We know that navigating legal service of process, especially when it involves insurance companies and state regulations, can raise a lot of questions. That’s why we’ve compiled answers to the most common inquiries to help you gain the clarity and confidence you need for all your legal process services. If you don’t see your question here, feel free to reach out. We’re always happy to help!
Substitute Service of Process
For assistance with substitute service, contact:
Vause’s Process Service
📍 P.O. Box 1777, Tallahassee, FL 32302
📞 (850) 656-2605
🌐 www.vpservice.com
If submitting by mail or in person:
- Include two copies of the summons and complaint.
- Add a cover letter citing the specific statute (e.g., §48.161 or §48.181).
- Coordinate with Vause’s team for proper handling and delivery.
Vause’s Process Service will:
- Review your documents for compliance.
- Serve the Secretary of State or other designated agent as required.
- Provide you with proof of service and status updates via email.
Yes. Pricing depends on the type of service, location, and urgency. You can request a quote by emailing office@vpservice.com
You can submit documents electronically via vpservice.com, or contact us directly to coordinate service. Required documents typically include:
- Two copies of the court-issued summons (with Clerk’s signature and seal).
- A cover letter showing the statute number under which you are serving.
- A copy of the complaint.
- Proof of attempted service (if applicable).
- The Sunbiz entity number (if serving a business).
Substitute service is permitted under Chapter 48 of the Florida Statutes, including:
- When the defendant is a nonresident or out-of-state individual doing business in Florida.
- When personal service has been attempted but failed.
- In certain cases involving businesses or registered agents.
Substitute service allows legal documents to be served through an authorized third party when a defendant cannot be personally served, especially in cases involving nonresidents or businesses operating in Florida.
Process Service
You will receive an email notification that your service is complete. Once we receive the Return of Service, it will be emailed to you immediately. You may also check the service status by logging in to your client portal: Service of Process Status.
You will receive an email notification that your service is complete. Once we receive the Return of Service, it will be emailed to you immediately. You may also check the service status by logging in to your client portal: Service of Process Status. You may also check the service status by logging in to your client portal: Service of Process Status.
If the subject is evasive or has moved, we can provide skip tracing services to locate a new address and complete the service. You can submit your address verification request by clicking here.
We pride ourselves on speed and efficiency. First attempts on routine local serves are typically made within 48 to 72 hours of receipt, depending on server availability. Rush services are made within 24 hours and same-day services are made within 4 to 8 hours of receipt.
You may submit your request online at: Online Submission or send to office@vpservice.com with a PDF copy of the documents you wish to be served along with any special instructions.
Court Filing
Service through the CFO is required when initiating legal action (e.g., summons, complaints, subpoenas) against an insurance company registered in Florida. This does not apply to insurance agencies or groups
Our fees are competitive and based on the type of filing (electronic vs. in-person) and urgency. Please contact us for a free, no-obligation quote tailored to your needs.
We will notify you immediately with the clerk’s reason for rejection. Our team will assist you in making the necessary corrections and will promptly resubmit the document.
You can securely send documents via email to office@vpservice.com or contact us for access to our secure client portal.
Standard e-filings are typically processed and submitted within 24 hours of receipt. We also offer expedited and rush services for urgent matters.
Division of Corporate Filings
All we need to get started is your company’s name or the document number assigned by the state and the PDF of documents to be filed. We will then confirm the information on file and ask you to verify any necessary changes.
The deadline to file is May 1st of every year. Filing after this date will automatically result in a $400 late fee.
The Annual Report is a mandatory filing that confirms or updates your business entity’s information on the state’s records, such as your address, registered agent, and list of officers or directors. It is required to maintain an “active status” with the Division of Corporations.
Document Retrieval
Our pricing is transparent and competitive. It typically includes a service fee plus any costs required by the court or agency for copying. Please contact us for a free, no-obligation quote for your specific needs.
We offer flexible delivery options. You can receive your documents as scanned PDFs via a secure email or download link, as physical copies sent by mail/courier, or both.
Turnaround times vary depending on the jurisdiction, the age of the case, and whether the records are stored physically or electronically. We prioritize speed and will provide you with an estimated completion time when you place your order.
The more information you can provide, the faster we can process your request. Typically, we need the county/jurisdiction, the case number, the names of the parties involved, and a description of the specific document(s) you need.
CFO Service
Use the insurer’s declarations page or search via:
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- Sunbiz.org
- Florida Office of Insurance Regulation https://companysearch.myfloridacfo.gov/
- Incorrect names (e.g., “State Farm” instead of “State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company”) will result in rejected service, therefore we highly recommended that you
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Only initial service documents—summons, complaints, and subpoenas are accepted. The CFO does not forward pre-suit notices, correspondence, or follow-up filings unless ordered by the court.
The CFO’s office stores the documents in their digital files then sends the information to the insurance company. A proof of service is returned to the attorney listed on the summons.
Simply provide Vause’s Process Service with all your legal service documents in a PDF format, then email the documents to office@vpservice.com with clear instructions. We will confirm receipt and take immediate action. Paper submissions, email, fax, or in-person delivery are not accepted by the CFO.
Simply provide our office with a PDF file of the following documents and we will handle your service from there:
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- A copy of the original summons with case number and court validation
- One copy of the complaint and any exhibits, as well as other documents you wish to be served
- We provide the $15 filing fee for you which is then added to your final invoice
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- The CFO does not accept service by mail, email, fax, or in person
- This process applies only to insurance companies, not to agencies or insurance groups
- Serving documents directly to an insurer may result in invalid service, causing delays and legal complications
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Address Verification
Our fees are competitive and are based on the complexity of the search required. We offer flat-rate pricing for most standard searches beginning at $75 for new requests and $60 for requests where we have been attempting service. You can submit your address verification request by clicking here.
Once we have verified the best possible address, we will provide you with a clear, concise report. As a full-service process serving firm, we can then seamlessly transition to serving your legal documents at the newly located address. This creates a single, efficient workflow to keep your case moving forward without delay.
Absolutely. This is a cornerstone of our business. All searches are conducted for legally permissible purposes, such as service of process, and operate in strict compliance with federal regulations including the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) and the Driver’s Privacy Protection Act (DPPA).
Most of our standard locate searches are completed within 24 to 72 business hours. More complex cases, such as those involving a common name or a subject who is actively evasive, may require additional time. We will always communicate the expected timeframe with you.
While no locate service can offer a 100% guarantee due to the dynamic nature of data, we have an extremely high success rate. We utilize professional-grade, multi-source databases—not cheap internet searches—to provide the most probable current address based on the latest available information. We stand by the quality of our data.
To provide the most accurate results, we ask for as much information as you have. The most critical pieces are the subject’s full legal name and their last-known address. Additional details like a date of birth (DOB), the last four digits of a Social Security Number (SSN), or a previous address can significantly increase the speed and accuracy of the search.
The terms are often used interchangeably. A simple address verification confirms if a subject is still associated with a known address. Skip tracing is the more in-depth process of locating a new, current address for an individual who has moved. Our comprehensive locate service covers both scenarios to provide you with the best available address information.
