Statewide Florida coordination
Florida service is statutory from start to finish: chapter 48 sets who may serve, what substitute service requires, and what the return states. Miami-Dade anchors the commercial volume, and the rest of the state is coordinated through the same intake.
Assignment basics
Nothing here guarantees a service outcome; results depend on the defendant, the address, and the court's requirements.
Jurisdiction
Chapter 48, Florida Statutes controls service on individuals, entities, and out-of-state defendants.
Who may serve. Service is made by the sheriff, or by a special process server appointed by the court. Many circuits also maintain a certified process server program under chapter 48. Credentials are confirmed for the county of service rather than assumed.
Method. Section 48.031 permits service on an individual by delivering a copy. Substitute service at the usual place of abode requires leaving the copy with a person fifteen or older who resides there, followed by mailing a copy to the defendant.
Proof. The return of service states the date, time, and manner of service, and is filed with the court. Florida courts treat the return as the record of service, so the description of who was served and how governs.
Age and residence specifics
Florida’s substitute-service rule turns on the age and residence of the person accepting the copy. That detail is verified at the door and stated in the return.Execution
Court, county, and method are identified at intake, then attempts follow the statutory sequence.
Case details, defendant information, service address, and documents are captured in one request.
The assignment is matched to the venue, county, and precinct responsible for that address.
Each attempt is recorded: date, time, address description, access conditions, and contact outcome.
Where personal service fails, substitute service or a diligence record for alternative service is prepared.
When service is completed, a signed, sworn affidavit of service documents the applicable recipient, date, time, location and method of service. When service is unsuccessful, a signed, sworn affidavit of non-service or due diligence documents the attempts, circumstances, findings and unsuccessful outcome. Both are executed under penalty of perjury and prepared in accordance with the applicable jurisdiction's execution and filing requirements.
Coverage
Miami-Dade County and Miami carry dedicated pages; the remaining Florida markets are coordinated through the statewide desk.
Local logistics
Geography, building access, and court practice decide how an attempt is planned.
South Florida assignments frequently involve guard gates and front-desk buildings. Whether a front desk will accept a copy, and whether the person there meets the statutory requirement, is recorded at the attempt.
Spanish and Portuguese are common in Miami-Dade. Coordination accounts for language at the door so identity and relationship are confirmed rather than assumed.
Seasonal residents may be unreachable for months. Attempt records for out-of-season addresses are documented so the case can move to alternative methods on a record.
Florida’s circuits differ in filing practice and in how returns are reviewed. The circuit is identified before the return is prepared.
Documents
Each category is handled with the method the governing rule allows.
Service options
Standard, rush, or emergency coordination — same documentation standard.
Documented multi-attempt service with a filing-ready affidavit.
Priority dispatch and accelerated attempt scheduling.
Immediate coordination for time-critical court deadlines.
Dispatch timing does not guarantee completion. Completion depends on defendant access, address conditions, and the requirements of the issuing court. How pricing is determined
Education
Nationwide
Florida
Send the circuit, the service address, and the documents. The county and the statutory method are confirmed before the first attempt.
Intake is open 24/7. Requests are reviewed in the order received; urgent deadlines should be flagged by phone.