Process Serving, Recent Legislature Changes & Technological Advancements

In June 2019, Florida House Bill 91 was signed, sealed and delivered. One of the major changes in this Bill was the fact that process servers could now electronically sign their Returns of Service. This was a HUGE development. Prior to the signing of this Bill, only the Sheriff was allowed to electronically sign Returns, not private process servers (PPS).

Once this Bill was signed into effect, our software programmer went to work and built a feature into our software program and App which allowed Accurate Serve Process Servers to update jobs and sign Returns using their Smartphones. They could serve a paper and within minutes be able to sign the Return of Service (ROS). This sure does beat the old way of doing things which would consist of printing the Return, waiting for Server to report to the office to sign Return, then scan it, save it and email it.

This new development/advancement has been great for us here at Accurate Serve as well as our Clients. The quicker we can serve the paper and provide the ROS, then the happier our Clients will be. Well, what about an Affidavit of Service (AOS)? A notary can’t notarize a document when an electronic signature has been used, right? Well in June 2019, that was true. Fast forward 6 months, different story.

As of January 1, 2020, current Florida notaries have had the opportunity to add remote online notary (RON) duties to their current commission. In order to be approved, the following criteria must be met:

• Complete a course
• Obtain Bond
• Obtain Errors & Omissions insurance
• Select a RON Service Provider
• Complete a form
• Pay a Fee to the State

There are very specific duties that a RON Service Provider must undertake. The technology they utilize must meet requirements set forth in Chapter 117, Florida Statutes as well as Chapter 1N-7.001, Florida Administrative Code. Some duties include:

• Facilitating 2-way video conferencing for online notary and Affiant (record video and store for 10 years)
• Attach digital signatures/notary’s stamp and signature of Server

Well, just like building electronic signatures into our software program, our programmer stepped up to the cleanup spot this time and hit a grand slam. Our software program, Paper Tracker, applied to be a RON Service Provider in the State of Florida.  After that, the RON process was built into our software and after months of testing, it is now live for use. We have successfully electronically signed and notarized over a dozen Affidavits in our Tampa Bay offices this past week and now we are making the feature live in all 38 Accurate Serve locations in Florida.

When changes happen, we adjust. When advancements need to made, we get to work.  Bust most importantly, we serve papers and we serve them quickly and accurately. We pride ourselves in service of process. We are experts in the field and are committed to the industry.

Just to let you know, we opened an office in Denver, CO in July 2020. We open an office in Detroit, MI in September 2020. And we open an office in Atlanta, GA in October 2020.

We’re always working, we’re always open, and we are always doing our best to ensure your papers are served in a timely fashion and according to State Statutes.

Warmest regards,
Beau Charlet

Accurate Serve of Denver is here to handle all your service of process needs.

We are here in downtown Denver ready to affect service on any subjects. Your firm would only need to send us an email with docs attached and we can get you a quote and get your job out for service!

We regularly affect service at the large corporate Registered Agents. CT Corporation is located here in Denver.

We can go to Littleton Co. and affect service on Corporation Service company as well!

What about service of process on the State of Colorado? We can direct our servers to affect process at any government entity in Denver or anywhere around the state!

That’s not all!! We have an extensive network nationwide! If you are looking for a process server in Colorado, or anywhere else just send us an email and we will be happy to take great care of you and your business.

– Your Accurate Serve Denver Team

Need our help?
Call (303) 501-7121
or
Email serve@accurateservedenver.com

Life is getting back to normal, slowly.  Kids are back in school, whether it be at home, brick and mortar or a combo. Sports are back, I have been glued to the U.S. Open and can’t wait for football to start. Just want to say thanks to everyone who does their part to keep themselves safe as well as those they interact with in their respective bubbles.  We’ll all get through this together and we all must do our part.

August 2020 Job Count – 5,057
Average Number of Days from Receiving Paper to Paper Being Served* – 4.25

*This includes jobs that may be on hold or waiting for new info.  There is no way to take those jobs out of the calculation.  So, if a job is placed on hold for 2 weeks, that’s 14 days on that job which factors in to this average. So, we’re even better than what the eyes see, LOL. Some papers get served same day, some next day and some take multiple attempts/addresses to effect service. All we do all day and every day is serve papers. We’re good at it and we love what we do. Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to continue to serve your papers.

Lions, Tigers but Not Bears….Not Yet at Least

Accurate Serve® is over the moon excited to announce another office opening in yet another state!! Accurate Serve® of Detroit opens its doors THIS September!! Introducing new Team Member and Owner/Operator of the Detroit office, say hello to Erik Devlin. Erik has served in a different role with AS the past few years, no pun intended, because he is and has been an awesome process server the past few years!! Erik attended and graduated from Accurate Serve® corporate franchise training in August after working closely with and at multiple Accurate Serve® office locations in July and August.

