Florida statute
Fla. Stat. § 827.10 — Unlawful desertion of a child
Current through 2025 Florida Statutes
Part of Chapter 827: Abuse of Children, Florida Statutes.
Criminal charges under this statute
Full text of Fla. Stat. § 827.10
Statutory text current through the 2025 Florida Statutes. This publication reproduces the official statutory text; it is not the official statutes of the State of Florida.
(1) As used in this section, the term:(a) “Care” means support and services necessary to maintain the child’s physical and mental health, including, but not limited to, food, nutrition, clothing, shelter, supervision, medicine, and medical services that a prudent person would consider essential for the well-being of the child.(b) “Caregiver” has the same meaning as provided in s. 39.01.(c) “Child” means a child for whose care the caregiver is legally responsible.(d) “Desertion” or “deserts” means to leave a child in a place or with a person other than a relative with the intent not to return to the child and with the intent not to provide for the care of the child.(e) “Relative” has the same meaning as provided in s. 39.01.
(2) A caregiver who deserts a child under circumstances in which the caregiver knew or should have known that the desertion exposes the child to unreasonable risk of harm commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
(3) This section does not apply to a person who surrenders an infant in compliance with s. 383.50.
(4) This section does not preclude prosecution for a criminal act under any other law, including, but not limited to, prosecution of child abuse or neglect of a child under s. 827.03.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
Questions this section answers
Is unlawful desertion of a child a felony or a misdemeanor in Florida?
Unlawful desertion of a child is a Felony of the Third Degree in Florida under Fla. Stat. § 827.10.
Which Florida statute covers unlawful desertion of a child?
Unlawful desertion of a child is governed by Fla. Stat. § 827.10 (Unlawful desertion of a child).
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.