Should I use a Process Server or the Local Sheriff’s Office?
In Broward County, home of the beautiful city of Plantation, process servers must be approved by the Broward County Sheriff to deliver court case documents, collectively known as process, to named parties. Once approved, they are known as special process servers. The sheriff’s office maintains a current list of approved, special process servers.
Making the choice between using the sheriff’s department or a private process server becomes quite easy: in Broward County, deputy sheriffs deliver criminal process, and special process servers deliver civil process. It’s that easy!
There’s a reason the Broward County sheriff trusts all of their civil process to private, special process servers; they know that private process servers know all of the laws and regulations related to service of process in and out, meaning fewer mistakes, fewer expenses, and less stress for everyone involved. Just a few reasons that using a private process server for your civil process is a smart move include:
Process Servers Relieve Local Law Enforcement
The Broward County Sheriff’s Office already has enough going on with their criminal divisions. The last thing deputies need to be saddled down with is delivering process for small claims lawsuits. We need our law enforcement officers out there on the streets, using their talents to protect people, not working as couriers. By using a private and special process server approved by the sheriff’s office, you are freeing up valuable police time for more important, potentially life-saving tasks.
Process Servers are Civil Process Law Experts
Sheriff’s deputies handle everything from minor traffic stops to capital felonies, which means there is a multitude of laws and regulations they must recall each day. For situations or crimes that they deal with daily, it’s pretty easy to remember the associated laws. However, sheriff’s deputies may not serve civil process often, making remembering all of the laws related to process servers more difficult.
For example, what happens when a defendant cannot be located, despite several attempts in various locations? Chances are, a deputy sheriff isn’t going to know the process for requesting service by substitution or publication. Even if they know the process, do they really have time to deal with that? By hiring a private and special process server, you will improve the chances of your case’s process being served successfully.
Process Servers Get the Job Done Quickly
Defendants, witnesses, and other persons related to a court case have a constitutional right to be given ample preparation time before a court case, so the process needs to be successfully served to all parties promptly after filing the case. Deadlines for service of process varies depending on the case type. Missing a service deadline means the court date must be rescheduled, which adds unnecessary time, cost, and frustration to your case. Defendants have even successfully claimed that delayed service of process affected the case enough to have it dismissed! At Accurate Serve® in south Florida, we pride ourselves in serving process quickly, even with difficult-to-locate targets.
Process Servers Provide Excellent Communication
Tired of sitting around, waiting to hear how your case’s service of process is going? Well, wait no more! With Accurate Serve®’s 24/7 online status monitor, you’ll never have to wonder if the process in your case has been served successfully. Just log in to your account directly on our website from anywhere with an internet connection, and you’re in the know.
We also pride ourselves on providing excellent two-way communication with all of our clients. Legal firms that trust Accurate Serve® with all their service of process requests know just how easy it is to request service, send documents, clarify information, and check the status of requests. We’re always standing by via phone at (954) 770-9997 or email to answer all of your process service-related questions. We also handle document retrievals, skip traces, and diligent searches, making us a one-stop shop for all your auxiliary legal needs.
If you need a reliable process server in Plantation, Miami, Key West, or West Palm Beach, visit our website to find the phone number of your closest office. If you need service outside of southern Florida, visit theaccurateservefranchise.com to find the contact information for the office closest to you. We serve legal firms all over the nation, and would love to work with yours too!