Amanda Bynes arriving at Los Angeles International Airport on Friday
Vladimir Labissiere/Splash News Online
But if the troubled former child star doesn't want to stay, what happens next?
Bynes, 28, entered a Los Angeles treatment facility on Friday on a 72-hour psychiatric hold, which was extended to a 14-day hold as of Monday afternoon.
If Bynes won't accept treatment voluntarily and is ruled unable to care for herself, her doctors could choose to ask for an LPS conservatorship, a one-year psychiatric hold. TMZ has reported that her doctors likely plan to request that in the coming days.
Bynes and her current treating psychiatrist would have to appear in the Los Angeles Central District Mental Health Courthouse for this type of conservatorship (LPS is short for Lanterman-Petris-Short Act) to go into place.
"What has to be proven is that Ms. Bynes is 'gravely disabled,' " explains Terry K. Wasserman, an attorney specializing in mental health legal services, who has not represented Bynes. " 'Grave disability' is defined as the substantial inability for one to personally provide for their own basic needs of food, clothing or shelter as a direct result of a mental disorder."
An LPS conservatorship would put Bynes under the care of a court-ordered conservator who would be in charge of her person and her finances.
"Her parents would have first choice to act as conservator if they wish, but the court can appoint alternative individuals," says Wasserman. "It can be the Los Angeles County Public Guardians office, it could be a private professional conservator that's licensed and bonded by the state of California, or it could be a family friend."
This type of conservatorship would place Bynes in the proper care facility – either an acute-care psychiatric hospital or sub-acute or step-down locked psychiatric treatment facility – whether or not she wants to be there. It also allows the conservator to enforce compliance with any psychiatric medicines prescribed to her by her doctor.
Bynes would have the right to visitors under this type of conservatorship, but she can elect to not allow her parents to see her.
"There's a number of rights she [would maintain] for her dignity and welfare," explains Wasserman. "She's entitled to visitations even if she's LPS conserved. She can't be forced to visit with her parents if she chooses not to see them."
At Least a Year
Although the LPS conservatorship lasts for one year, it can be ended early or extended longer depending on circumstances.
"It can be terminated early if she no longer needs the conservatorship, meaning she's making improvement and she's no longer gravely disabled," says Wasserman. "That could be done by consent of her doctor and her conservator. [Conversely,] this LPS conservatorship could be renewed each and every year as needed."
Once the LPS conservatorship ends (if it does), Bynes would return to living on her own if she so chooses.
"She would be restored to an adult voluntary individual, to make her own decisions as good or bad as they may be," says Wasserman. "There's no interim. She would make her own decisions regarding what relationship, if any – both personal or financial – [she has] with her parents. If she chooses to have none, then legally she would be back in a position where she would be making her decisions, and her parents would have no right to intervene."
Bynes's mother, Lynn, was previously granted a temporary conservatorship in August 2013 following a 30-day psychiatric hold. The temporary conservatorship ended this summer.
While Bynes's future remains undetermined, her family is glad that she is currently receiving the treatment they feel she needs.
"They're happy she's safe and that Amanda is finally getting some help," a source tells PEOPLE.
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