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Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 2152.52

Determination of competency

Applied in 2 court decisions — leading case In re L.M. (2024)

Most recently applied in In re J.D. (March 2025)

Effective: October 12, 2016; Latest Legislation: House Bill 158 - 131st General Assembly

(A)(1) In any proceeding under this chapter other than a proceeding alleging that a child is an unruly child or a juvenile traffic offender, any party or the court may move for a determination regarding the child's competency to participate in the proceeding.

(2) In any proceeding under this chapter other than a proceeding alleging that a child is an unruly child or a juvenile traffic offender, if the child who is the subject of the proceeding is fourteen years of age or older and if the child is not otherwise found to have a mental illness or developmental disability, it is rebuttably presumed that the child does not have a lack of mental capacity. This presumption applies only in making a determination as to whether the child has a lack of mental capacity and shall not be used or applicable for any other purpose.

(B) The court may find a child incompetent to proceed without ordering an evaluation of the child's competency or holding a hearing to determine the child's competency if either of the following applies:

(1) The prosecuting attorney, the child's attorney, and at least one of the child's parents, guardians, or custodians agree to the determination.

(2) The court relies on a prior court determination that the child was incompetent and could not attain competency even if the child were to participate in competency attainment services.

Official source: Ohio Laws & Administrative Rules (Legislative Service Commission). Reproduced from public-domain Ohio statutes; confirm against the official source for the current text. Not legal advice.