S.B. v. Department of Children & Family Services

ALTENBERND, Chief Judge.

This is the second in what may prove to be a series of cases reversing orders adjudicating children dependent or terminating parental rights based upon “defaults.”1 The first case was G.A. v. Department of Children & Family Services, 857 So.2d 310, 2003 WL 22316864 (Fla. 2d DCA Oct.10, 2003). These “defaults” are contrary to the Florida Rules of Juvenile Pro-*1185eedure. When parents arrive late to court or otherwise miss an arraignment hearing, a court cannot simply deprive people of their parental rights or place their child in dependency status without a measure of…