Practise
Mental Health Act forms: which one, and who signs it
Every form you're likely to complete or meet, in versions you can edit. That's the 47 statutory forms for England, the DoLS forms, and the tribunal and Court of Protection forms. The Ministry of Justice's forms for restricted patients and prison transfers are here too.
Which forms for a section 2, 3 or 4?
| Application | Medical recommendations | On admission | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Section 2 | A2 from an AMHP, or A1 from the nearest relative | A joint A3, or an A4 each, whether they examine together or apart | H3 |
| Section 3 | A6 or A5 | A7 together, or an A8 each | H3 |
| Section 4 | A10 or A9 | A11, from one doctor | H3, with Part 2 recording the second recommendation |
The application page covers the time limits that make these forms valid.
84 forms
The statutory forms are set out in Schedule 1 to the 2008 Regulations, amended in 2020 so that most can be signed and sent electronically. The Word versions come from Mental Health Law Online. Use your trust's own versions where it has them.
Admission: sections 2, 3 and 4
- A1Section 2: application by nearest relative for admission for assessmentThe nearest relative
- A2Section 2: application by an AMHP for admission for assessmentAn AMHP
- A3Section 2: joint medical recommendation for admission for assessmentTwo doctors, together
- A4Section 2: medical recommendation for admission for assessmentOne doctor each
- A5Section 3: application by nearest relative for admission for treatmentThe nearest relative
- A6Section 3: application by an AMHP for admission for treatmentAn AMHP
- A7Section 3: joint medical recommendation for admission for treatmentTwo doctors, together
- A8Section 3: medical recommendation for admission for treatmentOne doctor each
- A9Section 4: emergency application by nearest relativeThe nearest relative
- A10Section 4: emergency application by an AMHPAn AMHP
- A11Section 4: medical recommendation for emergency admissionOne doctor
Holding powers, detention, renewal and transfer
- H1Section 5(2): report on hospital in-patientThe doctor or AC in charge, or their nominated deputy
- H2Section 5(4): record of hospital in-patientA mental health or learning disability nurse
- H3Sections 2, 3 and 4: record of detention in hospitalThe managers' officer, on admission
- H4Section 19: transfer to a hospital under different managersThe managers authorise; the receiving managers record it
- H5Section 20: renewal of authority for detentionThe RC, a second professional who agrees, and the managers
- H6Section 21B: detention after absence without leave for more than 28 daysThe RC; the managers record it
Community treatment orders
- CTO1Section 17A: community treatment orderThe RC, with an AMHP agreeing
- CTO2Section 17B: variation of the conditionsThe RC
- CTO3Section 17E: notice of recall to hospitalThe RC
- CTO4Section 17E: record of the patient's detention in hospital after recallThe managers
- CTO5Section 17F(4): revocation of the CTOThe RC, with an AMHP agreeing
- CTO6Section 17F(2): transfer of a recalled patient to a hospital under different managersThe managers authorise; the receiving managers record it
- CTO7Section 20A: report extending the community treatment periodThe RC, with an AMHP agreeing
- CTO8Section 21B: extending the CTO after absence without leave for more than 28 daysThe RC
- CTO9Part 6: community patients transferred to EnglandThe RC, with an AMHP agreeing the conditions
- CTO10Section 19A: assigning responsibility to a hospital under different managersThe managers
- CTO11Section 64C(4): certificate of appropriateness of treatment for a community patientA SOAD
- CTO12Section 64C(4A): certificate that a community patient has capacity and has consentedThe AC in charge of the treatment
Guardianship
- G1Section 7: guardianship application by nearest relativeThe nearest relative
- G2Section 7: guardianship application by an AMHPAn AMHP
- G3Section 7: joint medical recommendation for guardianshipTwo doctors, together
- G4Section 7: medical recommendation for guardianshipOne doctor each
- G5Section 7: record of acceptance of a guardianship applicationThe council
- G6Section 19: transfer from hospital to guardianshipThe managers, with the council agreeing
- G7Section 19: transfer from one guardian to anotherThe guardian, with the receiving council agreeing
- G8Section 19: transfer from guardianship to hospitalThe council, on an AMHP application and two recommendations
- G9Section 20: renewal of authority for guardianshipThe RC, or the nominated medical attendant for a private guardian; the council records it
- G10Section 21B: guardianship after absence without leave for more than 28 daysThe RC, or the nominated medical attendant for a private guardian; the council records it
Treatment certificates: Part 4
- T1Section 57: certificate of consent to treatment and second opinionA SOAD and two others appointed by CQC
- T2Section 58(3)(a): certificate of consent to treatmentThe AC in charge of the treatment, or a SOAD
- T3Section 58(3)(b): certificate of second opinionA SOAD
- T4Section 58A(3): certificate of consent to ECT, patients aged 18 or overThe AC in charge of the treatment, or a SOAD
- T5Section 58A(4): certificate of consent and second opinion for ECT, under 18A SOAD
- T6Section 58A(5): certificate of second opinion for ECT, patient lacking capacityA SOAD
The nearest relative, and patients from elsewhere in the UK
- M1Part 6: date a patient transferred from elsewhere in the UK was received in EnglandThe managers, or the guardian
- M2Section 25: report barring discharge by the nearest relativeThe RC
Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards
The standard forms (ADASS, 2015). Use your council's versions if it has its own. They were written before AGNI, so read the guidance on what counts as a deprivation of liberty first.
