Port St. Lucie | Okeechobee
Stuart | Vero Beach
(772) 207-1544

Accurate Serve Port St Lucie

FAQ About Process Serving

As a process server in Port St. Lucie, we often get asked a lot of questions about our services. We understand that the legal system can be confusing and intimidating, which is why we’ve put together this FAQ to answer some of the most common questions about process serving.

What is Process Serving?

Process serving is the legal procedure of delivering legal documents to individuals or entities that are involved in a legal case. This is done to ensure that all parties involved in a legal dispute are properly notified of the proceedings against them. Continue reading

Why it is a BIG Mistake to Avoid a Process Server

Serving process is a critical part of the legal process in Florida. It involves delivering legal documents, such as a summons or complaint, to the appropriate party. However, some individuals may try to avoid being served, believing that it will delay or prevent legal proceedings. In this post, we will discuss why it is a BIG mistake to avoid a process server in Florida.

Delaying Legal Proceedings

Avoiding a process server can cause significant delays in legal proceedings. If the legal documents are not properly served, the case cannot proceed. This can result in a prolonged legal battle, which can be both time-consuming and expensive for everyone involved, not to mention the drain on taxpayer-funded resources. Additionally, delaying legal proceedings can also have negative consequences, such as the loss of evidence or the expiration of the statute of limitations. Continue reading

Rules Every Process Server Must Follow

As a process service company in Florida, we understand the importance of following the rules and regulations set forth for process servers by the state of Florida. Process serving is a crucial component of the legal system, and it is essential that all process servers follow the laws to ensure that the legal process is carried out fairly and justly. In this blog post, we will discuss some of the most important rules that every process server must follow in the state of Florida.

Rule #1: Serve Papers in a Timely Manner

One of the most critical rules that every process server must follow is serving papers in a timely manner. Florida’s law requires that process be served within 120 days of the date the case was filed for most civil cases. Failing to serve papers in a timely manner can result in the case being dismissed, which can be devastating for the client. Continue reading

Has Technology Helped the Process Service Industry?

We live in a fast-changing, high-tech world, with new technologies being introduced every day. We can do almost everything on our phones, talk to people all over the world, and even see what’s going on in space, 24 hours per day. So, how has all this new tech affected the process service industry? Have emerging communication technologies improved the process of delivering important paperwork while maintaining a chain of command?

The answer is yes…and no. It’s complicated.

Playing Catch-Up

The world around us definitely changes faster than our laws and regulations. While the state of Florida does regulate and pay attention to the process service industry, they are struggling to keep the laws up to date with current technologies. Delivering the process via electronic means is not standard practice in Florida…in fact, in person delivery is highly preferred. The government and court system just haven’t built up trust in using electronic communication methods for tasks so vital to the functioning of the legal system, and laws lag behind as a result. Continue reading

Why Lying to a Process Server is a Bad Idea

If a process server approaches you, introduces themselves, and then asks what your name is…what would you say? Would you be honest and tell them who you are, even if it meant being served with a lawsuit? Or would you lie and not reveal your identity, throwing the process server off the trail temporarily?

While it may be tempting to lie to the process server about who you are, we just can’t urge you enough not to do so. Lying to a process server isn’t just unethical…it can lead to some pretty serious consequences. In this post, we’ll go over the exact reasons why you should never lie to a process server: Continue reading

Are Process Servers Permitted To Conceal Their Identity?

Many people’s idea of a process server comes from Hollywood. In the movies, process servers are dressed up in pizza delivery driver uniforms, serving unsuspecting defendants with a large box of lawsuits before exclaiming “You’ve been served!” and scampering away. In real life, this is not how it goes.

Process Servers are Not Allowed to Lie About Who They Are

In the state of Florida, process servers are held to high ethical standards. Ethical misdeeds, even in a server’s personal life, can lead to banishment from the serving process in the state. Florida courts take this very seriously and will not hesitate to punish a process server who violates state laws. Continue reading

How to Serve Someone Who is Avoiding Service

While many process recipients are easy to locate and serve, there are always some who avoid being served. People avoid process servers for various reasons, including not wanting to accept the reason they are being taken to court, not having money for an attorney, or simply not wanting to take the time to handle the issue.

So what should a process server do when trying to serve someone who doesn’t want to be found? Here are our top tips for locating evasive process recipients:

Do Your Research

If your client doesn’t give you enough information to locate the intended process recipient, or target, it’s time to put your research cap on. The easiest way to do research these days is online. Many states, counties, and cities publish public records online in easily searchable formats. Dig through online tax bills, property records, business registrations, news articles, social media sites, and more to find out as much as possible about the person you are trying to find. Save all relevant information in a dedicated place, such as a binder, notebook, or online document. Once you’re finished with your research, go back and review all the information you’ve gathered to get some good ideas on where to look for the target. Continue reading

What Happens If a Process Server Can’t Serve You?

You might think that if you avoid the process server for long enough, the legal case itself will just disappear. As nice as that may sound, it is absolutely delusional. Once a court case is filed against you, there is no magic action that will make it go away.

If you’ve ever wondered exactly what could happen if you continue to avoid a process server, this post is for you. We’ll go over the most common things that happen to defendants who try to avoid their cases.

Delays

You will definitely cause some delays if you choose to avoid the process server. Your court date may need to be rescheduled several times, which isn’t going to put you in the judge’s good graces. Continue reading

Are Process Servers Essential in the Legal Process?

We are often asked why a person filing a lawsuit cannot just serve the court documents to the defendant(s) themselves. Quite simply put, this is prohibited by Florida law. But why exactly does the state of Florida require process servers to be certified, approved, and/or appointed by a judge? It’s all about the underlying constitutional right that process servers uphold.

What Do Process Servers Do?

Process servers are a lot more important than most people think. While they only deliver documents at face value, it’s the contents of those documents that make process servers so essential. The court process typically informs a defendant of a pending legal matter against them or that they are requested to provide information for. The process contains the details of the claims along with the upcoming court date, time, and location. Continue reading

How Long Does a Process Server Have to Serve Papers

In the state of Florida, when you file a legal complaint against another party with the Clerk of Court, the clock starts ticking. It is now the plaintiff’s responsibility to make sure the parties named in the complaint and resulting court summons are properly notified. Florida requires that this notification be done by a law enforcement officer or certified third-party process server.

Timelines

Summons & Complaints

From the date of filing, the plaintiff has 120 days (approximately 4 months) to serve the named defendant(s) with the summons and complaint. Refer to Florida’s state laws governing process servers for all the rules about how process may be served (there’s a lot!). Continue reading