If a process server is looking for you, you may think that avoiding them is a way to get out of having to appear in court. Think again! Avoiding a process server will accomplish nothing other than getting you into more trouble with the court system.
Some of the serious consequences you may deal with if you evade service include:
Higher Costs
Most process servers will attempt to serve your process 4-6 times for their base fee. Once those attempts are used up, there are extra charges for each additional attempt that is made. If the defendant cannot be located, alternative service must be requested, which also carries a fee. While the plaintiff is typically the one to pay these process service fees, if a judge feels that the defendant is intentionally avoiding service, they can order the defendant to pay the extra costs. That means process server fees, court costs, attorney fees, and more could be added to the judgment for the plaintiff, adding up to thousands of extra dollars!
Default Judgment
Even if the defendant never sees a process server in person, they can still be served by alternative means such as substitution or publication. Once the requirements for these types of services are met, the defendant is considered served, and the case proceeds. If the defendant then does not show up to court, the judge can enter a default judgment for the plaintiff. This judgment basically gives the plaintiff what they’ve asked for because the defendant didn’t show up to dispute it. In some cases, we’re talking about tens of thousands of dollars! Ducking and dodging the process server doesn’t seem so appealing now, huh?
Criminal Charges
Want a quick way for a civil case to land you in jail? Making a judge upset by avoiding the process server, delaying court proceedings, and disrespecting the authority of the court system is a great way to do so, as it could get you charged with contempt of court or even misuse of court resources, depending on your location.
Marred Reputation
Even if you’ve successfully avoided the process server, they’ve probably contacted your friends, family, or even job. This means everyone in your circle now knows you’re in legal trouble, which just isn’t a good look for anyone. Reputation damage can last for years, preventing you from getting jobs or working with certain people who no longer see you as reliable.
Just Don’t Do It!
The moral of the story is…avoiding the process server just isn’t worth it! It’ll end up costing you big time and won’t stop the case against you from proceeding at all. If a process server is looking for you, and you have questions, feel free to contact Accurate Serve in Ocala at (352) 278-2188 with all your burning questions.
