{"id":19441,"date":"2026-11-09T01:29:59","date_gmt":"2026-11-09T01:29:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/robinsoncasey.com\/guides\/involuntary-commitment-addiction\/marchman-act-legal-services-statewide\/"},"modified":"2026-11-09T06:32:02","modified_gmt":"2026-11-09T06:32:02","slug":"marchman-act-legal-services-statewide","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/robinsoncasey.com\/guides\/involuntary-commitment-addiction\/marchman-act-legal-services-statewide\/","title":{"rendered":"Marchman Act Legal Services Florida Statewide | Robinson"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Marchman Act Attorneys | Florida Statewide<\/p>

Marchman Act Legal Help for Families Across Florida<\/h1>

Robinson Casey focuses on Marchman Act petitions and guardianship matters, and we work with families in Miami-Dade, South Florida and throughout the state.<\/p>

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

Casey III, Esq. \u00b7 Published November 8, 2026<\/p>\n\n

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Marchman Act Legal Services Florida Statewide | Robinson Casey<\/h2>\n

The Marchman Act lets a family ask a Florida court to order a loved one into assessment and treatment for substance use. It applies when the person is causing harm and has refused help. When a loved one’s substance use has put your family in crisis, you need to know how the Marchman Act process works, and this page walks through it step by step, with services available across Florida.<\/p>\n\n

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If your loved one is refusing help and you must decide whether to file now, we can review your facts in a free, confidential first consultation with no obligation to continue. Talk it through with our team — the first consultation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation.<\/p>

Get a free consultation<\/a><\/div>
Get a free consultation<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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What the Marchman Act Is and Who It Helps<\/h2>\n

The Marchman Act lets a family ask a judge to order an assessment when a loved one’s substance use causes serious harm and the person won’t get help voluntarily. Florida’s Department of Children and Families<\/a> describes the law as covering involuntary assessment, stabilization, and treatment for adults and youth severely impaired by substance abuse.<\/p>\n

This is a court case. The judge decides whether the legal criteria are met.<\/p>\n

A refusal alone is not enough. The statute says mere refusal to receive services does not prove a lack of judgment.<\/p>\n

For an adult, Fla. Stat. \u00a7 397.68112<\/a> allows a spouse or legal guardian, any relative, a service provider, or an adult with direct knowledge of the person’s impairment and treatment history to file.<\/p>\n

Robinson Casey limits its practice to Marchman Act petitions and guardianship matters. The firm serves families in Miami-Dade, across South Florida, and statewide.<\/p>\n

What a Marchman Act Petition Requires<\/h2>\n

A petition must name the person and the petitioner, state how they’re related, and lay out the facts behind the request. In an emergency, the petition must also describe the respondent’s exigent circumstances and include a request for an ex parte assessment and stabilization order. Fla. Stat. \u00a7 397.68141<\/a> sets these content rules.<\/p>\n

The factual allegations must demonstrate:<\/a><\/p>\n