Cross-cutting
Psychiatry Expert Witnesses
If you need a consultant psychiatrist for a medico-legal report and you're not sure which sub-specialty fits, start here. We'll match you to the right consultant from our UK-wide panel, typically within 24 hours.
Court-compliant under
CPR Part 35 · FPR Part 25 · CrimPR
Turnaround
Standard 1–2 weeks · Urgent 2–5 working days
Signed by
GMC-registered consultant psychiatrist
Fees
Fixed fee agreed up front · Legal Aid prior authority supported
Use this report when…
- The case calls for a psychiatry consultant rather than a generalist
- Diagnosis, causation, prognosis or capacity is in issue
- A court-compliant report is needed for an upcoming hearing or listing
What to send with your enquiry
You don't need the full bundle to get a quote — a short summary and the items below are enough for us to match an expert and confirm the deadline.
- A short case summary (case type, jurisdiction, hearing/listing date)
- Letter of instruction or draft questions for the expert
- GP and psychiatric records (full set where available)
- Witness statements and any prior expert reports
- Schedule of loss (civil) or court order granting permission (family/CoP)
- Any prior s.12 / Approved Clinician requirements
Expert type
- · Consultant psychiatrist (general adult by default)
- · Sub-specialty consultants on request
- · Section 12(2) approved where required
Applicable law
- · CPR Part 35 (civil)
- · FPR Part 25 (family)
- · CrimPR & Mental Health Act 1983 (criminal)
When needed
- · Diagnosis and causation in dispute
- · Apportionment between pre-existing and index event
- · Capacity, risk or prognosis questions
- · Single Joint Expert appointments
What this report is for
A psychiatric expert witness provides an independent, court-compliant opinion on diagnosis, causation, prognosis, treatment, capacity and risk. The duty is to the court, not to the instructing party. Reports must address the legal questions posed and be defensible under cross-examination.
What's in the expert's report
- Letter of instruction summary and chronology of papers reviewed
- Personal, family, social and forensic history
- Detailed psychiatric history and treatment to date
- Mental state examination at assessment
- Diagnosis against ICD-11 / DSM-5-TR with reasoning
- Opinion on the legal questions specifically posed
- Causation, apportionment and prognosis
- Treatment recommendations with indicative cost where requested
- Risk and capacity where in issue
- CPR / FPR / CrimPR declaration and statement of truth
What the expert covers in assessment
Documentary review
GP and psychiatric records, witness statements, schedules of loss, contemporaneous medical evidence.
Clinical interview
Structured psychiatric interview covering background, symptoms, function and forensic history where relevant.
Mental state examination
Standardised examination of appearance, speech, mood, thought, perception, cognition and insight.
Risk assessment
Risk to self and others, framed for the legal context, sentencing, custody, community management or care planning.
Diagnostic formulation
Diagnosis against ICD-11 / DSM-5-TR with explicit reasoning and consideration of differentials.
Opinion on the legal test
Direct application of the diagnosis to the legal question posed, with reasoning the court can follow.
Conditions that may affect this assessment
How to instruct
Tell us about the case
Brief enquiry: case type, jurisdiction, deadline and any specific requirements (Section 12, female assessor, psychiatric expertise).
Same day
Expert shortlist
We propose a matched consultant psychiatrist with confirmed availability, fixed fee and indicative turnaround.
Within 24 hours
Assessment
We coordinate the appointment, papers and any pre-reading. Remote or in-person as the case requires.
1–2 weeks
Report delivered
CPR / FPR / CrimPR-compliant report delivered to your inbox. Addendum work, Part 35 questions and joint statements handled directly with the expert.
Within agreed deadline
Suggested instruction wording
"Please prepare a CPR Part 35 / FPR Part 25 / CrimPR-compliant psychiatric expert witness report addressing diagnosis, causation, prognosis, treatment and the specific questions set out below, on the basis of the enclosed records and a single examination of the assessee."
Drop this into your letter of instruction and we'll come back with a matched expert and fixed quote within one working day.
Turnaround & fees
| Tier | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 10–14 days from instruction | Standard timescale once papers and assessment are arranged. |
| Priority | 5–10 working days | For approaching trial windows and tribunal listings. |
| Urgent | 2–5 working days | For Crown Court, MHT and tight deadlines where the expert can be cleared immediately. |
Fees are fixed up front. Hourly rates are kept within Legal Aid codified rates wherever possible; written quotes for prior authority on request.
Need a psychiatry expert?
Tell us about the case. We'll come back within one working day with a matched consultant, fixed fee and indicative turnaround.
Frequently asked questions
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We accept psychiatry instructions UK-wide. Featured locations:
Need a psychiatric expert witness?
Tell us about your case and we'll match you to the right consultant, usually within 24 hours.