Common Questions Asked About Process Serving
At Accurate Serve in Ocala, Florida, we have been providing legal document services for many years, including service of process and document retrievals. During our experience, we have found that there are several common questions that clients or others ask about process serving. In this post, we will address some of these questions and provide answers that will help you better understand the process of serving legal documents.
What is Process Serving?
Process serving is the delivery of legal documents to an individual or entity that is a party to a legal action. These documents can include summons, subpoenas, complaints, and other legal documents.
What is a Process Server?
A process server is a person or company that specializes in serving legal documents. They are responsible for delivering these documents to the party named in the document and providing proof of service to the court.
Why is Process Serving Important?
Process serving is an essential part of the legal process, as it ensures that all parties are informed of legal actions that affect them. It is also a way to ensure that legal proceedings are fair and just, as parties cannot be expected to respond to legal actions if they are not aware of them. This concept is so important that it’s even protected in the U.S. Constitution.
How Do You Find the Person to Serve?
The process server will use various methods to locate the person to be served, including public records, social media, and other means. The server may also engage in surveillance to locate the person.
How Long Does Process Serving Take?
The amount of time it takes to serve legal documents varies depending on the circumstances of the case. In some cases, the person to be served can be located quickly, and the documents can be served within a few days. In other cases, the process can take several weeks or even months.
What Happens If the Person to be Served Cannot be Found?
If the person to be served cannot be found, the process server will make several attempts to locate them. If they are still unable to find the person, they may seek permission from the court to serve the documents by substitution or publication. This involves delivering the documents via another person or via an alternative method, publishing the documents in a newspaper, or posting them in a public place, such as a courthouse or city hall.
What Happens After the Documents are Served?
After the documents are served, the process server will provide proof of service to the court and to the client requesting the service. This proof of service may include an affidavit, a certificate of service, or other documentation that proves that the documents were served. At Accurate Serve, we also update the status of the case in our online status tracker tool, available 24/7 right on our website.
What are the Requirements for Becoming a Process Server?
In Florida, process servers must adhere to some of the nation’s toughest process server requirements. Servers must be at least 18 years old, pass a background check, complete a certification course, pass an examination, post a surety bond, and sometimes even submit recommendations from local sheriffs.
Ocala’s Most Reliable Process Servers
Process serving is an essential part of the legal process, ensuring that all parties are informed of legal actions that affect them. As a process service agency based in Ocala, Clermont, Inverness, Spring Hill, and The Villages, Accurate Serve is your best bet for reliable, lawful, and speedy service of process. Call us at 352-278-2188 or send us a work request online to get started today.