After serving voluminous amounts of papers for the AS team, Erik saw the opportunity to own his own office and he seized it!!  Erik will be the 3rd process server working for Accurate Serve® who has taken the leap to become an owner of an Accurate Serve® office. The previous two Process Servers turned Owners, Brennan Fogarty and Brandon Muscato, have worked out well and we look forward to Erik growing within the organization too and becoming a solid team member for the Accurate Serve® family.

Warmest regards,
Beau Charlet

At Accurate Serve® Gainesville, we are always concerned about the health and safety of our clients, the people who we service, and our employees. This is even more important to us as we all work to navigate the “new normal” that exists during the middle of a global pandemic.

Accurate Serve® Gainesville continues to provide Contactless Service to our clients. All requests for service through AccurateServe® Gainesville may be completed via email, phone call, or US postal service. Our process servers wear PPE while delivering your important court documents, so that all parties can feel safe when they receive your information. Those served are not required to provide signatures; instead, our servers provide detailed descriptions when verifying service by using our process server app, so that procedures are touchless from start to finish. Accurate Serve® Gainesville will be here for you our clients, throughout the pandemic.

COVID numbers continue to fluctuate from county to county in our state, but scientists predict that they are expected to rise as students re-enter their classrooms and flu season approaches. Many K-12 learners in public, private and charter schools, as well as scholars at Santa Fe College and the University of Florida are returning to their respective campuses this fall, so we want to urge our clients, partners, and everyone in the Accurate Serve® family to stay safe. The influx of flu season is just around the corner, so please be sure to follow the CDC guidelines for safety and social distancing during this pandemic. Please stay safe!

– Your Accurate Serve Gainesville Team

Need our help?
Call (352) 553-2009

or
Email jared@accurateservegainesville.com

Kids are going back to school soon, if not already.  Please visit the CDC website and view the resources they have to ensure you, your child and all those they interact with remain safe as schools open back up.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/index.html

July 2020 Job Count – 4,819
Average Number of Days from Receiving Paper to Paper Being Served* – 4.2

*This includes jobs that may be on hold or waiting for new info.  There is no way to take those jobs out of the calculation.  So, if a job is placed on hold for 2 weeks, that’s 14 days on that job which factors in to this average. So, we’re even better than what the eyes see, LOL. Some papers get served same day, some next day and some take multiple attempts/addresses to effect service. All we do all day and every day is serve papers. We’re good at it and we love what we do. Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to continue to serve your papers.

From the East Coast to the West Coast, We Got You!

It’s official, Accurate Serve of Denver opened its doors to the public on July 6, 2020.  We are beyond excitement as our first true nationwide office is open for business.  Brennan Fogarty, current franchisee, it this market’s owner.  He partnered up with Monte Phillips, who will be the Office Manager & Head Process Server.  Well, you all know Brennan, but who’s Monte?

Monte is a childhood school friend of Founder, Beau Charlet.  Monte made the move to Denver in 2019.  Prior to that, he lived in the Miami, FL area.  Monte reached out to Beau about process serving and Accurate Serve while in Florida.  After he made the move to Colorado, he once again reached out and the two started talking about how to bring Accurate Serve to the west coast.  Beau brainstormed and spoke to his franchise team and then put Brennan and Monte in touch and then that’s when history was made.

Brennan has proven over the years how well he embodies the Accurate Serve mentality, which includes hard work, dedication to the profession and Accurate Serve Clients. In addition to Owner and Office Manager, the team at Accurate Serve Denver is here to answer your calls, emails, texts, FB Messages, etc. Reach out to us and we’ll be here to take care of your process serving needs.

The new website is: www.accurateservedenver.com

Please like their FB page:  https://m.facebook.com/Accurate-Serve-Denver-104329644680582

I will also request that you check out the updated franchise website: www.theaccurateservefranchise.com

Lastly, we are looking to explode all over the U.S.  Be on the lookout for new markets opening in: Detroit, Atlanta, Dallas, Washington D.C., Boston, Baltimore, Chicago, Las Vegas.

Warmest regards,
Beau Charlet

2020 has already been one for the books… literally lets close this thing and open 2021! Just kidding, as unpredictable as this year has been we are looking forward to the rise that will come from this pandemic. Everyday life has and will continue to change but when it comes to hiring Accurate Serve for your process serving needs you can rely on having the same easy process.

You have two, easy and great, options to send us new work. First, just email us the documents for service including everything that needs to be served to the subject(s). Our team will quickly confirm receipt of this email along with any special instructions or information you may provide. The second option is to use the send work tab at www.accurateserveportstlucie.com, or your local offices site. Here you have the ability to upload all of the documents electronically and type in the client, case, and servee details manually. Once uploaded our office is able to accept the job and can quickly process the documents for our server to begin attempts.

