What Attorneys Should Know About Service of Process in Florida

Amaro Hesen • June 12, 2025

As an attorney, you oversee the delivery of quite a few legal documents each week. You know that in Florida, the plaintiff in a legal case cannot simply hand the documents to the defendant or other parties involved in a lawsuit. Instead, they need to officially "serve" them under Florida’s service of process guidelines.

Fully understanding this process can help your law firm navigate it correctly and efficiently.

Florida’s Service of Process Requirements

The Florida Rules of Civil Procedure detail the requirements for serving legal paperwork. Under these guidelines, only two parties can deliver legal documents:

An authorized officer, such as a county sheriff
A competent, disinterested third party appointed by the court

To be appointed by the court as a "special process server," a person must:

Be 18 or older
Be a permanent resident of the state of Florida
Have no mental or legal disability

They must also submit to a criminal background check, file a certificate of good conduct, and pass a test showing their knowledge of Florida’s service of process requirements. The county sheriff maintains a list of individuals certified and appointed to perform service of process.

The person delivering the legal documents must ensure that the intended party physically receives them. They may do this by:

Visiting the person’s residence and handing the documents to the defendant (personal service)
Delivering the documents to the person in a public setting
Leaving the documents with someone else who resides with the defendant who is at least 15 years old (substitute service)
Delivering the documents at the defendant’s place of work after informing the employer of their intention to do so

What Is a Florida Process Server?

Because Florida’s guidelines for service of process are so strict, many individuals hire a certified process server to deliver legal paperwork for them. This is an entity that has met the state’s criteria for service of process and thoroughly understands the requirements for delivery.

Process servers have experience locating individuals in legal cases who do not want to be found. They will make as many attempts as necessary to deliver legal documents, visiting the person’s home and workplace repeatedly until they can make a successful delivery. They then provide an affidavit of service to confirm the delivery.

Attorneys often work directly with process servers to deliver documents for their plaintiffs rather than relying on a county sheriff to do so.

Why Hiring Process Servers Makes Sense for Attorneys

Service of process is a major step in the legal process. You want to keep your clients’ cases moving, and that requires swift delivery of legal documents to initiate a lawsuit.

This is why many attorneys form long-term partnerships with professional process servers. Hiring a process server allows you to:

Save time: You won’t have to spend time tracking down a county sheriff to deliver the legal documents. A process server in Florida is always available to perform this service.
Track down legal defendants: If the defendant in your client’s case is refusing to respond to their communications, you may wonder whether they will cooperate during the legal process. Process servers also use skip tracing techniques to find defendants who do not want to be found.
Keep the legal process moving: You can avoid unnecessary delays in your case and keep the ball rolling.

Seek Service of Process in Florida Today

At Professional Process Servers & Investigators, Inc., we provide service of process in Florida following all relevant legal guidelines. Allow our process servers to take this responsibility off your shoulders so you can focus on your clients and legal cases.

Request a quote for service of process today by calling 844-348-3111.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Q: Who can serve legal documents in Florida?

A: In Florida, legal documents can be served by an authorized officer like a county sheriff, or a competent, disinterested third party appointed by the court as a special process server.

Q: What are the requirements to become a special process server in Florida?

A: To be appointed as a special process server in Florida, an individual must be 18 or older, a permanent resident of the state, have no mental or legal disability, pass a background check, and demonstrate knowledge of Florida's service of process requirements.

Q: Why do attorneys often hire professional process servers in Florida?

A: Attorneys hire process servers in Florida to save time, effectively locate defendants who may be avoiding service, and ensure the legal process moves forward without unnecessary delays.

< Older Post

Newer Post >

Affidavits of Service That Hold Up in Court: The Details Judges Look For

By Amaro Hesen • March 17, 2026

Courts don't want guesswork. A court-ready affidavit sounds calm and factual. It avoids conclusions like "they were hiding." Instead, it reports what the server saw and did.

Skip Tracing for Hard-to-Find Defendants: What to Gather First (Step-by-Step)

By Amaro Hesen • March 6, 2026

Skip tracing hard-to-find defendants uses lawful sources to locate a serviceable address or a reliable contact path.It works best when you provide strong starting facts.

What Paralegals Should Know About Coordinating Process Service

By Amaro Hesen • January 27, 2026

Paralegals, master the rules, select a certified server, manage costs, and follow a practical checklist to ensure proper service of process.

Why Businesses Should Outsource Process Serving to Professionals

By Amaro Hesen • January 16, 2026

In the attached video, Amaro Hesen of Professional Process Servers & Investigators explains why outsourcing service of process to professionals isn’t just a convenience—it’s a strategic decision that can save law firms and businesses substantial time, money, and stress. Managing process serving in-house often leads to inefficiencies, compliance risks, and staffing challenges that can derail a case. By outsourcing to trained professionals, firms gain accuracy, scalability, and cost control—all while keeping their teams focused on higher-value legal work. Outsourcing process serving offers immediate cost savings—often between 50% and 70% compared to maintaining in-house staff. You eliminate the expenses of training, benefits, and idle time, paying only for the services you need. Professional process servers are trained in jurisdictional laws, ensuring that every serve is completed correctly, documented properly, and delivered on time. This expertise dramatically reduces the risk of invalid service , missed deadlines , or affidavit errors that can jeopardize litigation. Another major benefit is scalability . Whether your firm is handling routine local cases or coordinating national litigation, outsourcing partners like Professional Process Servers & Investigators have the capacity and network to manage large volumes or urgent assignments without compromising quality. Their tech-enabled systems also provide real-time tracking, GPS verification, and digital reporting—giving you complete transparency and control without administrative headaches. Ultimately, outsourcing process serving allows your attorneys and paralegals to stay focused on strategy and client service rather than logistical tasks. It’s a proven way to enhance efficiency, ensure compliance, and boost profitability. At Professional Process Servers & Investigators , we deliver compliant, nationwide service of process that supports your firm’s growth and reliability goals. 📞 Call us today at (844) 348-3111 or visit proprocessservers.com to discover how outsourcing your process serving can make your firm faster, more efficient, and ready for whatever comes next.