Florida Senate - 2016                                    SB 1432
       
       
        
       By Senator Stargel
       
       15-01521A-16                                          20161432__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to service of process; amending s.
    3         48.031, F.S.; expanding the locations at which
    4         substitute service of process may be made when such
    5         location is the only discoverable address for the
    6         person to be served; defining the terms “virtual
    7         office” and “executive office or mini suite”; amending
    8         ss. 49.011 and 49.021, F.S.; authorizing electronic
    9         service of process as an alternative to service of
   10         process by publication; amending s. 49.031, F.S.;
   11         defining the term “electronic”; conforming provisions
   12         to changes made by the act; amending ss. 49.041,
   13         49.051, and 49.061, F.S.; revising the information
   14         that must be included in a sworn statement for certain
   15         service of process; creating s. 49.13, F.S.; providing
   16         that a plaintiff is entitled to be granted electronic
   17         service of process under certain circumstances;
   18         creating s. 49.14, F.S.; providing the requirements
   19         for electronic service of process; providing an
   20         effective date.
   21          
   22  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   23  
   24         Section 1. Subsection (6) of section 48.031, Florida
   25  Statutes, is amended to read:
   26         48.031 Service of process generally; service of witness
   27  subpoenas.—
   28         (6)(a) If the only address for a person to be served, which
   29  is discoverable through public records, is a private mailbox, a
   30  virtual office, or an executive office or mini suite, substitute
   31  service may be made by leaving a copy of the process with the
   32  person in charge of the private mailbox, virtual office, or
   33  executive office or mini suite, but only if the process server
   34  determines that the person to be served maintains a mailbox, a
   35  virtual office, or an executive office or mini suite at that
   36  location.
   37         (b)For purposes of this subsection, the term “virtual
   38  office” means an office that provides communications services,
   39  such as telephone or facsimile services, and address services
   40  without providing dedicated office space, and where all
   41  communications are routed through a common receptionist. The
   42  term “executive office or mini suite” means an office that
   43  provides communications services, such as telephone and
   44  facsimile services, a dedicated office space, and other
   45  supportive services, and where all communications are routed
   46  through a common receptionist.
   47         Section 2. Section 49.011, Florida Statutes, is amended to
   48  read:
   49         49.011 Service of process by publication or electronic
   50  service; cases in which allowed.—Service of process by
   51  publication or electronic service, if so ordered by the court,
   52  may be made in any court on any party identified in s. 49.021 in
   53  any action or proceeding:
   54         (1) To enforce any legal or equitable lien or claim to any
   55  title or interest in real or personal property within the
   56  jurisdiction of the court or any fund held or debt owing by any
   57  party on whom process can be served within this state.
   58         (2) To quiet title or remove any encumbrance, lien, or
   59  cloud on the title to any real or personal property within the
   60  jurisdiction of the court or any fund held or debt owing by any
   61  party on whom process can be served within this state.
   62         (3) To partition real or personal property within the
   63  jurisdiction of the court.
   64         (4) For dissolution or annulment of marriage.
   65         (5) For the construction of any will, deed, contract, or
   66  other written instrument and for a judicial declaration or
   67  enforcement of any legal or equitable right, title, claim, lien,
   68  or interest thereunder.
   69         (6) To reestablish a lost instrument or record which has or
   70  should have its situs within the jurisdiction of the court.
   71         (7) In which a writ of replevin, garnishment, or attachment
   72  has been issued and executed.
   73         (8) In which any other writ or process has been issued and
   74  executed which places any property, fund, or debt in the custody
   75  of a court.
   76         (9) To revive a judgment by motion or scire facias.
   77         (10) For adoption.
   78         (11) In which personal service of process or notice is not
   79  required by the statutes or constitution of this state or by the
   80  Constitution of the United States.
   81         (12) In probate or guardianship proceedings in which
   82  personal service of process or notice is not required by the
   83  statutes or constitution of this state or by the Constitution of
   84  the United States.
   85         (13) For termination of parental rights pursuant to part
   86  VIII of chapter 39 or chapter 63.
   87         (14) For temporary custody of a minor child, under chapter
   88  751.
