
How long can a person be held on a Marchman Act?
How Long May a Person Be Held on a Marchman Act? A person may be detained for involuntary assessment and stabilization for a period not to exceed 5 days. How Does The Marchman Act Work? So how does the Marchman Act really work? After the petition is filed, there will be a hearing within ten days.
How many people have been remanded to treatment under the Marchman Act?
Thousands of people have been remanded to treatment for substance abuse since the Marchman Act was enacted in 1993 — and there are thousands of success stories. Who Has the Authority to Request Action Under the Marchman Act?
What is the Marchman ACT and why should you care?
We know that when individuals with professional licenses (doctors, nurses, airline pilots) are forced into treatment in order to keep their license, there is a much higher degree of success than in the general population. The Marchman Act increases the skin in the game of the substance abuser.
How does the court decide whether to invoke the Marchman Act?
The court will review all of the required documents and evidence that the petitioner files and then make a decision on whether the Marchman Act is appropriate to invoke at this time.

How long does the Marchman Act last?
A second petition may be filed once the initial written assessment is reviewed by the court to order involuntary treatment for up to 60 days. For the family and patient battling addiction to drugs or alcohol, the Marchman Act can be a lifesaver.
What is the Marchman Act?
In the State of Florida, the Marchman Act is a statute that can help you get emergency care for someone battling addiction. The state court system can provide for either a voluntary or involuntary assessment ...
What is a Marchman Act petition?
If you have personal knowledge of a person’s substance abuse problem and because of this impairment the person has lost the power of self control with respect to substance abuse and you have reason to believe that that person is a danger to him/herself or others you may file a Marchman Act petition.
What are the criteria for applying the Marchman Act?
Several criteria must be met to apply the Marchman Act to a person. These include: * The person must have become impaired due to substance abuse. * The person be must a threat to themselves or others. * The person must lack the the ability to appreciate the benefits of treatment. * The person with the addiction must “not care.”.
What is the third option when implementing the Marchman Act?
The third option when implementing the Marchman Act is to hire an intervention counselor who specializes in the entire process. An intervention counselor can file a petition, as well as guide you through setting up a treatment plan to ensure that your loved one receives the care that is needed.
How long does it take for a patient to be assessed for involuntary assessment?
From there the court can order for involuntary assessment at a treatment center for up to five days to evaluate and stabilize the patient.
How long can you stay in a temporary involuntary hold?
If they choose to point the individual in the direction of treatment, they cannot make them participate in a program for longer than 60 days.
What is the Marchman Act?
The Marchman Act is primarily for Chemical Dependency/Substance Abuse and is used for involuntary assessment and treatment with initial assessment order for up to 5 days and successive treatment orders of up to 60 days. The Baker Act is primarily for mental illness and is used for commitment to a psychiatric facility for up to 72 hours due ...
How long is the Baker Act?
The Baker Act is primarily for mental illness and is used for commitment to a psychiatric facility for up to 72 hours due to mental illness when someone appears to be a danger to themselves or others. If a person is under the Marchman Act, are they made to stay in a locked down program?
Can you file an extension for involuntary treatment?
Yes. Provided that the need for involuntary treatment continues to exist, an extension request can be filed no more than 10 days prior to the expiration of the original order. A hearing would then be set for no more than 15 days of filing. A judge can grant an extension for up to 90 days more days at that point.
What is the Marchman Act?
Marchman Alcohol and Other Drug Services Act of 1993, commonly referred to as the Marchman Act, is a Florida statute providing emergency intervention for those over-using drugs or alcohol. It’s meant primarily to address serious situations where a chronic substance user refuses to seek, or is incapable of seeking, help, ...
How long does a mental health evaluation last?
After the evaluation, the facility may choose to discharge the client, change the status to voluntary, or file a request with the court for admission to involuntary treatment services. The judge may order treatment for up to 60 days. Some counties allow for initial treatment up to 90 days, with renewals every 90 days.
How long does it take to get an ex parte hearing?
If the situation is not deemed to meet the criteria for an Ex Parte order, the judge may opt to deny the petition or to set a hearing to take place within 10 days. If a hearing is set, the petitioner will be notified by mail and a summons will be issued for the respondent. Both parties must appear at the hearing.
Who can file an emergency petition for involuntary commitment?
