Terms Used In Florida Statutes 39.820

  • Adult: means any natural person other than a child. See Florida Statutes 39.01
  • Circuit: means any of the 20 judicial circuits as set forth in…. See Florida Statutes 39.01
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Dependent: A person dependent for support upon another.
  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • Guardian: means a relative, nonrelative, next of kin, or fictive kin who is awarded physical custody of a child in a proceeding brought pursuant to this chapter. See Florida Statutes 39.01
  • Office: means the Office of Adoption and Child Protection within the Executive Office of the Governor. See Florida Statutes 39.01
  • Party: means the parent or parents of the child, the petitioner, the department, the guardian ad litem or the representative of the guardian ad litem program when the program has been appointed, and the child. See Florida Statutes 39.01
  • person: includes individuals, children, firms, associations, joint adventures, partnerships, estates, trusts, business trusts, syndicates, fiduciaries, corporations, and all other groups or combinations. See Florida Statutes 1.01
As used in this chapter, the term:

(1) “Guardian ad litem” as referred to in any civil or criminal proceeding includes the following: the Statewide Guardian Ad Litem Office, which includes circuit guardian ad litem programs; a duly certified volunteer, a staff member, a staff attorney, a contract attorney, or a pro bono attorney working on behalf of a guardian ad litem; a court-appointed attorney; or a responsible adult who is appointed by the court to represent the best interests of a child in a proceeding as provided for by law, including, but not limited to, this chapter, who is a party to any judicial proceeding as a representative of the child, and who serves until discharged by the court.
(2) “Guardian advocate” means a person appointed by the court to act on behalf of a drug dependent newborn under this part.