If you have a legal case involving a Florida resident, you have to use the local sheriff or a private process server to serve process in order for your case to move forward. There are some situations in which you may not realize that you need a Florida licensed process server. Here are some guidelines.
Out of State Cases
Even if you live out of state, and the legal case is out of state, you will still need a Florida licensed process server if any member of the case is a Florida resident. Florida law requires that all legal papers be served by a sheriff or a private process server licensed and registered with the courts in Florida. These rules are designed to ensure that the rights of Florida residents are protected.
Who Is a Licensed Process Server?
A licensed private process server is an individual who has registered and become licensed through the local Florida courts to serve process in legal cases. In order to become licensed in Florida, the individual must not have any mental or legal disability that could prevent them from performing their duties within the letter of the law. They must also be at least 18 years of age, have no felonies, and be accepted by the courts as a registered process server.
Preferred Over Other Methods
While you can use a sheriff to serve papers in your case, there are a lot of reasons to use a private process server instead. A sheriff’s department has many other responsibilities, and serving papers is not high on their list of priorities. This means that it could take longer to get your papers served if you use the sheriff. A private process server is also able to track down individuals avoiding service, which can save your case and is better than having to serve by publication.
If you have a case that affects a Florida resident, contact us today for more information about our process servers or to get started.
