Florida Statutes Part XI - Guardians Ad Litem And Guardian Advocates (Ss. 39.820-39.8298)

• 39.820 - Definitions.
  As used in this part, the term:(1) “Guardian ad litem” as referred to in any civil or criminal proceeding includes the following: a certified guardian ad...
• 39.821 - Qualifications Of Guardians Ad Litem.
  (1) Because of the special trust or responsibility placed in a guardian ad litem, the Guardian Ad Litem Program may use any private funds collected by...
• 39.822 - Appointment Of Guardian Ad Litem For Abused, Abandoned, Or Neglected Child.
  (1) A guardian ad litem shall be appointed by the court at the earliest possible time to represent the child in any child abuse, abandonment, or...
• 39.823 - Guardian Advocates For Drug Dependent Newborns.
  The Legislature finds that increasing numbers of drug dependent children are born in this state. Because of the parents’ continued dependence upon drugs, the parents...
• 39.824 - Jurisdiction.
  The circuit court shall have exclusive original jurisdiction of a proceeding in which appointment of a guardian advocate is sought. The court shall retain jurisdiction...
• 39.825 - Petition For Appointment Of A Guardian Advocate.
  A petition for appointment of a guardian advocate may be filed by the department, any relative of the child, any licensed health care professional, or...
• 39.826 - Process And Service.
  (1) Personal appearance of a person in a hearing before the court shall obviate the necessity of serving process upon that person.(2) Upon the filing of a...
• 39.827 - Hearing For Appointment Of A Guardian Advocate.
  (1) When a petition for appointment of a guardian advocate has been filed with the circuit court, the hearing shall be held within 14 days unless...
• 39.828 - Grounds For Appointment Of A Guardian Advocate.
  (1) The court shall appoint the person named in the petition as a guardian advocate with all the powers and duties specified in s. 39.829 for...
• 39.829 - Powers And Duties Of Guardian Advocate.
  It is the duty of the guardian advocate to oversee the care, health, and medical treatment of the child; to advise the court regarding any...
• 39.8295 - Review And Removal Of Guardian Advocate.
  (1) At the end of the initial 1-year appointment, the court shall review the status of the child’s care, health, and medical condition for the purpose...
• 39.8296 - Statewide Guardian Ad Litem Office; Legislative Findings And Intent; Creation; Appointment Of Executive Director; Duties Of Office.
  (1) LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT.—(a) The Legislature finds that for the past 20 years, the Guardian Ad Litem Program has been the only mechanism for best interest...
• 39.8297 - County Funding For Guardian Ad Litem Employees.
  (1) A county and the executive director of the Statewide Guardian Ad Litem Office may enter into an agreement by which the county agrees to provide...
• 39.8298 - Guardian Ad Litem Direct-support Organization.
  (1) AUTHORITY.—The Statewide Guardian Ad Litem Office created under s. 39.8296 is authorized to create a direct-support organization.(a) The direct-support organization must be a Florida corporation not...

Last modified: September 23, 2016