Frequently Asked Questions

Forensic psychiatry is a medical subspecialty that operates at the intersection of mental health and the law. Forensic psychiatry evaluations provide objective, evidence-based psychiatric assessments to answer specific legal questions for courts, attorneys, or administrative agencies. A forensic psychiatric evaluation does not establish a doctor-patient treatment relationship, nor does it include ongoing therapy or prescription management.

A forensic psychiatrist is a medical doctor who has completed specialized training to apply psychiatric expertise to civil and criminal legal cases. Rather than establishing a doctor-patient treatment relationship, they serve as independent evaluators who answer specific, evidence-based questions for the legal system. Services commonly include independent medical examinations (IME), objective medical record reviews, and deposition or courtroom testimony.

Dr. Hira Hanif is board certified in forensic psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. She completed specialized training in forensic psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco Psychiatry and the Law program.

I accept select civil and criminal matters requiring objective psychiatric evaluation. Areas of consultation include, but are not limited to, emotional distress/psychological harm assessments, competency evaluations, testamentary capacity, fitness-for-duty evaluations, and standard-of-care reviews.

I am licensed to practice medicine in Texas and California and accept cases in both states. I also consider matters in other jurisdictions, subject to the licensing requirements applicable to the services requested.

Services include comprehensive forensic psychiatric evaluations, independent medical examinations (IMEs), medical records review, objective written reports, and deposition or courtroom trial testimony.

Attorneys may reach out directly by sending an email to hhanif@hanifmd.com with the subject line “Forensic Psychiatry Inquiry” or by submitting an inquiry via the website contact form.

A comprehensive curriculum vitae (CV), litigation history, and forensic fee schedule (covering retainers, document review, evaluation time, and deposition/trial testimony rates) are available upon direct request by legal counsel.