{"id":15181,"date":"2026-10-29T07:30:08","date_gmt":"2026-10-29T07:30:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/robinsoncasey.com\/guides\/marchman-act-attorney\/marchman-act-attorney-methamphetamine-florida\/"},"modified":"2026-10-31T02:54:17","modified_gmt":"2026-10-31T02:54:17","slug":"marchman-act-attorney-methamphetamine-florida","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/robinsoncasey.com\/guides\/marchman-act-attorney\/marchman-act-attorney-methamphetamine-florida\/","title":{"rendered":"Marchman Act Meth Florida: Court-Ordered Treatment Help"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Marchman Act Attorney | Miami-Dade and South Florida<\/p>

Help for families facing a Marchman Act petition over methamphetamine use<\/h1>

Robinson Casey focuses on Marchman Act petitions and guardianship matters for families across South Florida and throughout Florida. Talk with Richard J. Casey III, Esq. about your family's situation.<\/p>

Schedule a free consultation or call (561) 849-4149<\/a><\/div>
Schedule a free consultation or call (561) 849-4149<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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How we can help<\/h2>\n

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Free<\/h3>

First consultation, confidential and without obligation<\/p><\/div>

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Statewide<\/h3>

Families in South Florida and across Florida<\/p><\/div>

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Marchman Act<\/h3>

Petitions and guardianship matters are our focus<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n

By Richard J. Casey III, Esq. \u00b7 Published October 29, 2026<\/p>\n\n

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Yes, Florida has a court process for this. The Marchman Act lets a family ask a judge to order an adult child into assessment and treatment for substance abuse impairment. This page explains how the Marchman Act meth Florida process works, who can file, and what it may cost.<\/p>\n

When Methamphetamine Use Has Put Your Adult Child in Danger<\/h2>\n

If your adult child keeps using meth and each crisis is worse than the last, a court process may be worth understanding now.<\/p>\n

You may have already paid for treatment. You may have tried interventions and held firm on boundaries. Still, an overdose, a relapse, a hospital stay, an arrest, or a disappearance keeps pulling you back in.<\/p>\n

You likely want to know one thing first. Is there a legal way to get your child into treatment when they won’t go on their own?<\/p>\n

There is. The Marchman Act is Florida’s law for court-ordered assessment and treatment of people impaired by substance use. This page covers what the law means for meth, how a petition works, the steps and timeline, what costs to expect, and the questions parents ask most. For the broader picture, see our Marchman Act attorney guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

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What the Marchman Act Covers for Methamphetamine Use<\/h2>\n

The Marchman Act covers substance abuse impairment, and methamphetamine is an illegal drug that falls within that scope. Flagler County Clerk of Court<\/a> notes that the Act reaches illegal drugs, prescription drugs, and alcohol.<\/p>\n

The statute sets the test. Under \u00a7 397.675<\/a>, there must be a good faith reason to believe the person is substance abuse impaired or has a substance use disorder and a co-occurring mental health disorder. Because of that impairment, the person must have lost the power of self-control with respect to substance use.<\/p>\n

Judgment matters too. The law says a refusal of services alone does not prove lack of judgment. Fla. Stat. \u00a7 397.675<\/a> reads: “(b) Without care or treatment, is likely to suffer from neglect or refuse to care for himself or herself; that such neglect or refusal poses a real and present threat of substantial harm to his or her well-being; and that it is not apparent that such harm may be avoided through the help of willing, able, and responsible family members or friends or the provision of other services, or there is substantial likelihood that the person has inflicted, or threatened to or attempted to inflict, or, unless admitted, is likely to inflict, physical harm on himself, herself, or another.”<\/p>\n

Know the difference between two paths. Voluntary treatment depends on the person agreeing. An involuntary order comes from a court, after a petition and a hearing. This process is about substance use impairment. It is separate from a mental health commitment.<\/p>\n

Marchman Act Requirements for a Petition in Florida<\/h2>\n

A parent can file a Marchman Act petition as a relative, and the petition must state specific facts.<\/p>\n