Most process recipients are fairly easy to locate, but every once in a while, a recipient proves to be quite elusive. When this happens, process servers have to kick it into overdrive and use all the resources available to them to pin down the process recipient. In this post, we’ll go over some of the techniques experienced process servers use when trying to locate exceptionally difficult recipients.
Put in the Prep Work
Doing some research before heading out to find a process recipient can save the server a lot of time and stress. There is a lot of information that can be found online about pretty much anyone. When gathering information during this initial research, try to collect the following:
- Name
- Addresses
- Phone numbers
- Aliases/nicknames
- Vehicle make, model, color, unique bumper stickers, and other identifiers
- Social media information
- Information from public records
- Picture or physical description of the target
- Best time and place to contact
- History of evading service
- History of violence
Adjust the list to fit with the specifics of your case. For example, if the process recipient is a business, you’ll want to get the business’ official name along with the owner’s names, executive leadership, or board members.
Take Notes As You Go
Keep a notebook (or notepad app on your smartphone) with you at all times so you can jot down notes on your cases while you’re out in the field. Even seemingly insignificant details can be what finally helps you find the process recipient, so get in the practice of noting everything about interactions you have. Review your notes frequently to make connections between information that you may have missed before.
Give Them a Call
While the process recipient probably won’t answer the phone if they’re intentionally evading you, that doesn’t mean that their friends and family will. Friends and family are one of the quickest and most effective ways to let a recipient know that you are looking for them, and sometimes they can even persuade the recipient to give themselves up and receive the process.
Conduct a Stakeout
Have you searched high and low, but still can’t find the process recipient? If you have an idea of where you believe they may be, it may be time for a stakeout! Stakeouts of today involve technology more and more, and we recommend taking advantage of that technology. Use a small camera that connects to your smartphone to monitor activity at a location. You can plant the camera during a routine service attempt and monitor what’s going on from the comfort of your own home.
To do a more old-school stakeout, grab some coffee and chips and tuck your vehicle away somewhere inconspicuous so you can view the location where the recipient is suspected to be. However, after a sleepless and boring night, we bet that you’ll give the hidden camera option another shot.
Ask a Judge for Alternative Service
If after all that you still can’t locate the process recipient, you can go in front of a judge and request an alternative service, such as service by publication or service by substitution. If granted, this means that you can serve the recipient by posting a notice in the newspaper or by serving another qualified person, respectively. These methods of service are just as valid as serving in person and satisfy the requirements of Florida courts.
Process Servers That Can Find Any Recipient
Do you need an elusive litigant served for one of your cases? Look no further than the talented team of process servers at Accurate Serve® of Ocala. Call us at (352) 278-2188 or send us your service requests online to get started, and we’ll make sure difficult process recipients don’t stall your case’s schedule.
