Evading a process server is never a good idea. Not only does it accomplish nothing other than waste time, but it can also end up costing a person lots of cash and even their freedom.
There are three major ways that avoiding a process server can cost you in the long run:
Financial Costs
Normally, the person who hires the process server pays their fee. However, when a defendant actively hides from the process server to delay the case, court schedules get backed up as dates have to be rescheduled. This waste of court time and resources does not sit well with most judges, who will gladly order that the elusive defendant pays for all the additional fees related to the search and schedule changes. If the judge sees fit, they can also impose additional fines on a person who intentionally evades a process server.
Peace of Mind
It’s not all about money when we talk about the cost of avoiding a process server. All that hiding and constantly looking over their shoulder actually steals a person’s peace of mind, which is an enormous burden to their mental and emotional health. Family members who are aware of the situation will also worry and stress about the consequences the person will face when they finally do have to appear in court. It makes so much more sense to just accept the documents from the process server so they can move on with their lives.
Freedom
In the most extreme cases, judges who believe a person has intentionally and maliciously evaded a process server for an extended amount of time may actually impose a jail sentence for contempt of court. That means not only fines but also the temporary loss of freedom. There is no greater punishment in the U.S. than the removal of our basic rights, so the chance of spending several nights in jail should be enough to get anyone to cooperate with a process server.
Quality Process Servers in Marion County
If you need a process service agency with a proven track record of locating evasive targets, Accurate Serve® is where you need to be. We’ve worked with firms all over Florida, and nationwide, to make sure court documents always make it to their destination. If you’re in Ocala, call us at (352) 278-2188 or send us a work request online today!
