When a person becomes a victim of a crime in Florida, it’s important for them to understand the legal process that follows. This blog post aims to provide an overview of what happens after a victim files a criminal complaint in Florida. From the initial filing of the complaint to the trial and potential sentencing, victims have certain rights and opportunities to participate in the proceedings. Understanding these rights and the steps involved can empower victims to navigate the criminal justice system more effectively.

Filing a Criminal Complaint

The process begins with the victim or someone with knowledge of the crime filing a sworn statement known as a complaint with the appropriate authority. This complaint serves as a formal notification of the alleged crime and initiates the legal process. Continue reading →

When it comes to legal proceedings, hiring a process server can be a crucial step in ensuring that the necessary documents are served and delivered correctly and on time. However, to get the most out of your process server, there are certain things you need to have in place. In this post, we’ll discuss five things you need to get the most out of your process server. When you’re ready to start working with Daytona Beach’s premier process service agency, call Accurate Serve® at 386-569-8475 or send us a work request online.

A Clear Understanding of Your Case 

You need to have a solid understanding of what is required of you in your legal case and the timeline for how things should happen. If you’re working with an attorney, they will explain these things to you, but if you’re representing yourself in a legal matter, you might find it more difficult to get clear information. Speak with court employees or even have a consultation with an attorney to get more information about your case and what to expect. This way, you can provide the process server with clear and accurate information about what needs to be done and by when. Continue reading →

As a process server, one of your main responsibilities is to deliver legal documents to individuals or businesses that are involved in a legal dispute. It is crucial that you make sure you are delivering the correct documents to the right person or entity. Failing to do so can result in serious consequences for both the process server and the party involved in the legal matter. In this post, we will discuss why it is so important for a process server to ensure they are serving the correct documents.

Legal Consequences

Delivering the wrong documents can result in significant legal consequences. If you deliver the wrong documents to a party, they may not take the necessary actions required by law, such as appearing in court, filing a response, or meeting deadlines. This can have serious ramifications for the party involved, such as a default judgment being entered against them, which can lead to the loss of property or financial penalties. In addition, the process server can be held liable for any damages resulting from the incorrect delivery. Continue reading →

At Accurate Serve of Daytona Beach, we have seen a fair share of individuals trying to avoid being served legal documents. Whether it’s out of fear, anxiety, or ignorance of the legal process, avoiding a process server is never a good idea. Here are some of the reasons why you should never avoid a process server.

Legal Consequences

Avoiding a process server will not make your legal problems disappear. In fact, it can lead to even more significant legal consequences. When you avoid being served, the process server will resort to alternative methods to serve you, such as service by substitution or service by publication. So no matter how far you run, you will eventually be deemed “served” and the case against you will proceed. Continue reading →

Now that you’ve filed your civil case in Volusia County, it’s time to have a process server appointed for your case. You’ll want to choose a process server who is familiar with the area, reputable, and available to get your process served fast. Accurate Serve® of Daytona Beach checks off all the boxes for high-quality process service in Volusia County. Simply contact us at 386-569-8475 for help filing a motion to have us appointed to your case, then send us your case documents using our online submission tool. Can’t send the documents online? No worries! There are several other methods you can use to get us the required paperwork.

Fax

According to eFax, over 17 billion documents are sent each year worldwide via fax machines. Fax services are offered at most office supply and shipping retail services locations, making fax a good option for people who don’t have reliable access to the internet or the ability to scan and upload documents. In Florida, it is acceptable to send process documents to a process service agency via fax. For our fax number, call us at 386-569-8475. Continue reading →

You’ve filed your civil complaint in Volusia County and received the initial case summons from the Clerk of Court…now what? The next step in your legal journey is to serve the summons and complaint to every defendant named in your suit. Additionally, if you intend to call any witnesses during the case, you’ll need to serve them with subpoenas requesting their appearance. So is it time to make some copies and start knocking on doors? NO! Serving process is an essential part of the legal system with specific rules that must be followed.

Service of Process is Required

If you’re thinking about skipping serving the process in your civil case and just showing up on the scheduled court date, think again. Service of process is absolutely required before any court case can proceed in Florida. The Clerk of Court where the case was filed will keep an eye out for confirmation that all defendants have been properly served within the required timeframe, as proof of said service must be documented and should be filed with the court upon completion. If the clerk cannot verify that everyone was served, the case will be delayed (or worse) until everyone is properly notified. Continue reading →

If you’re an attorney handling multiple cases at once, you can easily start drowning in all the paperwork that is involved. Each case usually requires dozens, if not hundreds, of documents to be located, analyzed, and stored for easy reference. Depending on the size of your firm, you may even have to hire multiple people just to handle all the documents. That means extra labor costs, extra overhead costs, and extra stress managing additional employees. 

What is Document Retrieval?

You can avoid all that hassle by using a professional document retrieval company, like Accurate Serve of Daytona Beach. Document retrieval is quite simply the process of locating any type of document. There really is no limit to what type of documentation can be found with document retrieval. Continue reading →

There’s a lot of confusion out there related to what process servers are and are not allowed to do while serving process. Hollywood has played a part in distorting the public’s view about what a process server does, depicting servers in disguises sneaking up on unsuspecting victims. However, professional process servers, like those here at Accurate Serve® in East Central Florida, never behave this way. Additionally, the state of Florida also governs and oversees the process server industry here.

Process servers in Florida must abide by the following rules in order to serve process legally: Continue reading →

Who you use to serve your case’s process to defendants and witnesses matters. Florida has strict laws and regulations on who can and cannot be a process server in our state. Using a process server that doesn’t meet the required guidelines is a big no-no and could result in your case being delayed or even thrown out! In this post, we’ll review the qualities that you should be looking for when interviewing potential process servers.

Process Servers Must Meet Florida’s Minimum Requirements

Volusia, Flagler, Putnam, and St. John’s counties all belong to Florida’s 7th Judicial Circuit. The 7th circuit is a little different than most other judicial circuits in Florida. Instead of maintaining a list of approved process servers, servers in Volusia, Putnam, and Flagler must be individually approved to serve process for each and every case they work. In St. Johns County, process servers are approved by the Sheriff’s office. Continue reading →

If you’re preparing to file a lawsuit, you probably already know that you will need to have the court summons and complaint, collectively known as process, served on the case’s defendants. Serving process is simply delivering the court paperwork to the intended recipient or a suitable alternative. In Florida, you’re not allowed to serve the process in your own case yourself…you must use either your local sheriff’s office or a private process server. In this post, we’ll discuss four reasons why you’ll want to opt for a private process server for your case. Continue reading →