If you need help with someone who is suffering from a mental health disorder and causing harm to themselves or others, you may be wondering how to find the best Marchman Act attorney in West Palm Beach to handle your case.
What is the Marchman Act?
The Marchman Act is a Florida law that allows family members or law enforcement to petition a judge to order someone into substance abuse treatment.
The judge can also take other measures, such as ordering them to spend time in drug rehabilitation. The law was created in response to the rise in deaths related to prescription opioid addiction and alcoholism. In Florida, it’s illegal not to comply with a court order issued under the act.
A family member or law enforcement officer may file an affidavit of need with their local county court asking for an order of protection from abuse (OPFA) against you if they believe you are abusing drugs or alcohol. If granted, an OPFA prohibits certain contact between you and your alleged abuser and mandates substance abuse treatment.
However, you need a good lawyer to handle your case. There are several factors to consider in finding the most appropriate attorney.
The following considerations can help you narrow down your search so that you can get the best possible representation in your case when looking for an attorney to handle Marchman Act cases.
1. Does the Attorney Have Experience with the Marchman Act?
In order to find an experienced attorney, you should ask yourself what areas of experience they have. Have they done anything similar to your case? If so, then you’ll want to call that particular attorney and get their advice.
You can also look at cases they’ve had in the past and see how those turned out. An experienced attorney will know how to handle your case quickly and with minimal hassle.
The more experience an attorney has with the Marchman Act, the better they are at handling cases like yours.
2. Is the Attorney Familiar with the Treatment Process?
In order to ensure that your loved one is getting the best treatment, it is important to find a lawyer who is knowledgeable in this area.
You should speak with any potential attorneys about their experience with the various treatment facilities, counselors, and psychiatrists in your area. If they are not experienced in this field, you will have wasted time and money by hiring them.
Make sure you ask detailed questions about their experience with treatment programs so that you know they will be able to represent your interests effectively.
3. How Does the Attorney Communicate?
You can tell a lot about an attorney’s experience, level of professionalism, and dedication to your case by how they communicate with you.
Communicating with an attorney is one of the first things you should do when researching your options. There are many different approaches to communicating: in person, over the phone, via email, or all three.
If you have found a lawyer that is worth considering but don’t know what their preferred method of communication is, contact them and ask! It may not seem like a big deal at first glance but it can be very important later on.
4. What Other Services Does the Firm Offer?
If there is anything specific that you need help with, then make sure your new Marchman Act attorney offers those services as well.
For example, if you need help getting a divorce then finding an attorney who also specializes in divorces will likely be better than one who focuses solely on drunk driving cases.
5. What Are the Fees?
Most attorneys charge an hourly rate, but some may also charge a flat fee or a retainer. The hourly rate varies depending on location, practice area, and years of experience.
You should review your budget before choosing an attorney to ensure you will be able to afford their fees. Some attorneys offer discounts if you make payments in advance or get a monthly payment plan.
If you are unable to pay in full at the start of representation, it is important to discuss any possible payment plans with your attorney upfront so that they can factor that into their initial cost estimate.
6. What is the Attorney’s Location?
This is a crucial consideration when looking for a Marchman Act attorney because you will need to be in close proximity to your lawyer. Ideally, you want an attorney who practices in the same city as you do.
However, if you are unable to find one that practices locally, then it’s best to at least find one who practices near where you live.
A good rule of thumb is that the closer an attorney is to where you live, the quicker they will be able to get back to you after a phone call or meeting.
Robinson & Casey: Marchman Act Attorney in West Palm Beach
Robinson & Casey is your go-to Marchman Act attorney in West Palm Beach and Palm Beach County. We have the requisite expertise in the area of addiction and family law matters. This ensures that we understand your situation and can offer you advice on what to do next.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation!
