In Illinois, an involuntary psychiatric hold can last up to 24 hours before a medical certificate must be obtained, but the full process from emergency detention through a court hearing can stretch to roughly two weeks. The exact timeline depends on whether the hold is voluntary or involuntary and how the legal steps unfold.
The Initial 24-Hour Hold
When someone is detained for a psychiatric evaluation in Illinois based on a petition alone (without a doctor’s certificate), the facility cannot hold that person for more than 24 hours. Within that window, a physician, psychiatrist, clinical psychologist, or other qualified examiner must personally evaluate the person and complete what’s called a “first certificate,” confirming that the individual meets the criteria for involuntary admission and needs immediate hospitalization. The examiner must have seen the person within 72 hours before admission for this certificate to be valid.
If no certificate is completed within 24 hours, the facility has no legal authority to continue holding the person.
What Happens After the First 24 Hours
Once admitted, a second psychiatrist (someone different from whoever signed the first certificate) must examine the person within another 24 hours, excluding weekends and holidays. This means if you’re admitted on a Friday evening, the clock for that second examination doesn’t start until the following Monday at 12:01 a.m. and runs through midnight Tuesday.
At the same time, the facility must file copies of the petition and first certificate with the local court within 24 hours of admission, again excluding weekends and holidays. The second certificate is filed with the court as soon as it’s completed. These weekend exclusions can add several days to the timeline in practice, particularly around holiday weekends.
The Court Hearing
After the second certificate is filed, a court hearing must take place within 5 days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. This hearing determines whether the person will be involuntarily admitted for treatment or released. You have the right to an attorney at this hearing, and one will be appointed if you don’t have your own.
Adding up the full timeline from initial detention to hearing, the process can realistically take anywhere from a few days to about two weeks, depending on when weekends and holidays fall. During this entire period, the person remains at the facility.
How Long a Court-Ordered Admission Lasts
If the judge orders involuntary inpatient admission, the initial order can last up to 90 days. At the end of that period, the facility can petition to extend treatment for another 90 days. After that second period, extensions jump to 180-day increments, each requiring a new hearing. The judge can also order the use of psychiatric medication or electroconvulsive therapy for up to 90 days at a time.
These extensions aren’t automatic. The facility must file a new petition and two new medical certificates each time, and the court holds a fresh hearing before granting any additional time.
Voluntary Admission Is Different
If you check yourself into a psychiatric facility voluntarily, you have the right to leave. After submitting a written request for discharge, the facility must release you within 5 business days (excluding weekends and holidays). During those 5 days, you can withdraw your request in writing if you change your mind.
There is one important exception: if the facility believes you meet the criteria for involuntary admission, staff can file a petition and two certificates with the court during that 5-day window, converting your voluntary stay into an involuntary one. At that point, the involuntary admission process and timelines described above take over.
Holds Involving Minors
Illinois law treats minors differently. A minor aged 12 or older can seek outpatient counseling or therapy without parental consent, though sessions are capped at five (each no longer than 45 minutes) until a parent or guardian is brought into the loop. For inpatient admission, the minor must receive a copy of the application, and their right to object must be explained in language they can understand. Copies also go to the parent or guardian, the person who filed the application, the minor’s attorney if they have one, and up to two additional people the minor chooses.
The procedural protections for minors add layers of notification and consent, but the general framework of certificates, petitions, and court hearings follows the same structure as adult involuntary admissions.