Many states now have mandatory or optional e-filing for process servers. Florida e-filing requirements vary by county. The below map has information on whether or not e-filing in each Florida county is mandatory or available, whether or not cases may be walked in, and each county's policy on filing returns and originals. Click any county in the map below to see the e-filing requirements in that area.

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Escambia County Santa Rosa County Okaloosa County Walton County Holmes County Washington County Jackson County Bay County Calhoun County Gulf County Franklin County Franklin County Liberty County Gadsden County Leon County Wakulla County Jefferson County Taylor County Madison County Hamilton County Nassau County Columbia County Baker County Suwannee County Lafayette County Duval County Union County Bradford County Gilchrist County Dixie County Clay County St. Johns County Alachua County Putnam County Flagler County Levy County Marion County Volusia County Brevard County Citrus County Sumter County Lake County Seminole County Orange County Hernando County Pasco County Pinellas County Hillsborough County Polk County Osceola County Indian River County Manatee County Hardee County DeSoto County Sarasota County Highlands County Okeechobee County St. Lucie County Martin County Glades County Charlotte County Lee County Hendry County Palm Beach County Collier County Broward County Miami-Dade County Miami-Dade County Monroe County Monroe County Monroe County Monroe County florida-e-filing-rules-and-requirements-by-county

Data courtesy of the Florida Association of Professional Process Servers
Source: https://fapps.org/NEWS_EfileRequirmentsByCountyInFL.pdf

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- On June 17, 2011, Governor Rick Scott signed House Bill 59 Service of Process (presented by Rep. John P. Julien) into law effective July 1, 2011. This bill allows process servers unannounced entry into a gated residential community, including its common areas and common elements when the person is known to be within the community and requires parties to provide the original process, and e-copy signed by the clerk to the sheriff.


This bill also amends Florida statutes related to service of process on corporations. It allows process servers to serve process on any employee of the registered agent on the first attempt, even if the registered agent is only temporarily absent.  HB 59 also clarifies where a Process Server is to annotate the documents served.  As we move forward in being more cognizant of a green environment, this bill allows us to only serve one hard copy of the court documents to the Department of Financial Services.


It is FAPPS' position HB 59 will allow a private process server the ability to guarantee a constitutional right to all defendants and ensure due process without unnecessary delays.  Allowing a process server entrance into a gated community area as an officer of the court will create an opportunity for expediting the legal process for all parties.  This process server bill will assist in preventing a gate guard from obstructing justice by giving them unequivocal authority to allow a Process Server access.   When one prevents a process server entrance into a gated community, the alternative was to publish the legal notice in a newspaper that the defendant might not read therefore resulting in a judgment of foreclosure or other type of judgment without ever having been notified of the action.

 

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