 

MHLS can also be assigned as counsel or court evaluator in Mental Hygiene Law article 81 guardianship proceedings, and as counsel for respondents in proceedings commenced under the Sex Offender Management and Treatment Act (Mental Hygiene Law article 10).

MHLS for the Third Judicial Department has field offices in Albany, Binghamton, Elmira, Kingston, Ogdensburg, Oneonta, Plattsburgh and Tupper Lake.

 
Field Offices
Statutes and Rules
Surrogate Decision Making / SCPA 1750-b Statewide Contact List
 
 
 

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