Serving process requires organization, time management, and great attention to detail. There are many mistakes that can be made while the serving process, any of which could derail your client’s case and cause costly delays. Don’t let that happen! Follow these tips and tricks to serve process as efficiently as possible, keeping your clients happy and your reputation untarnished:
Know the Rules
You can’t be efficient in your job serving process if you don’t know and play by the rules. Florida is one of the strictest states in the nation in terms of laws for process servers, so it is vital that you are familiar with not only state laws, but also laws that apply in the county or judicial circuit where you plan to work.
Here in Ocala, we’re part of Florida’s 5th Judicial Circuit, which covers Marion, Citrus, Hernando, Lake, and Sumter counties. To work as a private process server in the 5th circuit, you must be certified. Certification involves an application process, examination, and financial components. If you are not properly certified, any service you provide in the 5th circuit is invalid.
Certification is just one of the many rules surrounding process servers in Florida. It is your responsibility as a server to know all the laws, rules, and regulations.
Plan Your Route
When you deal with multiple cases at one time, an organization becomes a key element of efficient process service. You must keep the paperwork for each case completely separate, investigate the intended recipient for each case, and figure out where you intend to intercept them. All of this requires thoughtful planning ahead of time, especially when determining the route for your day. Efficient routing will save you time, gas money, and vehicle wear and tear while allowing you to serve process in as many cases as possible in one day.
Allow Time for Communication
Your job isn’t over when you hand off the paperwork…you still need to communicate with both your client and the court associated with the case. Filing proof of service with the court, while not required, is highly recommended and expected of all servers at Accurate Serve®. Notifying your client of the successful service, or otherwise, is also an essential element of the job. Give yourself time at the end of each service, or each shift, to properly file proof of service and notify clients of their case’s status.
At Accurate Serve®, we make notifying clients of their case status easy with our online status tracker tool, available 24/7 right on our website.
Join Our Team!
If you’re a hard-working, diligent process server in the Ocala area who wants a network of other professional servers, consider joining our team at Accurate Serve® in Ocala, Clermont, Inverness, Spring Hill, and The Villages. We provide all of our servers with the tools, resources, and knowledge they need to do their jobs as efficiently as possible. Contact us today to learn more.
