Filing California Form JV-220: Application for Psychotropic Medication

California Form JV-220, the Application for Psychotropic Medication, is filed in juvenile court to obtain a judge’s authorization before a child in out-of-home placement is given medication that affects the central nervous system to treat a psychiatric disorder. A social worker, probation officer, physician, medical office staff member, or caregiver completes it, attaches the prescribing physician’s statement, serves notice on the parties entitled to it, and files proof of that notice. The court then has seven court days to approve the request, deny it, or set a hearing.¹

When You Need to File JV-220

A JV-220 is required whenever someone wants to start a new psychotropic medication for a child who is a court dependent or a ward placed in foster care. It is also required to increase the maximum dosage of a previously approved medication, to switch to a different medication, or when a new physician takes over prescribing a medication that had been authorized under another doctor’s name.² Without a signed court order, healthcare providers cannot legally administer these medications.

Two categories of youth fall under the rule. Welfare and Institutions Code section 369.5 covers children declared dependents of the court and removed from parental custody. Section 739.5 covers minors declared wards under delinquency proceedings who have been removed from parental custody and placed into foster care.³

The medications covered are any drugs administered to affect the central nervous system in order to treat a psychiatric disorder, including antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, stimulants, anti-anxiety medications, hypnotics, and anti-Parkinson agents.³

Who Signs and Files the Application

A JV-220 can be signed by a social worker, probation officer, child welfare services staff, probation department staff, the prescribing physician, medical office staff, or the child’s caregiver. In practice, the social worker or probation officer assigned to the case is almost always the filer, and state guidance encourages filing within three business days after the physician provides the necessary clinical information.³

Social workers and probation officers carry an extra responsibility. When they are the filer, they must complete Items 5 through 13 of the form. Any other filer can leave those items blank.⁴

Completing the JV-220 Cover Page

The JV-220 is a cover document. The clinical content lives in the physician’s attachment, which must be filed with it.⁴

Every applicant fills out the first page:

Item 1 asks where the child lives — with a relative, in a foster home, in a group home, in a short-term residential therapeutic program, in a juvenile custodial facility, or elsewhere. Include the facility name if applicable, a contact person at the placement, and how long the child has been there.
Item 2 covers the child’s current location if it differs from placement (for example, a psychiatric hospital or juvenile hall).
Item 3 is the child’s full name and date of birth.

The applicant then signs, identifying their role.

If you are the social worker or probation officer, Items 5 through 13 ask about the child’s own feelings toward the medication, how the child will provide input to the court (through the attorney, a CASA volunteer, Form JV-218, a letter, or by speaking at a hearing), how the caregiver will provide input (through the social worker, Form JV-219, a letter, or a hearing), what the caregiver has observed about the child’s response, whether the physician’s mental health history is accurate, and questions about therapeutic services, educational placement, and overall well-being. The form instructions direct you to write “I do not know” for any question you cannot answer rather than leave it blank.⁴

The Physician’s Attachment: JV-220(A) or JV-220(B)

The application cannot be filed without either a JV-220(A) (Physician’s Statement) or a JV-220(B) (Physician’s Request to Continue Medication) attached.⁴

Form JV-220(A)

The prescribing physician completes JV-220(A) for any new medication, new physician, medication change, or dosage increase. It asks for:⁵

Physician name, license number, specialty, and how long they have treated the child and in what capacity.
Confirmation that the request is based on an in-person clinical evaluation, with the date. If another professional conducted the evaluation, their name, credentials, and evaluation date go here.
The child’s height, weight, gender, ethnicity, date of birth, and tribal affiliation if any.
An overall assessment of the child’s mental health, a description of symptoms and their duration, and the treatment plan.
DSM-5 diagnoses.
All past psychotropic medications the child has taken and, if known, why each was discontinued, plus the child’s response to any current psychotropic medication.
Whether pharmacological alternatives were tried in the last six months, whether non-pharmacological treatments were tried and if not why, and the therapeutic services the child is enrolled in or recommended for (individual therapy, group therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, wraparound services, and others).
Each proposed medication marked as new or continuing, with generic and brand names, recommended dosage range, target symptoms, and expected results. Side effect information, drug interactions, contraindications, and withdrawal symptoms must be attached for every proposed medication.

