{"id":12052,"date":"2026-10-24T07:51:56","date_gmt":"2026-10-24T07:51:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/robinsoncasey.com\/guides\/involuntary-commitment-addiction\/marchman-act-cost-timeline-addiction\/"},"modified":"2026-10-27T14:37:33","modified_gmt":"2026-10-27T14:37:33","slug":"marchman-act-cost-timeline-addiction","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/robinsoncasey.com\/guides\/involuntary-commitment-addiction\/marchman-act-cost-timeline-addiction\/","title":{"rendered":"Marchman Act Cost and Timeline in Florida | Robinson Casey"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Marchman Act Petitions | Miami-Dade and South Florida<\/p>

Marchman Act Cost and Timeline in Florida: Know What to Expect<\/h1>

Robinson Casey focuses on Marchman Act petitions and guardianship matters. Learn how costs and court timing generally work, then talk with our team about your family's situation.<\/p>

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

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Marchman Act Cost and Timeline in Florida<\/h2>\n

The Marchman Act lets certain people ask a Florida court to order assessment and treatment for someone with a substance use disorder who won’t seek help on their own. Costs and timing depend on whether the case is an emergency, whether the person contests it, and how the court schedules hearings. This guide outlines the general steps involved in these matters and the questions you may want to ask a lawyer.<\/p>\n

Richard J. Casey III, Esq. is the lawyer responsible for this page.<\/p>\n\n

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If a loved one's drinking or drug use has put them in danger and they refuse help, you don't have to sort out the court process alone; call (561) 849-4149 or request your free consultation. Talk it through with our team — the first consultation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation.<\/p>

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What Is the Marchman Act and Who Can File<\/h2>\n

The Marchman Act is a Florida law for people with severe substance problems who need help they won’t accept. Under Fla. Stat. \u00a7 397.675<\/a>, a person meets the criteria for involuntary admission if there is good faith reason to believe that the person is substance abuse impaired or has a substance use disorder and a co-occurring mental health disorder and, because of such impairment or disorder, has lost the power of self-control with respect to substance abuse, and also meets the statute’s additional requirements concerning need for services or risk of neglect or harm.<\/p>\n

For an adult, \u00a7 397.68112<\/a> says a 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 and past treatment. For a minor, a parent, legal guardian, or service provider may file.<\/p>\n

The Marchman Act is not guardianship. Guardianship deals with a court finding of incapacity and a guardian’s authority over decisions, as covered in \u00a7 744.331<\/a>. The Marchman Act focuses on substance use assessment and treatment.<\/p>\n

Marchman Act Filing Costs in Florida<\/h2>\n

The petition itself has no clerk filing fee. Other costs can still apply, and the law addresses some of them.<\/p>\n