Florida Statute 61.20 | Lawyer Caselaw & Research

The 2024 Florida Statutes

Title VI
CIVIL PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE

Chapter 61
DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE; SUPPORT; TIME-SHARING

View Entire Chapter

F.S. 61.20

61.20 Social investigation and recommendations regarding a parenting plan.—

(1) In any action where the parenting plan is at issue because the parents are unable to agree, the court may order a social investigation and study concerning all pertinent details relating to the child and each parent when such an investigation has not been done and the study therefrom provided to the court by the parties or when the court determines that the investigation and study that have been done are insufficient. The agency, staff, or person conducting the investigation and study ordered by the court pursuant to this section shall furnish the court and all parties of record in the proceeding a written study containing recommendations, including a written statement of facts found in the social investigation on which the recommendations are based. The court may consider the information contained in the study in making a decision on the parenting plan, and the technical rules of evidence do not exclude the study from consideration.

(2) A social investigation and study, when ordered by the court, shall be conducted by qualified staff of the court; a child-placing agency licensed pursuant to s. 409.175; a psychologist licensed pursuant to chapter 490; or a clinical social worker, marriage and family therapist, or mental health counselor licensed pursuant to chapter 491. If a certification of indigence based on an affidavit filed with the court pursuant to s. 57.081 is provided by an adult party to the proceeding and the court does not have qualified staff to perform the investigation and study, the court may request that the Department of Children and Families conduct the investigation and study.

(3) Except as to persons who obtain certification of indigence as specified in subsection (2), for whom no costs are incurred, the parents involved in a proceeding to determine a parenting plan where the court has ordered the performance of a social investigation and study are responsible for paying the costs of the investigation and study. Upon submitting the study to the court, the agency, staff, or person performing the study shall include a bill for services, which shall be taxed and ordered paid as costs in the proceeding.

History.—s. 1, ch. 59-186; s. 16, ch. 67-254; ss. 19, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 12, ch. 77-147; s. 27, ch. 77-433; s. 1, ch. 86-101; s. 1, ch. 89-38; s. 4, ch. 99-8; s. 14, ch. 2008-61; s. 6, ch. 2009-180; s. 23, ch. 2014-19.

Note.—Former s. 65.21.

F.S. 61.20 on Google Scholar

F.S. 61.20 on Casetext

Amendments to 61.20

Arrestable Offenses / Crimes under Fla. Stat. 61.20

Level: Degree
Misdemeanor/Felony: First/Second/Third

Current data shows no reason an arrest or criminal charge should have occurred directly under Florida Statute 61.20.

Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Cases Citing Statute 61.20

Total Results: 20

AMAL CRANE v. MATTHEW HARRISON CRANE

Court: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 2023-01-10T23:53:00-08:00

Snippet: investigation as authorized pursuant to section 61.20 of the Florida Statutes. Also on August 28, 2022…investigation of the family pursuant to section 61.20 of the Florida Statutes, and psychological evaluations…orders a social investigation, pursuant to section 61.20(1). Presumably, in an attempt to establish the requisite…ordering a social investigation pursuant to section 61.20.2 Indeed, Florida Family Law Rule of Procedure …because the parents are unable to agree. . . .” § 61.20(1), Fla. Stat. (2022). The Father’s 2 Certainly

LINDA CAULFIELD v. PETER DAVIS and CHOICE MORTGAGE BANK, INC.

Court: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 2021-11-04T00:53:00-07:00

Snippet: Powell, Judge; L.T. Case Nos. 20- 007261 COSO (61) and 20-018075 CACE (AP). Scott M. Behren of Behren

Oldham v. Greene

Court: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 2018-12-27T00:00:00-08:00

Citation: 263 So. 3d 807

Snippet: Investigation of Father" pursuant to " section 61.20, Florida Statutes ; and rule 12.360, Florida Family… request for social investigation under section 61.20, Florida Statutes. Regardless, on May 4, 2017, the…part of a social investigation pursuant to section 61.20, Florida Statutes ; and 2) pursuant to Florida Rule…been ordered as a social evaluation under section 61.20, Florida Statutes, is without merit. The trial court…section 61.13 supplies the relevancy, then section 61.20, Florida Statutes (1991), furnishes the specific

Oldham v. Greene

Court: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 2018-12-27T00:00:00-08:00

Citation: 263 So. 3d 807

Philip P. Oldham v. Hillary E. Greene

Court: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 2018-12-26T23:53:00-08:00

Snippet: Social Investigation of Father” pursuant to “section 61.20, Florida Statues; and rule 12.360, Florida Family… request for social investigation under section 61.20, Florida Statutes. Regardless, on May 4, 2017, the…part of a social investigation pursuant to section 61.20, Florida Statutes; and 2) pursuant to Florida Rule…been ordered as a social evaluation under section 61.20, Florida Statutes, is without merit. The trial court…section 61.13 supplies the relevancy, then section 61.20, Florida Statutes (1991), furnishes the specific

In re Amendments to the Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Forms—Nomenclature

Court: Fla. | Date Filed: 2018-02-01T00:00:00-08:00

Citation: 235 So. 3d 357

Snippet: professional designated pursuant to either section 61.20 or 61.401, Florida Statutes, or Florida Family Law

In Re: Amendments to the Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Forms - Nomenclature

Court: Fla. | Date Filed: 2018-01-31T23:53:00-08:00

Snippet: professional designated pursuant to either section 61.20 or 61.401, Florida Statutes, or Florida Family Law