Form JV-220(B)

When the same physician who completed the most recent JV-220(A) wants to continue the same medication at the same maximum dosage, JV-220(B) is the shorter option and can be used in place of a new JV-220(A).⁶ Any change in physician, medication, or maximum dosage sends you back to JV-220(A).²

Serving Notice and Filing Proof

Before the court will review the application, you must notify everyone with a stake in the child’s case. Under Rule 5.640 that list includes:¹

The parents, legal guardians, or Indian custodian
Their attorneys of record
The child’s attorney of record
The child’s CAPTA guardian ad litem
The child’s current caregiver (for a group home or short-term residential therapeutic program, notice goes to the facility administrator)
The child’s Court Appointed Special Advocate, if assigned
The Indian child’s tribe, if the child has been determined to be an Indian child

The packets differ by recipient. The child’s attorney and CAPTA guardian ad litem receive the completed JV-220 with all attachments and blank copies of JV-218 (Child’s Opinion About the Medicine) and JV-222 (Input on Application for Psychotropic Medication). Parents, their attorneys, and the caregiver receive notice that a medication request is pending, the name of each proposed medication, a copy of JV-217-INFO (Guide to Psychotropic Medication Forms), and blank copies of JV-219 and JV-222.⁷

Local county rules set the method of service, though the rules encourage using the fastest legally authorized method. One restriction applies statewide: psychological or medical documentation related to a minor cannot be served electronically.¹

After service, file Form JV-221 (Proof of Notice of Application) with the clerk. The court will not rule until the JV-221 is on file.

What Happens After You File

Once the court has the completed JV-220, the physician’s attachment, and the proof of notice, the judge has seven court days to approve the application, deny it, or set the matter for a hearing.⁸

Within that window, other parties can weigh in. Anyone opposing the medication or offering additional information has four court days from service to file Form JV-222. The child can submit Form JV-218 in the same four-day window. Caregivers may file Form JV-219 within four court days of receiving notice or before the next status review hearing, whichever comes first.⁹

If no one objects and the paperwork is complete, the judge may approve on the written record. Either way, the decision goes on Form JV-223 (Order on Application for Psychotropic Medication), which the judge completes even when a hearing is set.¹⁰ When a hearing is set, the clerk must notify all parties at least two court days before the hearing date.⁹

After the order issues, the social worker or probation officer must give a copy of the JV-223 to the child’s caregiver within two business days.¹⁰

Emergency Medication Without Prior Court Authorization

A physician may administer psychotropic medication in an emergency without a court order if all three of the following are true:¹

The physician finds the child requires psychotropic medication to treat a psychiatric disorder or illness.
The medication is needed to protect the life of the child or others, to prevent serious harm, or to treat current or imminent substantial suffering.
It is impractical to obtain court authorization before administering the medication.

Court authorization must then be sought as soon as practical, and no later than two court days after the emergency dose. The standard JV-220 process applies from that point.⁸

Extra Step for Three or More Concurrent Medications

Under Rule 5.642, if the application would put a child on three or more psychotropic medications at the same time for 90 days or more, the applicant must review the physician’s attachment to confirm the threshold is met and then give the child and the child’s attorney blank copies of three additional forms:¹¹

JV-228, Position on Release of Information to Medical Board of California
JV-228-INFO, Background on Release of Information to Medical Board of California
JV-229, Withdrawal of Release of Information to Medical Board of California

JV-228 authorizes the California Department of Social Services to share the child’s prescription information with the Medical Board. A child 12 or older is presumed to have the maturity to sign, or the attorney can sign with the child’s informed consent; if the child refuses, the attorney cannot override that decision. The completed form is filed with the court, and the clerk forwards it to the Department of Social Services within three days. Authorization can be withdrawn any time by filing JV-229 or sending a written letter.¹²

When JV-220 Is Not Required

The court can delegate medication authority back to a parent, legal guardian, or Indian custodian under sections 369.5 and 739.5, but only after finding on the record that the parent poses no danger to the child and has the capacity to make these decisions. The court may document that finding on Form JV-216. When delegation is in effect, the JV-220 process does not apply because the parent handles medication decisions directly.¹

Where to Get the Forms

All JV-220 series forms are free downloads from the California Courts website. Form JV-217-INFO, the Guide to Psychotropic Medication Forms, is the best starting point: it walks through every form in the series, explains who fills out what, and lists the deadlines.⁹ The clerk’s office at the Superior Court in the county where the child’s case is active also has the forms, and local procedures can add requirements beyond the statewide rules, so a call to the clerk before filing is worth making.¹

1
Judicial Branch of California. California Rules of Court 2026 – Rule 5.640 Psychotropic Medications
2
Orange County Probation. 2-6-214 JV 220 Application for Psychotropic Medication
3
California Legislative Information. California Code Welfare and Institutions Code 739.5
4
Judicial Council of California. Application for Psychotropic Medication
5
Judicial Council of California. JV-220(A) – Physician’s Statement—Attachment
6
California Courts. Physician’s Request to Continue Medication—Attachment (JV-220(B))
7
Judicial Council of California. JV-221 Proof of Notice of Application
8
Judicial Branch of California. Rule 5.640 Psychotropic Medications
9
Judicial Council of California. JV-217-INFO Guide to Psychotropic Medication Forms
10
California Courts. Order on Application for Psychotropic Medication (JV-223)
11
Judicial Branch of California. California Rules of Court Rule 5.642
12
Judicial Council of California. Judicial Council of California – Rule 5.642