Partnerships and limited partnerships are legally different from corporations. If you need a service of process, against a Partnership, here’s the “how to”.
Serving any partner in the partnership is adequate for serving the partnership.
An employee may be designated by the partnership to accept Service of Process if a partner is unavailable during working hours after an attempt has already been made to serve one or any of the partners. There is a subtle difference in serving a designated employee as opposed to a partner. After service on any partner, the plaintiff may proceed to judgment and execution against that partner and the assets of the partnership. After service on a designated employee or another person in charge, the plaintiff may proceed to judgment and execution against the partnership assets but not against the individual assets of any partner.
In the case of a limited partnership, the Certificate of Limited Partnership will state an agent for the Limited Partnership. Service of Process can be given to any general partner, or to the agent of record. Interestingly, if no general partners can be found, and the agent cannot be reached (perhaps out of state, perhaps the partnership has not exercised due diligence in keeping up the agent, and the agent may have passed) service of process may be affected by service upon the Secretary of State as agent of the limited partnership as provided for in s. 48.181. Service of process may be made under ss. 48.071 and 48.21 on limited partnerships.
If the partnership is a foreign partnership, Service of process may be served on any general partner found in the state, or any agent or service of process specified in the application for registration, and is equally valid on all partners. Once again, if after due diligence has been exercised attempting to serve a partner or their agent, service of process can be made upon the Secretary of State.
Service of Process upon Partnerships and Limited Partnerships are covered under Florida Statute 48.061
