Who may serve process
Chapter 48 is the part of Florida law that governs service of process, meaning the formal delivery of court papers. It separates enforceable process, papers directing an officer to take enforcement action, from non-enforceable process, papers that give notice without directing enforcement. Enforceable process must go to the sheriff. Eligible non-enforceable civil process may be handled by an authorized sheriff-appointed special process server or a certified process server, subject to county or circuit authority.
The practical starting point is the complete document set, not just the caption or case number. The papers show whether the requested action is notice or enforcement, while the service address identifies the county or circuit connected to the attempt. Reviewing those items together helps place eligible work with the right type of server and keeps sheriff-only enforcement work in the proper channel.
Service on individuals
Section 48.031 addresses service on individuals. The correct method depends on the documents and facts at the service location. Accurate party information and a usable physical address help the server plan and document attempts.
Useful intake details include the party's full name, any known alternate names, the physical address, ZIP code, deadline, and information that may help distinguish the correct person or location. An old address, employer, schedule, vehicle description, or other available identifier can make field planning more efficient without changing the service method required by the papers and circumstances.
Intake tip: Send the exact party name, documents, physical service address, ZIP code, and deadline. Pro Legal Serve performs free address verification and flags P.O. boxes, UPS stores, and other address problems before avoidable field time is spent.
Service on LLCs and corporations
Chapter 48 addresses business entities in separate sections. Section 48.062 covers limited liability companies, or LLCs, while section 48.081 covers corporations. The registered agent is the person or business listed to receive legal papers for the entity, and the registered office is the listed address for that agent. Routine intake starts with the exact entity name, registered agent, registered office, and available Sunbiz information.
The entity type must be confirmed before treating the record as a corporation or an LLC. Similar business names can point to different records, and a mailing address may not be the registered office. Sending the exact legal name, current entity details, the documents, service ZIP, and deadline gives the server a cleaner starting point for address verification and field attempts.
Returns of service
The return of service records what occurred. Pro Legal Serve documents attempts with GPS and photo proof and provides a notarized return of service for eligible jobs. Documents may be submitted online or emailed to info@prolegalserve.com.
Good documentation begins during the attempt, not after it. The field record should identify the location and result clearly enough for the return to reflect what happened. GPS and photo proof support that operational history, and the notarized return provides the formal summary delivered after the service effort.
Chapter 48 includes several separate subjects, so one section should not be treated as a substitute for another. Server authority, individual service, business-entity service, and proof of service are connected parts of the same workflow, but each begins with different facts. The safest operational approach is to send the full documents and complete intake details so the service request can be routed and documented consistently.