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Why You Should Never Serve Divorce Papers Yourself

When you’re facing a divorce, you are likely thinking heavily about finances. Hiring an attorney to handle everything is quite expensive, and you may be considering ways to save money along the way. However, attempting to serve the process in your divorce case yourself is a big mistake.

Against state laws

Here in Florida, only law enforcement or approved private process servers are allowed to serve process in court cases, including divorce cases. In some counties, private process servers must be approved by the local sheriff’s office. In other counties, judicial circuit judges approve private process servers. Regardless of how they are approved, private process servers must pass a minimum standard to serve process in Florida, as set forth by state legislation.

Conflict of interest

Part of Florida’s standards for process servers includes that the individual serving process must not be involved in the case in any way. This rules litigants and their attorneys out as potential process servers in their own cases. So, even if one of the spouses in a divorce case is an approved process server, they cannot serve the process for their own divorce.

Dangerous

Divorces are emotional processes, and it can be difficult for the involved spouses to keep their anger in check. If one spouse attempts to serve the other spouse with divorce papers in person, things could turn ugly quickly. Having a neutral third-party deliver the divorce documents reduces the risk of a negative response.

Quality Process Servers for Your Divorce Case

If you are getting divorced in or around Sarasota, rely on Accurate Serve in Sarasota and Bradenton to serve the case paperwork safely, efficiently, and in compliance with all state laws. Call us at (941) 586-7897 or send us a service request today!