Miami Private Investigations"Service of process" is the formal delivery of legal documents — a summons, complaint, subpoena, or eviction notice — so the other party has official notice of the case. If it's done wrong, the whole case can stall or get tossed. In Miami-Dade, doing it right and doing it fast often makes the difference.
Who can serve papers in Florida
In Florida, process is generally served by a certified process server, a sheriff's deputy, or a specially appointed server. Certified servers are approved by the circuit and must follow strict rules about how and when documents are delivered and how the return of service is completed.
How long it takes
- Cooperative defendant: often served within a few days.
- Hard to reach: may take multiple attempts at different times of day.
- Actively evading: this is where an investigator earns their fee — locating the person, confirming their pattern, and serving when they can be found.
When the person is dodging service
Evasion is common — and legal service still has to happen. A licensed investigator can run skip tracing to find a current address and workplace, confirm the person actually lives or works there, and identify the best window to make contact. When someone truly can't be served in person, Florida law provides alternatives (like substitute service or, in limited cases, service by publication) that your attorney can pursue with a documented record of diligent attempts.
What it costs
Straightforward serves are usually a modest flat fee per address. Difficult or evasive subjects cost more because they require locating work, multiple attempts, and sometimes surveillance. You should always get the scope and pricing in writing up front.