About the attorney
Richard F. Joyce, B.C.S.
As a Florida Bar Board Certified Attorney in Juvenile Law with over 30 years of legal experience, Richard Joyce has earned a well-deserved reputation for providing his clients with top-notch representation and for being extremely knowledgeable about the complex and specialized areas of Juvenile Dependency Law in Florida's trial and appellate courts. Other attorneys consult with him frequently about issues and for assistance in this area of the law.
He represents clients in all stages of the legal process involving allegations of child abuse, neglect or abandonment by the Florida Department of Children and Families, including the most serious cases involving the termination of a parent's parental rights to a child. He has significant experience representing clients in the trial and appellate courts.
In Juvenile Dependency cases, he has represented parents, relatives, children and persons seeking to intervene and obtain custody of a child.
During his career, he has handled over 310 appeals in the specialized area of Juvenile Dependency Law. He also represents clients in Family Law appeals and cases and appeals in other areas of the law.
In 2008, he was instrumental in establishing the Dependency Division of the Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel, Third Region of Florida for Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties as a Chief Assistant Regional Counsel.
In 2004, as an Assistant General Counsel for the 11th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, he advised the Court on and participated in the implementation of Revision 7 to Article V of the Florida Constitution regarding private court-appointed counsel for indigent persons.
He has presented at seminars, been quoted in the media and received recognition for his advocacy representing parents and children in the area of Juvenile Dependency Law. He is presently an appointed member of The Florida Bar Juvenile Court Rules Committee, a member of the Maimi-Dade County Bar Association Juvenile Court Committee and co-chair of the Parents' Advocacy Subject Matter Workgroup of the Public Interest Law Section of The Florida Bar.