Court Ordered Drug and Alcohol Intervention,
Assessment, Stabilization and Treatment

Addiction Recovery Legal Services, LLC is a Florida based law firm located in Fort Lauderdale that concentrates in the Florida Marchman Act.

An Introduction to the Florida Marchman Act

The Florida Marchman Act is a civil procedure that allows the friends or family of a substance abuser to confidentially petition the court to obtain confidential court ordered assessment, stabilization and treatment. Substance abuse or addiction can involve alcohol and/or prescription drugs like hydrocodone (e.g. Vicodin), oxycodone (e.g. Oxycontin), or, benzodiazepines (e.g. Xanax/Valium). Non-prescription drugs like MDMA (e.g. Extacy), LSD, heroin and/or different forms of cocaine (e.g. crack/powder) can also be abused easily.

Based upon a Marchman Act petition, the court can issue an order that requires an impaired individual to enter into a drug and alcohol, assessment, stabilization and/or treatment program. The key to this court order is that the impaired individual must comply with the court ordered drug and alcohol, assessment, stabilization and treatment or face consequences.

Under the Florida Marchman Act, a substance abuser cannot refuse help once a court order is issued. The possible sanctions imposed for violating the court order create a significant consequence for refusal to comply with treatment. This is true even if the individual has refused to voluntarily get help in the past for their substance abuse problem.

The initial hearing can serve as an important intervention tool. Should an individual’s substance abuse problem create an immediate danger to themselves or others we can obtain an emergency order to immediately deliver the individual to a licensed facility for assessment, detox and stabilization. This emergency order can be entered without a hearing ever being held.

Legal Services for Florida Marchman Act Applications

The experienced attorneys at Addiction Recovery Legal Services can assist you in filing for court ordered drug and alcohol intervention, assessment and treatment for your family member or friend. As part of this process, we work with you to oversee:

Your loved one’s initial assessment
Subsequent substance abuse stabilization and treatment for drug or alcohol abuse
Adherence to all court orders
Patient confidentiality

Marchman Act filings are not a matter of public record, so any treatment ordered for your loved one is confidential.

Addiction Recovery Legal Services is a state wide law firm and serves all counties throughout Florida. ARLS has also assisted families Nation-wide, who seek to have a loved one enter a treatment program in Florida. Contact us about our Nation-wide assistance program.

Don’t waste another moment hoping things will get better.

We can help

Loved ones that are in crisis due to drugs or alcohol.
Families and individuals who are in need of solutions.
Families and friends who simply do not know where to turn.

ARLS can:

Shoulder the burden of a loved one’s addiction to drugs or alcohol whether an adult or minor.
Obtain confidential, court ordered drug and alcohol intervention, assessment and stabilization via the Florida Marchman Act.
Help you create a long term, effective treatment plan for your loved one based upon your personal needs and financial ability.
Deal with dual diagnosed individuals who have both substance abuse and mental health issues.
Provide you with a personal and confidential initial consultation at your convenience that is absolutely free of charge.
Be there for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

ARLS can also assist and advise with:

Treatment insurance coverage and financial considerations (SSI, Medicare, Medicaid, cash pay).
Treatment plans based upon ability (and inability) to pay.
Treatment facility locations.
Your desire to utilize pre-existing caregivers.
Strategies to resolve pending civil or criminal court involvement.

Court Ordered Drug and Alcohol Intervention, Assessment, Stabilization and Treatment