Our fees cover four attempts at service for one address. Making additional attempts or rerouting a job is never an issue, no matter where the reroute location is. Our team will keep you updated on all attempts and service details via email. Once completed returns/affidavits will be emailed to you, if requested we mail the originals.

In the midst of all the change, allow us to keep some normalcy in your life with quick, easy and efficient process serving on any cases, anywhere.

Fun fact on Sub Service according to Fl Statute. The statute below reads that you can leave documents at his or her place of abode to any person residing therein 15 or older in age. One of the meanings for Abode is an extended or temporary stay. People who may take extended vacations or are currently staying with family or friends can still be sub served at alternate locations as long as it is confirmed that this location is where they are sleeping/currently living or staying.

48.031 Service of process generally; service of witness subpoenas.—

(1)(a) Service of original process is made by delivering a copy of it to the person to be served with a copy of the complaint, petition, or other initial pleading or paper or by leaving the copies at his or her usual place of abode with any person residing therein who is 15 years of age or older and informing the person of their contents. Minors who are or have been married shall be served as provided in this section.

Abode: noun

a place in which a person resides; residence; dwelling; habitation; home.

an extended stay in a place; sojourn.

– Your Accurate Serve Port St. Lucie Team

Need our help?
Call 772-236-7214

or
Email brandon@accurateserveportstlucie.com

June 2020 Job Count – 5,027
Average Number of Days from Receiving Paper to Paper Being Served* – 4.5

*This includes jobs that may be on hold or waiting for new info.  There is no way to take those jobs out of the calculation.  So, if a job is placed on hold for 2 weeks, that’s 14 days on that job which factors in to this average. So, we’re even better than what the eyes see, LOL. Some papers get served same day, some next day and some take multiple attempts/addresses to effect service. All we do all day and every day is serve papers. We’re good at it and we love what we do. Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to continue to serve your papers.

Staying Ahead of the Competition

What is a RON? 
RON = Remote Online Notary

As of January 1, 2020, current Florida notaries have had the opportunity to add remote online notary duties to their current commission. In order to be approved, the following criteria must be met:

• Complete a course
• Obtain Bond
• Obtain Errors & Omissions insurance
• Select a RON Service Provider
• Complete a form
• Pay a Fee to the State

When this add-on first became a possibility, we looked into it, but did not move forward. The real challenge was selecting a RON Service provider.

There are very specific duties that a RON Service Provider must undertake.  The technology they utilize must meet requirements set forth in Chapter 117, Florida Statutes as well as Chapter 1N-7.001, Florida Administrative Code.  Some duties include:

• Facilitating video conferencing for online notary (record video and store for 10 years)
• Attach digital signatures/notary’s stamp and signature

As we all know, our lives changed in early March. The pandemic hit hard and a lot of office staff started working from homes. Our Servers started printing more assignments from their home computers to lessen interaction and travel. Banks closed lobbies, so getting something notarized from your bank became almost impossible. That notary you knew in the office next to you is no longer there, working from their home.

We had to come up with a solution and quick. Luckily our software programmer stepped up to the plate and got to work!! For the past several months, our software programmer has been working on adding RON functionality for jobs we serve for your office.

All of our Servers in the field use an App on their smart phones or devices.  They serve a job and update the App.  You, the Client, get an email notification with the info. At this point, office staff will review info and send the Return of Service to Server to e-sign from the field. Most Servers do so fairly quickly.

Now, if an Affidavit of Service (needs a notary) is required over a Return of Service (no notary needed), we would print the Affidavit and then have the Server report to the office to sign, so the office staff can notarize. Well, soon, we will be able to send the Affidavit to Server via our App, and then they can calendar a time to video conference with an office worker, who has added their RON via the State, and digitally sign/notarize the Affidavit of Service.

I’m not sure if you can tell from my message but I am pretty excited about this new development! Staying ahead of the competition in regards to technology and offering better service to our clients is how we operate and that’s why we’re YOUR PROCESS SERVING COMPANY.

Warmest regards,
Beau Charlet

Greetings from the Accurate Serve Ocala office. This time last year we talked about timeless classics and service in the Summer.  Well, as everyone knows by now, this summer will be unlike any we have ever seen before. Coming of the heels of sheltering in place during a global pandemic a few things will be different during the summer of 2020.

Places of Business

Some employers have elected to keep many of their staff in a work from home capacity indefinitely. Unfortunately, some business also may not recover from the shut down and may not re-open or re-hire an employee we are trying to serve.  We can locate these employees via Skip Trace and serve them home (where we can serve a co-resident) and not at their place of employment where Personal service is required.

