{"id":11917,"date":"2026-10-23T16:36:30","date_gmt":"2026-10-23T16:36:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/robinsoncasey.com\/guides\/involuntary-commitment-addiction\/marchman-act-respondent-representation-florida\/"},"modified":"2026-10-30T02:40:23","modified_gmt":"2026-10-30T02:40:23","slug":"marchman-act-respondent-representation-florida","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/robinsoncasey.com\/guides\/involuntary-commitment-addiction\/marchman-act-respondent-representation-florida\/","title":{"rendered":"Marchman Act Attorney Miami-Dade | Robinson Casey"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Marchman Act Attorney | Miami-Dade<\/p>

Marchman Act Petitions and Guardianship Matters, Handled With Care<\/h1>

Robinson Casey focuses on Marchman Act petitions and guardianship matters for families in Miami-Dade and across South Florida. Call (561) 849-4149 or request a consultation.<\/p>

Schedule a Free Consultation<\/a><\/div>
Schedule a Free Consultation<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

By Richard J. Casey III, Esq. \u00b7 Published October 23, 2026<\/p>\n\n

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A respondent is the alleged impaired person named in a Marchman Act petition. In Florida, that person has the right to counsel at every stage of the case, which the person may waive only if present and the court finds the waiver knowing, intelligent, and voluntary. This page explains what Marchman Act respondent representation in Florida covers, from the petition through the hearing and after any order. Robinson Casey limits its practice to Marchman Act and guardianship matters, and serves families in Miami-Dade, South Florida, and across the state.<\/p>\n

What Respondent Representation Means Under the Marchman Act<\/h2>\n

Respondent representation means a lawyer acts for the adult named in the petition. The Marchman Act is a Florida law that addresses involuntary services for substance abuse impairment. It lets a court order assessment and, in some cases, involuntary treatment for substance abuse impairment. The alleged impaired person is named as the respondent, under Fla. Stat. \u00a7 397.681<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The respondent has the right to counsel at every stage. The respondent can give up that right only in court, and only if the judge finds the choice is knowing, intelligent, and voluntary. If the respondent can’t afford a private lawyer, the respondent can ask for one from the court.<\/p>\n

Not everyone can file. For an adult, a petition may come from a spouse or legal guardian, any relative, a service provider, or an adult with direct personal knowledge of the respondent’s substance abuse impairment and prior course of assessment and treatment, under \u00a7 397.68112<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This page is for two readers. One is the respondent. The other is a family member trying to understand what the respondent is facing.<\/p>\n\n

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If a Marchman Act petition has named someone you love, you don't have to work out the next steps alone. Call (561) 849-4149 to talk it through. Talk it through with our team — the first consultation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation.<\/p>

Get a free consultation<\/a><\/div>
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What Representation Covers at Each Stage<\/h2>\n

Representation covers the petition, the hearing, and any order that follows. A lawyer typically handles five areas.<\/p>\n