Why would you have mental health merits hearings in a family court of law?

[lathrop]

do the people they are about know or are they decided without their knowledge? What reasons would this happen and what would it determine?

[advent]

the main reason (maybe only reason) for any court hearing about mental health, would be requesting a court ordered hospitalization. This generally happens if a person is thought to be a danger to either himself or to others, but the person isn't capable of recognition of this. You MIGHT have a hearing relating to child custody, where the parent's mental stability is in question.