Steps to initiate an evaluation and potential involuntary commitment under the Marchman Act. The petition can be filed by a spouse, relative, or guardian, or by three concerned unrelated individuals who have witnessed the un controllable drug/alcohol use. Emergency petitions can also be filed by a physician, therapist or law enforcement officer.
What is the Marchman Act?
The goal of this act is to ensure that people who are unable to make rational decisions about drug or alcohol treatment for themselves can still get the services and support they require.
How to file a Marchman Act petition?
To file this petition, you must be a guardian, parent, or other relative. If you are not of legal or natural relation to the respondent, your petition must be filed along with two additional parties who all support one another in this claim. Friends, co-workers, and other close associates can come together to establish a unified and legally recognized, three-party petitioner. Your petition will need to be filed in the county in which the respondent currently resides with the Clerk of the Court. Within ten days of a complete filing, a court date will be set, respondents will be notified of their court dates by in-person service from a county sheriff, and petitioners will receive a notification via certified mail.
What is the Marchman Act?
If you are a Florida resident, you can use the Marchman Act and the Baker Act to help people around you who are facing difficulties get proper help if the institutions deem it medically necessary. One of the most difficult tasks for families affected by substance abuse is convincing the addict that drug rehab is needed.
When was the Marchman Act enacted?
The federal government enacted the Marchman Act in the early 1970s, but it was refined in 1993.4 According to the Florida Law on Substance Abuse Treatment, it allows families and Meridian staff to request the involuntary assessment if the person is:5. A substance abuser who is likely to harm himself or others.
What is the AAC for Marchman?
If you need help understanding how to Marchman act someone, the American Addiction Centers (AAC) can help. Their helpline can provide you with all the necessary answers to your questions and help you get professional guidance for your loved one via phone. Other than their rehab facilities in Florida, they have other facilities in the country, offering treatment services to those in need.
What is the difference between the Baker Act and the Marchman Act?
Baker Act, there are some key differences. The Marchman Act Florida law is invoked for individuals who are deemed deeply impaired because of substance abuse. On the other hand , the Baker Act is a law meant to provide people with a way to get help for their loved ones who are suffering from a crippling mental ...
How to invoke the Marchman Act in Florida?
In order to invoke the Marchman Act and get a person in long-term drug rehab in Florida, you need to have direct evidence of their substance abuse.3 This isn’t the same for the Baker Act, meaning it’s enough to just co-sign that your loved one requires urgent medical help. The Florida Baker Act form is also somewhat simplified compared to ...
How long can you stay in a drug rehab facility in Florida?
The patient might stay in involuntary treatment for up to 60 days, but the court may extend this for up to 90 days.
How long can you be held in Florida for Baker Acted?
For example, when you’ve Baker Acted someone, they can be held involuntarily just for 72 hours, or 3 days.9 On the other hand, the Marchman Act Florida statute requires individuals to stay in the involuntary hold for up to 5 days. The criteria for the two acts are different.
Why is the Marchman Act important?
This is the leverage of the Marchman Act and one of the reasons it works. Most people do not want to violate a Court order and risk going to jail. But sometimes, it is just the thing that needs to happen to get their attention that they are killing themselves and they need help.
Who is the petitioner in the Marchman Act?
A- The family member (s) or friend who files the Marchman Act petition is called the Petitioner. The Petitioner, with some exceptions, controls the action from the perspective that the Petitioner can dismiss the case at almost any time he or she chooses.
Is the Marchman Act public records?
All petitions for involuntary assessment and stabilization and all court orders and pleadings are confidential and exempt from the Public Records Act. The public is not allowed access to Marchman Act records or pleadings.
Can a person access Marchman Act records?
A person or entity other than the classes of people mentioned above may gain access to Marchman Act records only upon a showing of “good cause”, which is a very difficult standard for one seeking information to meet.
Is court ordered treatment more effective than voluntary treatment?
The science, borne out by numerous studies by highly credentialed experts from prestigious institutions, tells us that court ordered treatment is at least as effective, if not more effective, than voluntary treatment.
Can you file a Marchman Act case in Florida?
As long as your loved one is physically present, however brief a time in Florida, the Marchman Act can apply. Many times, we file Marchman Act cases on a substance impaired individual who is a resident of another state but who is visiting friends or family or is temporarily present in Florida.
