When you need to have legal documents, or process, served on someone, you want the service to go as smoothly as possible. There are a lot of variables that can affect how the service goes and determine how many attempts the process server will make.
In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some of the factors that determine how many service attempts must be made:
How far out is the court date?
From the moment a process server receives an assignment, the clock is ticking. The process must be served at least two weeks before the scheduled court date to be valid. If there’s limited time, then the server won’t be able to make as many service attempts before seeking an alternative.
What schedule does the process recipient keep?
If the process recipient works an odd schedule, like nights or weekends, they may be more difficult to locate and require more service attempts.
Does the process recipient reside in more than one location or frequently travel?
If the process recipient lives between two different places (as is common in Florida) or travels frequently, extra service attempts may be required to pin them down while they are here. This may include service attempts at airports, bus stations, or other mass transit areas. For people who live elsewhere during the summer, the case may have to be postponed until they return to Florida.
What is required to qualify for an alternative service?
A process server must prove that they have diligently tried to locate a process recipient before being granted permission to serve by alternative means. Most judges will not even consider alternative services until at least three service attempts are made. If granted, service by substitution and service by publication are the two most common alternative service methods.
Have Questions?
If you have any questions about the process serving in Jacksonville, please contact us at (904) 735-7810 or via email at [email protected]. If you need quality process service here in Duval County, send us your work request online.
