{"id":12043,"date":"2026-10-24T07:26:26","date_gmt":"2026-10-24T07:26:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/robinsoncasey.com\/guides\/involuntary-commitment-addiction\/marchman-act-treatment-placement\/"},"modified":"2026-10-27T14:37:38","modified_gmt":"2026-10-27T14:37:38","slug":"marchman-act-treatment-placement","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/robinsoncasey.com\/guides\/involuntary-commitment-addiction\/marchman-act-treatment-placement\/","title":{"rendered":"Marchman Act Treatment Placement Florida: Process Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Marchman Act Attorney | Miami-Dade and South Florida<\/p>

Marchman Act Treatment Placement in Florida: A Clear Guide for Families<\/h1>

Robinson Casey focuses on Marchman Act petitions and guardianship matters for families across South Florida and statewide. Learn how the process works, then talk with our team about your situation.<\/p>

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By Richard J. Casey III, Esq. \u00b7 Published October 24, 2026<\/p>\n\n

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A Marchman Act treatment placement in Florida is a court order that sends an adult with a substance use disorder into a licensed treatment provider. The process runs under Chapter 397 of the Florida Statutes. A family member can start it by filing a petition with the court. This page explains each step, what the judge decides, and what an attorney handles. Robinson Casey limits its practice to Marchman Act petitions and guardianship matters. The firm serves Miami-Dade, South Florida, and clients across Florida.<\/p>\n

What Marchman Act Treatment Placement Means<\/h2>\n

A Marchman Act treatment placement is a court-ordered route into substance use treatment for an adult who won’t seek help on their own. The court orders it only after a hearing and proof that the legal criteria are met.<\/p>\n

The test has several parts. A person may be admitted involuntarily when there is good faith reason to believe they are substance abuse impaired. The impairment must have taken away their power of self-control over substance use.<\/p>\n

Refusing services alone doesn’t prove a lack of judgment. The statute says so directly, so a family’s case needs more than a refusal.<\/p>\n

For an adult, the petition may be filed by a spouse or legal guardian, any relative, a service provider, or an adult with direct personal knowledge of the person’s impairment. An unrelated adult must have direct personal knowledge of both the impairment and the person’s prior course of assessment and treatment. An unrelated adult must have direct personal knowledge of both the impairment and the person’s prior course of assessment and treatment.<\/p>\n

The Marchman Act covers substance use. It does not cover general mental health care. A family facing a mental health crisis may need a different law.<\/p>\n\n

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What the Attorney Handles in Placement and Discharge Planning<\/h2>\n

An attorney handles the legal filings, the court dates, and the plan for life after treatment. The family supplies the facts and history. Richard J. Casey III, Esq. is the responsible lawyer for this page.<\/p>\n