Florida law provides a narrow substitute-service path for specified mailbox and office addresses, but only when every condition in section 48.031(6) is met.
A mailbox maintained through a private mailbox provider rather than an ordinary United States Postal Service P.O. box.
Communications and address services without dedicated office space, with communications routed through a common receptionist.
Communications services, dedicated office space, supportive services, and communications routed through a common receptionist.
Florida Statute section 48.031(6), the subsection covering specified mailbox and office locations, requires each condition below. It is not a general rule for every commercial address.
A private mailbox is a mailbox maintained through a private provider. The statute treats it separately from a virtual office, which supplies communications and address services without dedicated office space. It also separately defines an executive office or mini suite, which includes dedicated office space and supportive services. Both defined office types route communications through a common receptionist.
That distinction matters in the field. A familiar street address, suite number, or mailing relationship does not establish that subsection (6) applies. PLS verifies the address information, follows counsel's written instructions, and records the facts found. PLS does not decide whether service is legally sufficient.
The address must be the only address for the person discoverable through public records. Public records are government and other records available to the public that may identify an address.
The process server must determine that the person to be served maintains a mailbox, virtual office, or executive office or mini suite at that location. The address type alone is not enough.
The person in charge means the person responsible for the private mailbox or office operation at the time. The statute authorizes leaving the process with that person only after the first two conditions are satisfied.
PLS documents the location, recipient, date, time, and service facts in a return of service, meaning the formal record of how the assignment was completed or attempted.
Florida Statute 48.031(6) permits substitute service, meaning delivery through an authorized alternate recipient, through the person in charge only when the private mailbox is the person's only address discoverable through public records and the server determines that the person maintains a mailbox there.
The same subsection permits substitute service at a virtual office when it is the person's only address discoverable through public records, the server determines that the person maintains the virtual office there, and process is left with the person in charge.
No. Section 48.031(6) defines a virtual office as providing communications and address services without dedicated office space. An executive office or mini suite includes dedicated office space and supportive services. Both route communications through a common receptionist.
Section 48.031(6) names a private mailbox, virtual office, and executive office or mini suite. It does not name an ordinary United States Postal Service P.O. box. Counsel should evaluate any other authorized method for the assignment.
Send the documents, exact name, address, deadline, and counsel's instructions. We will verify the assignment details and coordinate documented service attempts.
Order Service →Pro Legal Serve is a licensed Florida investigative agency (FL PI Agency License #A3300059), not a law firm. This page provides general information about Florida law, not legal advice.