Florida Process Servers

United States Process Serving Corp provides professional and reliable process serving across Florida. Our network of experienced process servers ensures your legal documents are delivered promptly and in compliance with Florida Statutes Chapter 48 and the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure.

Florida Process Serving Laws

Florida requires process servers to be either the county sheriff, a special process server appointed by the sheriff under F.S. § 48.021, or a certified process server approved by the chief judge of the judicial circuit under F.S. § 48.27. Special process servers must be at least 18 years of age, a resident of the county where they serve, pass a background investigation with no felony convictions or misdemeanors involving moral turpitude within the past five years, pass an examination on service of process laws, and take an oath of faithful service. Certified process servers must meet similar requirements and execute a $5,000 surety bond. Certification authorizes service within the judicial circuit where the server is approved. Service must be completed within 120 days of filing the complaint under Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.070(j). Florida law prohibits service of process on Sundays — any service attempted on a Sunday is void unless a judge authorizes it due to a documented risk the person will leave the state (F.S. § 48.20). Resisting a process server with violence is a third-degree felony, and resisting without violence is a first-degree misdemeanor.

Florida Legal Resource Centre

Serving documents in Florida requires compliance with Florida Statutes Chapter 48 and the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure. Below are answers to common questions regarding service of process in this state.

Frequently Asked Questions (Florida)

What is the Small Claims limit in Florida?

The Small Claims limit in Florida is $8,000, not including costs, interest, and attorneys’ fees, under Florida Small Claims Rules, Rule 7.010, and Florida Statutes Chapter 34. Small claims cases are heard in County Court. Attorneys are permitted but not required. Florida is one of the few states that allows jury trials in small claims cases — the plaintiff must request one when filing, and the defendant must request one within ten days of service. Appeals must be filed within 30 days after the judgment is rendered.

Who can serve process in Florida?

Under F.S. § 48.021, all process shall be served by the sheriff of the county where the person to be served is found. Nonenforceable civil process, criminal witness subpoenas, and criminal summonses may also be served by a special process server appointed by the sheriff or by a certified process server approved by the chief judge of the judicial circuit under F.S. § 48.27. Civil witness subpoenas may be served by any person authorized by the rules of civil procedure. Service must be completed within 120 days of filing the complaint.

What are the rules for substitute service in Florida?

Under F.S. § 48.031(1)(a), service may be made by leaving copies of the documents at the person’s usual place of abode with any person residing therein who is 15 years of age or older and informing that person of the contents. Substitute service may also be made on the defendant’s spouse anywhere in the county if the spouse requests it and is not an opposing party (§ 48.031(2)(a)). Employers must permit service on employees in a private area when contacted by an authorized process server, or face a fine of up to $1,000 (§ 48.031(1)(b)). Gated residential communities must grant unannounced entry to process servers (§ 48.031(7)). Service on Sundays is void unless a judge authorizes it (§ 48.20).

Comprehensive Services in Florida

We offer a full suite of legal support services across Florida, including:

  • Professional process serving for all document types
  • Court filing and document retrieval
  • Skip tracing and locate services
  • Rush and same-day service (where available)
  • Sworn Affidavit of Service for every serve

Coverage Area

Our Florida network covers the entire state, including major metropolitan areas such as Miami, Jacksonville, Tampa, and Orlando, as well as rural and suburban communities throughout Florida’s 67 counties.

All Florida Locations (A-Z)

Click on a city below to connect with our local process server:

Do you offer rush service in Florida?

Yes, same-day and next-day rush service is often available in Florida’s major metropolitan areas. We recommend calling or emailing us first to confirm availability so we can prioritize your file immediately.

Contact Information

United States Process Serving Corp
Phone: 1-800-465-7378
Website: www.unitedstatesprocessserving.com