{"id":12150,"date":"2026-10-24T12:06:48","date_gmt":"2026-10-24T12:06:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/robinsoncasey.com\/guides\/involuntary-commitment-addiction\/guardianship-versus-involuntary-treatment-addiction-florida\/"},"modified":"2026-10-30T03:55:23","modified_gmt":"2026-10-30T03:55:23","slug":"guardianship-versus-involuntary-treatment-addiction-florida","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/robinsoncasey.com\/guides\/involuntary-commitment-addiction\/guardianship-versus-involuntary-treatment-addiction-florida\/","title":{"rendered":"Guardianship or Marchman Act for Adult Addiction Florida"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Marchman Act & Guardianship | Miami-Dade and South Florida<\/p>

Guardianship and Marchman Act Help for Adult Addiction in Florida<\/h1>

Robinson Casey focuses on Marchman Act petitions and guardianship matters for families across South Florida and throughout the state. Start with a free, confidential first consultation with no obligation to continue.<\/p>

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

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If an adult you love is using drugs or alcohol in a way that puts them at risk, you have two main court routes in Florida. One is the Marchman Act. The other is guardianship. The Marchman Act asks a judge to order assessment and treatment for substance use. Guardianship asks a judge whether an adult can make certain decisions and, if not, who should make them. This guide explains both so you can see which facts point where.<\/p>\n

Two Court Routes for an Adult With Addiction in Florida<\/h2>\n

The Marchman Act and guardianship are separate court processes. They answer different questions, so the right route depends on what is going wrong.<\/p>\n

Questions about the Marchman Act often come from families worried about a loved one’s substance use. Involuntary admission for substance abuse treatment in Florida depends on whether the person meets the specific statutory criteria for involuntary admission. Those criteria center on substance use and the loss of self-control.<\/p>\n

Guardianship works differently. A judge decides whether an adult lacks capacity to make certain decisions. The court must find that by clear and convincing evidence before it removes any right. See Fla. Stat. \u00a7 744.331<\/a>. Then the court names a guardian to make those decisions.<\/p>\n

This page is for families facing one of these situations:<\/p>\n