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Florida Rules of Juvenile Procedure – 2026

The Florida Rules of Juvenile Procedure govern delinquency, dependency, termination of parental rights, and families and children in need of services proceedings in Florida courts. Includes plain-English summaries and committee notes.

Browse all 143 rules of the 2026 edition organized by section below. Each rule includes the full text, a plain-English summary, committee notes, amendment history, and cross-references to related rules. Use the search box to find rules by keyword or number.

Sections

Part I: Rules of General Application Part II: Delinquency Proceedings Part III: Dependency and Termination of Parental Part IV: Proceedings for Families and Children Part V: Other Proceedings
Part I: Rules of General Application Rules 8.000–8.004 Part II: Delinquency Proceedings Rules 8.005–8.185 Part III: Dependency and Termination of Parental Rules 8.201–8.540 Part IV: Proceedings for Families and Children Rules 8.601–8.695 Part V: Other Proceedings Rules 8.705–8.870

Frequently Asked Questions

What do the Florida Rules of Juvenile Procedure cover?
These 143 rules govern how Florida courts handle cases involving minors, including delinquency proceedings (when a youth is accused of a crime), dependency cases (when a child may be abused or neglected), termination of parental rights, and families and children in need of services. They apply in Florida's circuit courts whenever a case falls under the juvenile justice or child welfare system. Each rule on this site includes a plain-English summary and committee notes to help you understand the intent behind the rule.
How are the Florida Rules of Juvenile Procedure different from the Florida Rules of Civil or Criminal Procedure?
Juvenile proceedings in Florida operate under their own separate rule set because the goals and protections involved are distinct from standard civil or criminal cases, with a greater focus on the best interests of the child and family rehabilitation. While the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure and Criminal Procedure govern adult litigation, the Juvenile Procedure rules (cited as Fla.R.Juv.P.) set out the specific processes for delinquency adjudications, dependency hearings, and parental rights cases. In some situations, the juvenile rules will cross-reference or incorporate portions of the civil or criminal rules where no specific juvenile rule applies.
Where in these rules can I find information about termination of parental rights hearings?
The rules covering termination of parental rights proceedings are grouped together within the Florida Rules of Juvenile Procedure and address topics like petition requirements, notice, adjudicatory hearings, and the grounds courts consider when terminating parental rights. You can browse the full list of 143 rules on this page or use the search feature to locate specific rules by keyword. The plain-English summaries alongside each rule can help you quickly identify whether a particular rule applies to the stage of the proceeding you are researching.