You’ve probably seen dramatic movie scenes involving process servers who serve papers amid an important event or by impersonating the pizza delivery person. These tactics make great drama on the big screen, but in real life, servers have specific rules they must follow while delivering service of process. Some make mistakes along the way, which is why it’s important to hire an experienced and reputable process serving company for your own needs.
Opening Mailboxes
Although process servers deliver papers, they are not permitted to open a recipient’s mailbox and place the papers inside manually. The mailbox as a whole is off-limits.
Instead, process servers must physically present the documents to the recipient or an allowed substitute. Most states allow process servers to leave the papers with a competent adult at the residence, as long as the person is 18 years or older and understands the significance of the papers.
Entering a Home or Building Without Permission
Breaking and entering are against the law, even for a process server. This is part of what makes the job of a process server so demanding: papers can only be served by speaking to and handing papers to the subject after seeing at or outside the door of their property.
Impersonating Law Enforcement or Others
It might be easier for a police officer or other court official to force somebody to open the front door, which is exactly why process servers are not permitted to impersonate others. It is illegal for a process server to claim to be a member of law enforcement to compel somebody to open the door.
Delivering to the Wrong Person
Most names are common and easy to confuse. Just imagine how many people with the last name of Smith get served papers in the state of Florida every week! Unfortunately, it does sometimes happen that a process server delivers papers to the wrong person. Experienced process servers know to talk to neighbors and friends, do online research, and search public records to confirm they have found the right person before serving papers.
If you need to send service of process for your own purposes, contact Accurate Serve of Tampa Bay to learn more. Accurate Serve is Florida’s premier private process server company devoted to meeting all clients’ unique needs.
