Civil Law

Anyone interested in becoming a certified process server in the Third Judicial Circuit should carefully review this information page, Administrative Order No. 2024-005, and the application packet.

• The current contact information for Court Administration in the Third Judicial Circuit:

4424 NW American Lane, Suite 101
Lake City, Florida 32055
Phone: (386) 754-7107 Fax: (386) 466-3356
Designated Employee: Lisa Butler, Human Resources Analyst II

• Fees and Method of Payment:

o The initial certification fee is $100.00. The renewal certification fee is $75.00.  These fees are nonrefundable and are due each year upon initial certification or  renewal.
o The certification fee must be paid by cashier’s check or money order and made  out to “State of Florida”.
o The applicant will need to provide an annual criminal history background  investigation through FDLE at the applicant’s expense. The following is the  FDLE website: http://www.fdle.state.fl.us.  (Request criminal history) The certified results must be mailed to Lisa Butler at the mailing address above.

• New civil process server applicants are required to complete a class and exam through The Florida Association of Professional Process Servers (FAPPS.) The website is as follows: https://www.fapps.org/afpscourseschedule.aspx.   Here you will find the dates and times that classes are available. For new applicants, the 16-hour course will be mandatory, and for annual renewals, the 4-hour continuing education course will be mandatory. Both are available to be taken by Zoom.

• A completed application packet should include (1) the four-page application, (2) the Statement of Policy Regarding Conduct of Certified Process Servers, (3) the Certified Process Server Agreement, (4) the Certificate of Good Conduct, and (5) the certification fee.

• For new certifications, the applicant can mail, or hand deliver to the address listed above, the following application materials: application, certification fee and passport photos. (Certified results from the FDLE criminal background history must be mailed to Lisa Butler at the mailing address above)

• Once a new applicant has completed their FAPPS class, the certificate needs to be forwarded to this office along with a Bond naming “Administrative Office of the Courts, Third Judicial Circuit” as the Obligee in the amount of $5,000.00. When all required documents have been submitted, the certified civil process server will be sworn in, and a badge and an order signed by the Chief Judge will be issued.

• For annual renewals, each civil process server must submit the renewal fee, updated bond, updated passport photo, yearly FDLE background investigation report and proof of the required 4-hour continuing education course from FAPPS.

• If you have any questions about the Certified Process Server Program, please direct those questions to Lisa Butler, at the address or phone number listed above.