- Form 1Standard and urgent authorisation requestThe hospital or care home
- Form 2Further authorisation requestThe hospital or care home
- Form 3Best interests assessor: combined assessmentsThe best interests assessor
- Form 3ABest interests assessor: no deprivation of libertyThe best interests assessor
- Form 3BBest interests assessor: renewal, with the capacity assessmentThe best interests assessor
- Form 4Mental health, eligibility and capacity assessmentsThe mental health assessor
- Form 5Standard authorisation grantedThe council (supervisory body)
- Form 6Standard authorisation not grantedThe council (supervisory body)
- Form 7Suspension of a standard authorisationThe hospital or care home
- Form 8Ending the relevant person's representative's appointmentThe council (supervisory body)
- Form 9Standard authorisation ceasedThe council (supervisory body)
- Form 10Review requestThe hospital or home, or the council
- Form 11IMCA referralThe council (supervisory body)
- Form 12Notification to the coronerThe hospital or care homeNot needed because of DoLS alone since 3 April 2017: a death under DoLS isn't a death in state detention. Report it if another reason applies.
From GOV.UK, checked 29 October 2026.
The tribunal and the Court of Protection
HMCTS forms are fillable PDFs. The tribunal also takes applications by letter, and T110 can go by email or post.
- T110Application to the First-tier Tribunal (Mental Health)The patient or nearest relative, often with a solicitor
- T111Referral to the First-tier Tribunal (Mental Health)The managers, or the Secretary of State
- T116Application to the tribunal: guardianshipThe patient or nearest relative
- COP DOL10Application to the Court of Protection to authorise a deprivation of libertyThe council or NHS body arranging the careIts 2017 questions (free to leave, constant supervision and control) predate AGNI. Answer with the AGNI factors.
From GOV.UK, checked 29 October 2026.
Restricted patients and prison transfers
The Ministry of Justice's own forms, sent to the Mental Health Casework Section.
- LeaveRequest leave for a restricted patientThe RC
- Medical leaveMedical leave for a high profile restricted patientThe RC
- Trial leaveRequest trial leave for a restricted patientThe RC
- TransferHospital transfer at the same level of securityThe RC
- TransferHospital transfer to lower securityThe RC
- TransferHospital transfer to higher securityThe RC
- DischargeAsk the Justice Secretary to discharge a restricted patientThe RC
- SupervisedSupervised discharge applicationThe RC
- CD reportConditional discharge reportThe clinical and social supervisors
- ConditionsAsk to change the conditions of dischargeThe social or clinical supervisor, or the patient
- Annual reportAnnual statutory report on a detained restricted patientThe RC
- H1003Request transfer of a sentenced prisoner (s47)The prison or the receiving service
- s47 reportMedical report for transfer under s47Each of the two doctors
- H1004Request transfer of an unsentenced prisoner (s48)The prison or the receiving service
- s48 reportMedical report for transfer under s48Each of the two doctors
- RemissionReport to return a s47 or s48 patient to prisonThe RC
- AbscondNotify MHCS of an abscond or escapeThe hospital
- ReturnNotify MHCS of a return after an abscond or escapeThe hospital
- Fit to pleadTell MHCS a patient found unfit to plead is now fitThe RC
From GOV.UK, checked 29 October 2026.
Questions trainees ask
Which forms do I need for a section 2?
The 's application is A2, or A1 if the nearest relative applies. The doctors sign a joint A3, or an A4 each, whether they examined together or separately. The hospital records the admission on H3.
Can Mental Health Act forms be completed electronically?
Yes. Since the 2020 amendments, most statutory forms can be signed and sent electronically. An application for detention needs no agreement, other forms need the recipient's, and anything for the patient stays on paper. Check your trust's process first.
Should I use these or my trust's own forms?
Your trust's, if it has them. They follow the same statutory wording but carry local details. These are for when you need a blank copy, or want to see what a form asks before you fill it in.
Does Wales use the same forms?
No. Wales has its own bilingual statutory forms, published by the Welsh Government.
What is form A2 under the Mental Health Act?
The AMHP's application for admission for assessment under section 2. It must be founded on two medical recommendations, on a joint A3 or two separate A4s.
Which forms are used for a section 3?
A6 if an AMHP applies, or A5 if the nearest relative does, with a joint A7 or an A8 from each doctor. H3 records the admission, and H5 renews the detention.
What is a Form 4 under the Mental Health Act?
There isn't one in England: every form carries a letter. A4 is one doctor's recommendation for a section 2, and G4, H4, T4 and CTO4 are other forms. Under , Form 4 covers the mental health, eligibility and capacity assessments.
Can a mistake on a section form be corrected?
Often, yes, within 14 days starting with the day of admission, by the person who signed it and with the managers' consent (s15). A form that's unsigned, or signed by someone not entitled to sign it, can't be fixed.