A numerical method is proposed to solve a large number of free boundary pro
blems modeled by degenerate doubly nonlinear parabolic, parabolic-elliptic
equations and systems. The method is related to one proposed in [W. Jager a
nd J. Kacur, Math. Modeling Numer. Anal., 29 (1995), pp. 605-627] and is ba
sed on a nonstandard time discretization including two relaxation functions
by means of which the diffusion degeneracies (slow and fast) are controlle
d.