Solomon v. Solomon

Court: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 2017-06-07T00:00:00-07:00

Citation: 221 So. 3d 652, 2017 WL 2457248, 2017 Fla. App. LEXIS 8300

Snippet: determining the new timesharing schedule. See § 61.20(1), Fla. Stat. (2014). Affirmed in part, reversed

Zarzaur v. Zarzaur

Court: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 2017-03-27T00:00:00-07:00

Citation: 213 So. 3d 1115, 2017 WL 1134816, 2017 Fla. App. LEXIS 3977

Snippet: independent psychological evaluations pursuant to section 61.20 of the Florida Statutes.2 The trial court appointed…psychological evaluation contemplated in section 61.20 of the Florida Statutes. The independent evaluation….301, .601, .675, Fla. Stat (2016). . Section 61.20 authorizes the court to order a "social investigation…the investigation and study are insufficient. § 61.20(1), Fla. Stat. . The trial court also entered

Jonathan Samuel Bailey v. Kathy Michelle Bailey

Court: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 2015-09-09T00:00:00-07:00

Citation: 176 So. 3d 344, 2015 Fla. App. LEXIS 13505

Snippet: 718 So.2d 867, 868 (Fla. 4th DCA 1998); § 61.20(1), Fla. Stat. (2014). Granted in part; Denied

The FLORIDA BAR Re ADVISORY OPINION—ACTIVITIES OF COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION MANAGERS

Court: Fla. | Date Filed: 2015-05-14T00:00:00-07:00

Citation: 177 So. 3d 941, 2015 WL 6510426

Snippet: Florida Administrative Code chapters 61E14 and 61-20. (Written testimony of Dr. Anthony Spivey.) State

In re Amendments to the Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure

Court: Fla. | Date Filed: 2014-12-18T00:00:00-08:00

Citation: 154 So. 3d 301

Snippet: specifically address social investigations under section 61.20, Florida Statutes (2014). New rule 12.364 *302provides…references to “social investigations” under section 61.20, Florida Statutes (2014), so as to differentiate… a social investigation and study under section 61.20, Florida Statutes. (b) Appointment of Social Investigator…motion, may appoint an investigator under section 61.20, Florida Statutes. The parties may agree on the …the investigator is being appointed under section 61.20, Florida Statutes, and shall state: (1) The name

In Re: Amendments to the Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure

Court: Fla. | Date Filed: 2014-12-17T23:53:00-08:00

Snippet: specifically address social investigations under section 61.20, Florida Statutes (2014). New rule 12.364 provides…references to “social investigations” under section 61.20, Florida Statutes (2014), so as to differentiate… a social investigation and study under section 61.20, Florida Statutes. (b) Appointment of Social…motion, may appoint an investigator under section 61.20, Florida Statutes. The parties may agree on the …the investigator is being appointed under section 61.20, Florida Statutes, and shall state:

Hedstrom v. Hedstrom

Court: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 2013-10-18T00:00:00-07:00

Citation: 123 So. 3d 150, 2013 WL 5658335, 2013 Fla. App. LEXIS 16593

Snippet: returns indicated that his annual gross income was $61,020 and $101,022, respectively. Also during this period…until 2010, when it was reduced from $180,079 to $61,020. Thus, the trial court found that, in 2009, Former

In re Amendments to Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Forms

Court: Fla. | Date Filed: 2013-09-04T00:00:00-07:00

Citation: 122 So. 3d 320, 38 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 617, 2013 WL 4734603, 2013 Fla. LEXIS 1892

Snippet: professional designated pursuant to either section 61.20 or 61.401, Florida Statutes, or Florida Family Law

J.D.C. v. M.E.H.

Court: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 2013-08-07T00:00:00-07:00

Citation: 118 So. 3d 933, 2013 WL 4005474, 2013 Fla. App. LEXIS 12323

Snippet: recommendations in making a decision on the parenting plan. § 61.20(1), Fla. Stat. (2010). But that section contains

Carrillo-Jimenez v. Carrillo

Court: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 2013-03-20T00:00:00-07:00

Citation: 110 So. 3d 490, 2013 WL 1136319, 2013 Fla. App. LEXIS 4434

Snippet: dissolution of marriage proceedings below. See § 61.20(1), Fla. Stat. (2010). He alleges that in preparation

Arteaga v. State, Department of Business & Professional Regulation, Regulatory Council of Community Ass'n Managers

Court: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 2011-02-16T00:00:00-08:00

Citation: 54 So. 3d 599, 2011 Fla. App. LEXIS 1901, 2011 WL 613262

Snippet: conditions. Under Florida Administrative Code Rule 61-20.010, such findings were necessary to support revocation

In re Amendments to the Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Forms

Court: Fla. | Date Filed: 2010-12-16T00:00:00-08:00

Citation: 59 So. 3d 792, 35 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 734, 2010 Fla. LEXIS 2116, 2010 WL 5129227

Snippet: professional designated pursuant to either section 61.20 or 61.401, Florida Statutes, or Florida Family Law

In Re Amend. to the Fla. Family Law Forms

Court: Fla. | Date Filed: 2010-12-15T23:53:00-08:00

Citation: 59 So. 3d 792

Snippet: professional designated pursuant to either section 61.20 or 61.401, Florida Statutes, or Florida Family Law