Duties of court upon filing of petition for involuntary services.
F.S. 397.68151
in effect(1)
Upon the filing of a petition for involuntary services for a substance abuse impaired person with the clerk of the court, the court shall immediately determine whether the respondent is represented by an attorney or whether the appointment of counsel for the respondent is appropriate. If the court appoints counsel for the person, the clerk of the court shall immediately notify the office of criminal conflict and civil regional counsel, created pursuant to s. 27.511, of the appointment. The office of criminal conflict and civil regional counsel shall represent the person until the petition is dismissed, the court order expires, the person is discharged from involuntary treatment services, or the office is otherwise discharged by the court. An attorney that represents the person named in the petition shall have access to the person, witnesses, and records relevant to the presentation of the person’s case and shall represent the interests of the person, regardless of the source of payment to the attorney.
(2)
The court shall schedule a hearing to be held on the petition within 10 court working days unless a continuance is granted. The court may appoint a magistrate to preside at the hearing.
(3)
A copy of the petition and notice of the hearing must be provided to the respondent; the respondent’s parent, guardian, or legal custodian, in the case of a minor; the respondent’s attorney, if known; the petitioner; the respondent’s spouse or guardian, if applicable; and such other persons as the court may direct. If the respondent is a minor, a copy of the petition and notice of the hearing must be personally delivered to the respondent. The clerk shall also issue a summons to the person whose admission is sought, and, unless a circuit court’s chief judge authorizes disinterested private process servers to serve parties under this chapter, within 6 hours after the summons being issued, the clerk of the court shall electronically submit the summons and, if applicable, a copy of the petition and notice of hearing to a law enforcement agency to effect such service on the person whose admission is sought for the initial treatment hearing.
Source: FL Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2025/Chapter397/AllFetched: 7/8/2026