Professional Capacity Evaluations in Santa Monica
What is a capacity evaluation?
A capacity evaluation is a specialized psychological assessment that determines an individual's ability to make informed decisions about important life areas, such as healthcare, finances, living arrangements, and legal matters. Capacity is decision-specific and can fluctuate over time due to medical or psychiatric conditions (Moye et al., 2007; Appelbaum, 2007).
Capacity evaluations are often requested when there are concerns about someone’s ability to:
Consent to medical or psychiatric treatment
Manage financial affairs or property
Make decisions about living arrangements or safety
Execute legal documents (e.g., power of attorney, will, trust)
Understand and participate in legal proceedings
Research shows that cognitive impairment, dementia, psychiatric illness, or brain injury can impact capacity, making professional evaluation essential for protecting individual rights and safety (Moye et al., 2007).
When is a capacity evaluation needed?
Who can request a capacity evaluation?
Attorneys (for guardianship, conservatorship, or estate planning)
Healthcare Providers (for consent to treatment or discharge planning)
Families concerned about a loved one’s safety or vulnerability
Courts (for legal competency determinations)
What the process of a capacity evaluation?
Capacity is a legal term used to describe someone’s ability to adequately care for themselves and make sound decisions. One’s capacity might be diminished due to dementia or a neurodegenerative disorder. To determine if someone has diminished capacity, a neuropsychological evaluation is required. The capacity evaluation will take information from three (or more) sources before providing a diagnosis and/or opinion about one’s capacity. We will:
Review previous records and psychological reports
Provide thorough and informative neuropsychological testing
Consult with important folks to gain collateral information
Provide a thorough report, along with any Capacity Declarations required by the courts
Legal teams requesting a capacity evaluation:
We provide two different kinds of Capacity Evaluations:
Comprehensive Evaluations— These are most appropriate for clients who do not have an established diagnosis of dementia or another neurodegenerative disorder.
Abbreviated Evaluations- These are for clients who previously have an established diagnosis, but need updated testing or Capacity Declarations filled out for the legal process.
What’s involved in a capacity evaluation?
Capacity evaluations begin with a clinical interview and then standardized psychological assessment measures are given. The information gathered in the interview, and the performance on the measures, are combined and written into a helpful psychological report with the psychologist’s opinion as to the capacity of the client. This report is then submitted to the requesting attorney, along with supporting documentation for the court.
Who Performs Your Evaluation
Every forensic evaluation at Grey Matter is conducted or supervised by a licensed psychologist with forensic-specific training.
Dr. Quincee Gideon, PsyD
Dr. Gideon completed her forensic training at Twin Towers Correctional Facility in downtown Los Angeles, working in the jail's Forensic Inpatient Unit — a hospital built directly into the jail for defendants with the most severe mental illness. She also completed extensive forensic training at Patton State Hospital, working with individuals found Incompetent to Stand Trial (IST) and Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity (NGI).
Full bio & credentials →Dr. Megan Johnson, PhD
Dr. Johnson completed significant forensic work at Twin Towers Correctional Facility in downtown Los Angeles — the largest mental health facility of its kind in the world — evaluating individuals for competency to stand trial, criminal responsibility, and fitness for duty.
Full bio & credentials →
Concierge Service
Our practice offers concierge testing services for Capacity Evaluations. Because our loved ones with diminished capacity might have a difficult time navigating technology or transportation to meet in an office, we will come to you! Concierge services are available within Los Angeles County.
Frequently Asked Questions for Capacity Evaluations
How long does the process take?
Most capacity evaluations are completed within 4-8 weeks, depending on the number of records to be reviewed. The report is made available to the hiring party as soon as it is completed.
Do you fill out the court paperwork for me?
Yes, along with a completed and comprehensive report, we will also fill out the GC-335 Confidential Capacity Assessment and Declaration for the court.
Can you testify in court?
We can absolutely testify in court. There’s a court fee for testimony, so please discuss this with the psychologist when discussing the case.
Are you an attorney?
We work with many attorneys throughout Los Angeles and Orange County to determine whether their clients meet the legal requirements for diminished capacity.