(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.
History.—s. 5, ch. 2002-65.
Structure Florida Statutes
Title VI - Civil Practice and Procedure
Chapter 61 - Dissolution of Marriage; Support; Time-Sharing
Part II - Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (Ss. 61.501-61.542)
61.502 - Purposes of part; construction of provisions.
61.504 - Proceedings governed by other law.
61.505 - Application to Indian tribes.
61.506 - International application of part.
61.507 - Effect of child custody determination.
61.509 - Notice to persons outside the state.
61.510 - Appearance and limited immunity.
61.511 - Communication between courts.
61.512 - Taking testimony in another state.
61.513 - Cooperation between courts; preservation of records.
61.514 - Initial child custody jurisdiction.
61.515 - Exclusive, continuing jurisdiction.
61.516 - Jurisdiction to modify a determination.
61.517 - Temporary emergency jurisdiction.
61.518 - Notice; opportunity to be heard; joinder.
61.519 - Simultaneous proceedings.
61.521 - Jurisdiction declined by reason of conduct.
61.522 - Information to be submitted to the court.
61.523 - Appearance of parties and child.
61.525 - Enforcement under the Hague Convention.
61.527 - Temporary visitation.
61.528 - Registration of child custody determination.
61.529 - Enforcement of registered determination.
61.530 - Simultaneous proceedings.
61.531 - Expedited enforcement of child custody determination.
61.532 - Service of petition and order.
61.534 - Warrant to take physical custody of child.
61.535 - Costs, fees, and expenses.
61.536 - Recognition and enforcement.
61.538 - Role of state attorney.
61.539 - Role of law enforcement officers.