   89         (15) To determine paternity, but only as to the legal
   90  father in a paternity action in which another man is alleged to
   91  be the biological father, in which case it is necessary to serve
   92  process on the legal father in order to establish paternity with
   93  regard to the alleged biological father.
   94         Section 3. Section 49.021, Florida Statutes, is amended to
   95  read:
   96         49.021 Service of process by publication or electronic
   97  service, upon whom.—When Where personal service of process or,
   98  if appropriate, service of process under s. 48.194 cannot be
   99  had, service of process by publication or electronic service may
  100  be had upon any party, natural or corporate, known or unknown,
  101  including:
  102         (1) Any known or unknown natural person, and, when
  103  described as such, the unknown spouse, heirs, devisees,
  104  grantees, creditors, or other parties claiming by, through,
  105  under, or against any known or unknown person who is known to be
  106  dead or is not known to be either dead or alive.;
  107         (2) Any corporation or other legal entity, whether its
  108  domicile be foreign, domestic, or unknown, and whether dissolved
  109  or existing, including corporations or other legal entities not
  110  known to be dissolved or existing, and, when described as such,
  111  the unknown assigns, successors in interest, trustees, or any
  112  other party claiming by, through, under, or against any named
  113  corporation or legal entity.;
  114         (3) Any group, firm, entity, or persons who operate or do
  115  business, or have operated or done business, in this state,
  116  under a name or title which includes the word “corporation,”
  117  “company,” “incorporated,” “inc.,” or any combination thereof,
  118  or under a name or title which indicates, tends to indicate or
  119  leads one to think that the same may be a corporation or other
  120  legal entity.; and
  121         (4) All claimants under any of such parties.
  122  
  123  Unknown parties may be proceeded against exclusively or together
  124  with other parties.
  125         Section 4. Subsection (1) of section 49.031, Florida
  126  Statutes, is amended, and subsection (2) of that section is
  127  reordered and amended, to read:
  128         49.031 Sworn statement as condition precedent.—
  129         (1) As a condition precedent to service by publication or
  130  electronic service, a statement shall be filed in the action
  131  executed by the plaintiff, or the plaintiff’s agent or attorney,
  132  setting forth substantially the matters hereafter required,
  133  which statement may be contained in a verified pleading, or in
  134  an affidavit or other sworn statement.
  135         (2) As used in this chapter, the term:
  136         (c)(a)The word “Plaintiff” means any party in the action
  137  who is entitled to service of original process on any other
  138  party to the action or any person who may be brought in or
  139  allowed to come in as a party by any lawful means.
  140         (a)(b)The word “Defendant” means any party on whom service
  141  by publication or electronic service is authorized by this
  142  chapter, without regard to his or her designation in the
  143  pleadings or position in the action.
  144         (d)(c)The word “Publication” includes the posting of the
  145  notice of action as provided for in ss. 49.10(1)(b) and 49.11.
  146         (b)“Electronicmeans any electronic method of delivering
  147  notice to a defendant by electronic mail, social media, or other
  148  electronic means in which a reasonable expectation of delivery
  149  to the party can be ascertained.
  150         Section 5. Section 49.041, Florida Statutes, is amended to
  151  read:
  152         49.041 Sworn statement, natural person as defendant.—The
  153  sworn statement of the plaintiff, or his or her agent or
  154  attorney, for service of process by publication or electronic
  155  service against a natural person, must shall show:
  156         (1) That diligent search and inquiry have been made to
  157  discover the name, and residence, e-mail address, and social
  158  media accounts of such person, and that the same is set forth in
  159  said sworn statement as particularly as is known to the
  160  affiant.; and
  161         (2) Whether such person is over or under the age of 18
  162  years, if his or her age is known, or that the person’s age is
  163  unknown.; and
  164         (3) In addition to the above, that the residence of such
  165  person is, either:
  166         (a) Unknown to the affiant; or
  167         (b) In some state or country other than this state, stating
  168  said residence if known; or
  169         (c) In the state, but that he or she has been absent from
  170  the state for more than 60 days next preceding the making of the
  171  sworn statement, or conceals himself or herself so that process
  172  cannot be personally served, and that affiant believes that
  173  there is no person in the state upon whom service of process
  174  would bind said absent or concealed defendant.
