Fla. Stat. § 48.011
Process; how directed
Summons, subpoenas, and other process in civil actions run throughout the state. All process except subpoenas shall be directed to all and singular the sheriffs of the state.
Florida Statutes Chapter 48 — PROCESS AND SERVICE OF PROCESS
Florida · statute · Fla. Stat. ch. 48 · 38 active provisions
Fla. Stat. § 48.021
Process; by whom served
(1) All process shall be served by the sheriff of the county where the person to be served is found, except nonenforceable civil process, criminal witness subpoenas, and criminal summonses may be served by a special process server appointed by the sheriff as provided in this section or by a certified process server as…
Fla. Stat. § 48.031
Service of process generally; service of witness subpoenas
(1)(a) Service of original process is made by delivering a copy of it to the person to be served with a copy of the complaint, petition, or other initial pleading or paper or by leaving the copies at his or her usual place of abode with any person residing therein who is 15 years of age or older and informing the perso…
Fla. Stat. § 48.041
Service on minor
(1) Process against a minor who has never been married shall be served:(a) By serving a parent or guardian of the minor as provided for in s. 48.031 or, when there is a legal guardian appointed for the minor, by serving the guardian as provided for in s. 48.031.(b) By serving the guardian ad litem or other person, if o…
Fla. Stat. § 48.042
Service on incompetent
(1) Process against an incompetent shall be served:(a) By serving two copies of the process to the person who has care or custody of the incompetent or, when there is a legal guardian appointed for the incompetent, by serving the guardian as provided in s. 48.031.(b) By serving the guardian ad litem or other person, if…
Fla. Stat. § 48.051
Service on state prisoners
Process against a state prisoner shall be served on the prisoner.
Fla. Stat. § 48.061
Service on partnerships, limited liability partnerships, and limited partnerships
(1)(a) Process against a partnership that is not a limited liability partnership or a limited partnership, including a limited liability limited partnership, must be served on any partner and is as valid for service on the partnership as if served on each individual partner.1. If a partner is not available during regul…
Fla. Stat. § 48.062
Service on a domestic limited liability company or registered foreign limited liability company
2(1) As used in this section, the term “registered foreign limited liability company” means a foreign limited liability company that has an active certificate of authority to transact business in this state pursuant to a record filed with the Department of State.(2) A domestic limited liability company or registered fo…
Fla. Stat. § 48.071
Service on agents of nonresidents doing business in the state
When any natural person or partnership not residing or having a principal place of business in this state engages in business in this state, process may be served on the person who is in charge of any business in which the defendant is engaged within this state at the time of service, including agents soliciting orders…
Fla. Stat. § 48.081
Service on a domestic corporation or registered foreign corporation
(1) As used in this section, the term “registered foreign corporation” means a foreign corporation that has an active certificate of authority to transact business in this state pursuant to a record filed with the Department of State.(2) A domestic corporation or registered foreign corporation may be served with proces…
Fla. Stat. § 48.091
Partnerships, corporations, and limited liability companies; designation of registered agent and registered office
(1) As used in this section, the term:(a) “Registered foreign corporation” and “registered foreign limited liability company” have the same meanings as in ss. 48.081 and 48.062, respectively.(b) “Registered foreign limited liability partnership” or “registered foreign limited partnership” means a foreign limited liabil…
Fla. Stat. § 48.092
Service on financial institutions
Service on financial institutions must be made in accordance with s. 655.0201.
Fla. Stat. § 48.101
Service on domestic dissolved corporations, dissolved limited liability companies, dissolved limited partnerships, dissolved limited liability partnerships, and business organizations in receivership
(1) Process against the directors of any corporation that was dissolved before July 1, 1990, as trustees of the dissolved corporation must be served on one or more of the directors of the dissolved corporation as trustees thereof and binds all of the directors of the dissolved corporation as trustees thereof.(2)(a) Pro…
Fla. Stat. § 48.102
Service by other means
If, after due diligence, a party seeking to effectuate service is unable to effectuate personal service of process on a domestic or foreign corporation; a domestic or foreign general partnership, including a limited liability partnership; a domestic or foreign limited partnership, including a limited liability limited…
Fla. Stat. § 48.111
Service on public agencies and officers
1(1) Process against any municipal corporation, agency, board, or commission, department, or subdivision of the state or any county which has a governing board, council, or commission or which is a body corporate shall be served:(a) On the registered agent; or(b) If the municipal corporation, agency, board, or commissi…
Fla. Stat. § 48.121
Service on the state
When the state has consented to be sued, process against the state shall be served on the state attorney or an assistant state attorney for the judicial circuit within which the action is brought and by sending two copies of the process by registered or certified mail to the Attorney General. The state may serve motion…
Fla. Stat. § 48.131
Service on alien property custodian
In every action or proceeding in any court or before any administrative board involving real, personal, or mixed property, or any interest therein, when service of process or notice is required or directed to be made upon any person, firm or corporation located, or believed to be located, within any country or territor…
Fla. Stat. § 48.141
Service on labor unions
Process against labor organizations shall be served on the president or other officer, business agent, manager or person in charge of the business of such labor organization.
Fla. Stat. § 48.151
Service on statutory agents for certain persons
(1) When any law designates a public officer, board, agency, or commission as the agent for service of process on any person, firm, or corporation, service of process thereunder shall be made by leaving one copy of the process with the public officer, board, agency, or commission or in the office thereof, or by mailing…
Fla. Stat. § 48.161
Method of substituted service on certain parties in care of the Secretary of State
(1) When authorized by law, substituted service of process on a nonresident individual or a corporation or other business entity incorporated or formed under the laws of any other state, territory, or commonwealth, or the laws of any foreign country, may be made by sending a copy of the process to the office of the Sec…
Fla. Stat. § 48.171
Service on nonresident motor vehicle owners, etc
Any nonresident of this state, being the operator or owner of any motor vehicle, who accepts the privilege extended by the laws of this state to nonresident operators and owners, of operating a motor vehicle or of having it operated, or of permitting any motor vehicle owned, or leased, or controlled by him or her to be…
Fla. Stat. § 48.181
Substituted service on nonresidents and foreign business entities engaging in business in state or concealing their whereabouts
(1) As used in this section, the term “foreign business entity” means any corporation or other business entity that is incorporated, formed, or existing under the laws of any other state, territory, or commonwealth, or the laws of any foreign country.(2) The acceptance by any individual who is a resident of any other s…
Fla. Stat. § 48.183
Service of process in action for possession of premises
(1) In an action for possession of any residential premises, including those under chapters 83, 723, and 513, or nonresidential premises, if the tenant cannot be found in the county or there is no person 15 years of age or older residing at the tenant’s usual place of abode in the county after at least two attempts to…
Fla. Stat. § 48.184
Service of process for removal of unknown parties in possession
(1) This section applies only to actions governed by s. 82.03, s. 83.21, s. 83.59, or s. 723.061 and only to the extent that such actions seek relief for the removal of an unknown party or parties in possession of real property. The provisions of this section are cumulative to other provisions of law or rules of court…
Fla. Stat. § 48.19
Service on nonresidents operating aircraft or watercraft in the state
The operation, navigation, or maintenance by a nonresident of an aircraft or a boat, ship, barge, or other watercraft in the state, either in person or through others, and the acceptance thereby by the nonresident of the protection of the laws of this state for the aircraft or watercraft, or the operation, navigation,…
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