Service at a Residence

As COVID-19 concerns have caused some summer school, summer camps to close this summer as well as the cancellation of some summer vacations ☹. Our odds increase on residential serves with co-residents over the age of 15 being home and able to accept service.

Foreclosures, Evictions post COVID Shut Down & Our old Friend Mother Nature

Many counties are slowly lifting some of their moratoriums on evictions and foreclosures while others are extending. Compounding this, June 1st marks the first day of Hurricane season which could also mean FEMA holds. Accurate serve offices check in with their local court clerks often with regards to these restrictions and will keep you informed if this would affect the service of your documents.

We are ready, willing, and able to address all the above and any additional process serving needs you may have.

– Your Accurate Serve Ocala Team

Need our help?
Call 352-278-2188
or
Email jared@accurateserveocala.com

May 2020 Job Count – 4,487
Average Number of Days from Receiving Paper to Paper Being Served* – 4.73

*This includes jobs that may be on hold or waiting for new info.  There is no way to take those jobs out of the calculation.  So, if a job is placed on hold for 2 weeks, that’s 14 days on that job which factors in to this average. So, we’re even better than what the eyes see, LOL. Some papers get served same day, some next day and some take multiple attempts/addresses to effect service. All we do all day and every day is serve papers. We’re good at it and we love what we do. Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to continue to serve your papers.

Opening Back Up

As a good chunk of Americans return to work this week, we all prepare for the unknown. As we prepare for life getting back to normal, we all need to adjust what our normal is. In the short term, that means to take extra precautions all the time, especially when in public. Wear masks, wash hands often, keep your distance, sanitize, wear gloves, etc. Now, no one wants to wear masks day in day out long term, but right now, it’s what we need to do to protect ourselves and others and slow the spread.

One thing we don’t want to slow is the spread of Accurate Serve because as I always say, the more locations we have, the better we can serve you and at a lower cost. A few months ago, I had a great article that needed to be scrapped or postponed due to Covid-19. We were set to open our newest location last month, Accurate Serve of Denver, but travel plans/office site selection, etc. has been postponed.  No fear though, we will get it up and running this year and we will be sure to let you know of the grand opening.

Adding to the above, Accurate Serve will be participating in a nationwide virtual franchise show this month. We hope to meet a few qualified individuals who embody the great work ethic that has been established across the boards at every Accurate serve location and maybe we will be able to plan a few more office openings later this year and beyond.

We are here for you during this crazy time, we did not shut down because we know the important role we play in the legal community. Our Servers are working tirelessly to ensure your documents are served quickly and accurately. Take the time to think of the challenges they face and the risk they are taking to keeping this process serving going and if there are any issues, delays, etc. due to pandemic, we apologize in advance but rest assured, our track record speaks for itself and just know every Owner/Operator is dedicated to the profession and serving their Clients.

Happy May and Have a Great Day!!

Warmest regards,
Beau Charlet  

Greetings from our team here in Daytona, Palm Coast & Titusville!

We hope everyone is doing well and staying safe during these uncertain times. Our team here has been working remotely from home since this pandemic started and everything is running smoother than anticipated. Some of the things we did were purchase printers and reams of paper along with other office supplies and sent them out to our servers so they would not have to meet our offices daily. This saves our servers time and gas which also helps us practice social distancing. That being said, we recommend you e-mailing us all the documents for service instead of mailing us originals(unless you have to), to save us from coming into the office.

We also wanted to point out that since a majority of people right now are working from home, furloughed from work and home from school, this is the perfect time to take advantage and send those papers for service! I know it’s a bad thing to say but our servers have fully taken advantage of everybody being home and our success rates of going out and serving on the first, if not the second attempt have been remarkable.
Although we are unsure how long this pandemic is going to last and when things will be back to normal, we hope that you and your team, along with your family are doing well. Stay safe and let us know if you need anything!

– Accurate Serve Daytona/Palm Coast/Titusville

Need our help?
Call 386-569-8475
or
Email josh@accurateservedaytonabeach.com

• Set a schedule and stick to it
• Designate an area as a workspace (if you have more than 1 child, make sure each has their own space)
• Take breaks
• Understand that each child processes info and learns differently, so be patient

April 2020 Job Count – 4,088
Average Number of Days from Receiving Paper to Paper Being Served* – 3.9

*This includes jobs that may be on hold or waiting for new info.  There is no way to take those jobs out of the calculation.  So, if a job is placed on hold for 2 weeks, that’s 14 days on that job which factors in to this average. So, we’re even better than what the eyes see, LOL. Some papers get served same day, some next day and some take multiple attempts/addresses to effect service. All we do all day and every day is serve papers. We’re good at it and we love what we do. Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to continue to serve your papers.