  175         Section 6. Section 49.051, Florida Statutes, is amended to
  176  read:
  177         49.051 Sworn statement, corporation as defendant.—The sworn
  178  statement of the plaintiff, or his or her agent or attorney, for
  179  service of process by publication or electronic service against
  180  a corporation, must shall show:
  181         (1) That diligent search and inquiry have been made to
  182  discover the corporate defendant’s true name, domicile,
  183  principal place of business, website, e-mail addresses, social
  184  media accounts, and status as a (that is, whether foreign,
  185  domestic, or dissolved corporation) of the corporate defendant,
  186  and that the same is set forth in said sworn statement as
  187  particularly as is known to the affiant, and that diligent
  188  search and inquiry have also been made, to discover the names,
  189  and whereabouts, e-mail addresses, and social media accounts of
  190  all persons upon whom the service of process would bind the said
  191  corporation and that the same is specified as particularly as is
  192  known to the affiant.; and
  193         (2) Whether or not the corporation has ever qualified to do
  194  business in this state, unless shown to be a Florida
  195  corporation.; and
  196         (3) That all officers, directors, general managers,
  197  cashiers, resident agents, and business agents of the
  198  corporation, either:
  199         (a) Are absent from the state; or
  200         (b) Cannot be found within the state; or
  201         (c) Conceal themselves so that process cannot be served
  202  upon them so as to bind the said corporation; or
  203         (d) That their whereabouts are unknown to the affiant; or
  204         (e) That said officers, directors, general managers,
  205  cashiers, resident agents, and business agents of the
  206  corporation are unknown to affiant.
  207         Section 7. Section 49.061, Florida Statutes, is amended to
  208  read:
  209         49.061 Sworn statement, parties doing business under a
  210  corporate name as defendants.—The sworn statement of the
  211  plaintiff, or his or her agent or attorney, for service of
  212  process by publication or electronic service against parties who
  213  have or may have done business under a corporate name, must
  214  shall show:
  215         (1) The name under which the said parties have operated or
  216  done business.; and
  217         (2) That, after diligent search and inquiry, the affiant
  218  has been unable to ascertain whether or not the organization
  219  operating under the corporate said name was a corporation,
  220  either domestic or foreign.; and
  221         (3) The names, e-mail addresses, social media accounts, and
  222  places of residence, if known, of all persons known to have been
  223  interested in such organization, and whether or not other or
  224  unknown persons may have been interested in such organization;
  225  or that, after diligent search and inquiry, all persons
  226  interested in such organization are unknown to the affiant, and,
  227  unless all such persons are unknown to the affiant.,
  228         (4) That the known persons interested in such organization,
  229  either:
  230         (a) Are absent from this state; or
  231         (b) Cannot be found within this state; or
  232         (c) Conceal themselves so that process cannot be personally
  233  served upon them; or
  234         (d) That their whereabouts are unknown to the affiant.
  235         Section 8. Section 49.13, Florida Statutes, is created to
  236  read:
  237         49.13 Electronic service of process.—On filing a motion
  238  with the sworn statement attached as an exhibit and otherwise
  239  complying with the requirements of this chapter, the plaintiff
  240  is entitled to have an order from the judge granting electronic
  241  service of process. Electronic service of process may only be
  242  perfected by a trusted third party authorized to serve process
  243  as defined in s. 48.021.
  244         Section 9. Section 49.14, Florida Statutes, is created to
  245  read:
  246         49.14 Proof of electronic service of process.—Proof of the
  247  electronic delivery of service of process must be by affidavit
  248  of the person having knowledge of such electronic service. The
  249  affidavit must include or have attached a copy of the notice,
  250  must specify the dates that each form of electronic service was
  251  transmitted, and must otherwise comply with the requirements of
  252  law.
  253         Section 10. This act shall take effect July 1, 2016.