List of 2012 Certified Process Servers for the 15th Judicial Circuit
Program Description: Process Servers in the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit are certified by the Chief Judge and the program is administered by the Administrative Office of the Court. Certified Process Servers are permitted to serve initial non-enforceable civil process within Palm Beach County. Civil process provides notice to defendants that a judicial action or proceeding has been initiated. As a Certified Civil Process Server of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, you are authorized to serve non-enforceable civil process in Palm Beach County. Your name will be included in the approved list of Certified Civil Process Servers maintained by the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit. You will be required to exercise due diligence on your service and to comply with related rules and statutes, and administrative orders as amended from time to time. As a certified process server, you are NOT an employee of the court and the Administrative Office of the Court makes no representations or promises as to your ability and success in securing business.
Certification Requirements:
You must:
- Be at least 18 years of age.
- Have no mental or legal disability.
- Be a permanent resident of the State of Florida.
- Complete an application.
- Tender required fees:
- Total Amount of Application Fees: $374.00 (New Applicants)
- $200.00 Application Fee
- $150.00 Training Fee
- $24.00 FDLE Background Check Fee
- Total Amount of Renewal Fees: $274.00 (Renewal/ Reciprocity)
- $250.00 Renewal Fee
- $24.00 FDLE Background Check Fee
- Attend a mandatory seminar.
- File a certificate of good conduct (included in application materials) which certifies that there is no pending criminal case against you, that there is no record of any felony conviction against you, and that there is no record of a conviction of a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude or dishonesty within the past five years
- Provide a Florida Department of Law Enforcement (“FDLE”) Background Check which does not show any disqualifying convictions
- Pass the Certified Civil Process Servers examination
- Execute a $5,000 surety bond and keep the bond current and in good standing
- Record surety bond with the Clerk & Comptroller’s Office
- Take the Oath of Office administered by the Chief Judge
APPLICATION PROCESS
Applications for Certified Process Servers are accepted yearly from October 1 through October 31. Applications will be available on this site during the annual registration period.
New Applicants:
If you are interested in serving as a Certified Process Server for the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, you must complete an application during the annual registration period of October 1 through October 31 and return with applicable fees to:
Administrative Office of the Court
Main Judicial Complex
205 N. Dixie Highway
Room 5.2500
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
You will be responsible for remitting the $24.00 payment directly to FDLE for the background check. Results of the background check must be emailed directly from FDLE to MVasil@pbcgov.org.
Renewals:
Current Certified Process Servers must renew certification annually to remain on the list of Certified Process Servers maintained by the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit. Renewals are accepted yearly from October 1 through October 31. Failure to complete a renewal form, to maintain a current bond, and to tender the required $250.00 fee may result in your name being removed from the list. You will be responsible for remitting the $24.00 payment directly to FDLE for the background check. Results of the background check must be emailed directly from FDLE to MVasil@pbcgov.org.
Reciprocity:
Reciprocity is extended to certified process servers of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit upon the completion of the application, the tendering of the application fee, the execution and the recording of a $5,000 surety bond, completion of the required training course, and the tendering of a letter or a certificate of good standing from the Administrative Office of the Court of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit. See Administrative Order No. 2.704-9/08. Process servers currently certified in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit will not have to take the process server examination.
RELEVANT ORDERS, RULES AND STATUTES:
Administrative Orders: All Certified Process Servers are required to read and abide by the Administrative Orders which govern process servers (found in Series 2):
2.701 
,2.702 ,2.703 ,2.704 ,2.705 ,2.706 ,2.707 ,2.708 , and 2.709
Related Laws: All Certified Process Servers are responsible for understanding and complying with the statutes and rules of court which pertain to service of process.
Chapter 48, Florida Statutes, in particular Sections 48.25-48.31, the “Florida Certified Process Servers Act”; Florida Rules of Civil Procedures 1.070 and 1.808; and Florida Small Claims Rule 7.070.
Related Forms:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “service” mean as it relates to process servers?“Service” is the official delivery of legal papers on parties, witnesses or other people involved in a case pursuant to and in compliance with Florida Statutes.
Why do legal papers need to be officially served?Official service of a summons and a copy of your complaint or petition are necessary to start a legal action by giving the other side formal notice that there is a lawsuit filed against them. After serving the other parties in your civil case, the process server files a return of service form with the Court so that the judge will know service has been performed according to the law. Civil process servers can also serve subpoenas (orders to appear in court or produce documents) and other legal notices and may be called upon to testify in Court if there is a question about proper service. All parties requesting service of process should be aware of the proper and legal service required in the legal proceeding.
Who do I contact to serve my legal papers?In the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit (Palm Beach County), either a deputy sheriff or a certified process server may serve initial non-enforceable process.
How do I have legal papers served on a person or business outside of Palm Beach County?Process servers are certified differently by each county. Please check with the Sheriff’s Office in the county in which the person is located to inquire about how to effectuate service of process in that county.
The Administrative Office of the Court maintains an approved list of Certified Civil Process Servers approved by the Chief Judge of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Palm Beach County: see link to current Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Certified Process Servers at the top of this page.
The Palm Beach County’s Sheriff Office Civil Process Unit carries out the Sheriff’s statutory responsibility for the service of process and execution of writs. For more information on the Civil Process Unit, go to www.pbso.org .
