Who can serve papers in Broward
Broward County is the 17th Judicial Circuit. Papers can be served by the Broward Sheriff, by a special process server the Sheriff appoints, or by a certified process server appointed by the chief judge of the 17th Circuit. A certified process server serves in the circuit that appointed them, so a server certified only in Miami-Dade cannot serve a Broward address.
Personal service and substitute service
Under Florida Statutes section 48.031(1)(a), the usual way is to hand the papers to the person named. If they are not there, the papers can be left at their usual place of abode with a person 15 or older who lives there, after telling that person what the papers are. Other rules apply to businesses, to spouses and to some kinds of cases, so check what your papers need.
Gated communities and condominiums
Much of Broward lives behind a gate or a front desk. Florida Statutes section 48.031(7) requires a gated residential community, including a condominium or cooperative association, to grant unannounced entry to a person attempting to serve process on a resident.
No service on Sunday
Florida Statutes section 48.20 says papers served on a Sunday are void, with narrow exceptions. Plan around Monday to Saturday.
The 120-day deadline
In most Florida civil cases, Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.070(j) gives the plaintiff 120 days after filing the complaint to serve the defendant. If service is not made in time, the court can drop that defendant or extend the time. Order service early, especially if the person may be hard to find.
The affidavit (return of service)
After service, the server completes a return of service that states the date and time, the person served and how service was made, under Florida Statutes section 48.21. If the person could not be served, an affidavit of due diligence lists every attempt. That document is what the court relies on, so it has to match what really happened.
Where Broward cases are filed
Circuit and county civil cases are filed at the Broward County Courthouse, 201 SE 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale, and some county court matters are heard at the regional courthouses. The Broward Clerk confirms the location for a specific case.
What to send your process server
The summons and complaint (or other papers), the full address with unit or gate details, a description or photo of the person if you have one, the best times to find them, and the case number. See what to send your process server.
Agera serves all of Broward through process servers certified in the 17th Circuit. Standard $75, rush $95, same day $120. Up to 4 attempts at different times of day within your level's time, with a Saturday attempt when that time includes a Saturday, and a notarized affidavit of service.