{"id":654,"date":"2020-03-12T11:55:54","date_gmt":"2020-03-12T11:55:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/360processserver.com\/?p=654"},"modified":"2020-03-12T11:55:54","modified_gmt":"2020-03-12T11:55:54","slug":"method-of-substituted-service-on-nonresident","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/360legal.net\/blog\/method-of-substituted-service-on-nonresident\/","title":{"rendered":"Method of Substituted Service on Nonresident"},"content":{"rendered":"

Yet another situation regarding service of process that is covered by the Florida statutes is when a process must be served on either a non-resident or a person who is concealing their whereabouts.<\/p>\n

Provided it has been approved by law, service can be made on an individual meeting these conditions by serving a public officer designated to act as a proxy and receive the service of process<\/a> on behalf of the party being served. This is accomplished by leaving a copy of the process with the officer along with a fee that has been established by the state for this purpose. The process can also be sent to the official\u2019s office by certified mail, including the fee. Once the process has been served in this manner a notice of service and a copy of the process must be sent by either registered or certified mail to the plaintiff or their attorney to the defendant. That\u2019s still not the end of the process, however; the return receipt that proves delivery and an affidavit showing compliance must then be filed within the period of time mandated by the court.<\/p>\n

If the location of the defendant is known then a more direct method can be used. If they are within the state a party authorized to serve process, e.g. a county sheriff\u2019s deputy, can do so; if the defendant is outside the state then a sheriff, deputy sheriff or some other duly appointed officer qualified to serve can carry out the action. As in the previous paragraph, once the process has been served then confirmation of that service must be filed within the period of time allotted by the court. By the way, should the court decide in favor of the plaintiff in the case, any costs incurred in the service of process can be included in whatever compensation is to be paid by the defendant?<\/p>\n

As might be expected in this or other legal matters, the public officer who has received the service of process is expected to keep records of the exact day and hour of service.<\/p>\n

In an effort to cover any eventuality, this statute closes with some additional conditions:<\/p>\n