Certified Process Servers

The Chief Judge, through Court Administration, authorizes and regulates Certified Process Servers in the 12th Judicial Circuit. These individuals are responsible for serving initial non-enforceable civil process issued in any county within the 12th Judicial Circuit.

Services Provided

The purpose of the civil process is to provide notice to defendants and other interested persons that a judicial action or proceeding has been initiated. The court may not proceed with a judicial action/proceeding until delivery or process has been confirmed.

Court Administration

• Address: Judge Lynn N. Silvertooth Judicial Center
  2002 Ringling Blvd, 8th Floor
  Sarasota, Fl 34237
• Phone: (941) 861-7800

The Twelfth Judicial Circuit Court is now accepting applications for Certified Process Servers for the certification period of September 1, 2024 – August 31, 2025.

The application period runs July 1, 2024 – August 31, 2024. The application must be completed electronically online.

Applications will not be reviewed until full payment of the application fee is received. Your application and payment must be received by August 31, 2024, to be considered. Applicants will have until August 31 to correct any deficiencies with their online application.

Failure to renew properly and timely will result in a current process server being removed from the certified process server list and losing all standing as a certified process server in the Twelfth Judicial Circuit.

To complete the online application, you must first become a registered user. Important! If you have completed an application previously, and do not remember your user account information, please do not create a new account. Instead, please contact the site administrator to retrieve your account information.

Once registered, you may begin the application process.

New Applicants

In addition to the application fee, new applicants should be prepared to upload the following documents and provide an application fee of $220.00:

• Proof of completion of a service of process examination administered by the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Department.
• Three letters of recommendation attesting to the applicant’s sound moral character. One letter must be from an active member of the Florida Bar in good standing.
• $5,000 bond that expires no earlier than August 31, 2025, with Power of Attorney; and
• A photocopy of the front and back of your Florida driver’s license.

Renewal Applicants

In addition to the payment fee, renewal applicants^* should be prepared to upload the following documents and provide an application fee of $125.00:

• $5,000 bond that expires no earlier than August 31, 2025, with Power of Attorney; and
• A photocopy of the front and back of your Florida driver’s license.

^*If you are not on the current list of Certified Process Servers, you are not eligible to submit a renewal application. You must submit a new application.

The application fee can be paid online or by check or money order made payable to “Sarasota Board of County Commissioners.” Payment must be received by August 31, 2024.

Please review Chapter 48, Florida Statutes (2021), Sections 48.021 and 48.25-48.31 (the “Florida Certified Process Server Act”). See also, 12th Judicial Circuit Administrative Order 2022-06.2, dated 6/29/2022.