Fla. Stat. § 61.538

Current through the 2024 Legislative Session
Section 61.538 - Role of state attorney
(1) In a case arising under this part or involving the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, the state attorney may take any lawful action, including resort to a proceeding under ss. 61.524 - 61.540 or any other available civil proceeding, to locate a child, obtain the return of a child, or enforce a child custody determination, if there is:
(a) An existing child custody determination;
(b) A request to do so from a court in a pending child custody proceeding;
(c) A reasonable belief that a criminal statute has been violated; or
(d) A reasonable belief that the child has been wrongfully removed or retained in violation of the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.
(2) A state attorney acting under this section acts on behalf of the court and may not represent any party.

Fla. Stat. § 61.538

s.5, ch. 2002-65.