Welcome
The members of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Civil Unit carry out the Sheriff’s statutory responsibility for the service of process and execution of writs. These judicial process documents originate from the courts, governmental agencies and private attorneys in Florida and throughout the United States.
Please note the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is separate from the Clerk of Court. If you need to speak with the Duval County Clerk of Court, you may reach them at 904.255.2000.
In addition, this unit also enforces levies and conducts Sheriff’s sales to aid in the collection of money judgements.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office can only serve process in Duval County.
For process that is outside of the guidelines established in Chapter 48 of the Florida State Statute and the Rules of Criminal and Civil Procedure you will need to hire a Duval County Special Process Server.
Please note: The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Civil Unit does not provide legal advice or assist in the preparation of documents.
Helpful Links
How to Mail in or Drop off Documents
Mailing In Documents
Please address your envelope:
Attention: Civil Unit, 501 E. Bay Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202
(Please note the mailing address is different than the Civil Unit Window location.)
All documents sent from out of state will only be served under Florida State Statute and the Florida Rules of Criminal and Civil Procedure. If you are sending documents that must be served under your state statute, you will need to hire a Duval County Special Process Server. Additionally, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office will only complete our agency's return of service affidavit, we will not complete any other return of service.
The party requesting service of process must furnish to the sheriff the original process, a certified copy of the process, or an electronic copy of the process, which was signed and certified by the Clerk of Court. A second copy of your primary document and one copy of your pleadings are required as well. For example: if you have a summons and complaint; you will need two summonses and one copy of your complaint.
Cases that were filed in Duval, Clay or Nassau County, Florida, only the service packet for the person being served is required. For example: if you have a summons and complaint; you will need one copy of the summons and one copy of the complaint.
With the exceptions of a subpoena or a motion, all documents must be signed and sealed by the Clerk of Court or signed by a Judge. If your document is a motion it will need to be filed with the Clerk of Court prior to mailing. If your state does not sign and seal documents or file them until after service is completed; that fact will need to be provided in written form by your Clerk of Court or a written copy of your State Statute provided so this may be verified.
If your documents were not filed in Duval, Clay or Nassau County, Florida, then a self-addressed envelope large enough to fit all your documents, that has the same amount of postage it cost to send your documents will be required. If your case was filed in Duval, Clay or Nassau County, Florida, then your return of service will be e-filed with the Clerk of Court. Companies sending documents on behalf of filers no matter what county or state the case was filed in will need to send a self-addressed envelope large enough to fit all the documents. The envelope must have the same amount of postage it cost to send the documents.
If your document requires service to a business then the document must state if the business is a Corporation, LLC, Partnership or DBA. If the business is a Partnership, then one name of a partner is required. If the business is a DBA, then one business owners name is required. This information is required in order to properly serve the document under Florida State Statute.
Your document must state who is being served and an address for service; there can only be one individual or business to serve per document. Please note the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office does not serve unknown individuals or tenants. The only exception is a Writ of Possession that has an unknown in the case style. Your unknown individual or unknown tenant documents will need to be directed to a Duval County Special Process Server for service. We are also unable to serve attorneys on behalf of their client.
Please ensure the name and address for service on your eviction summons is complete and accurate; including the zip code. There will be an additional $40.00 Sheriff’s Fee per person to be served if the summons has an incorrect address for service.
If your document is a subpoena, please note the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office only serves First Degree Felony subpoenas and certain Civil Subpoenas. Please see Florida State Statute 48.031 (3)(a) for details. The level of felony will need to be noted on the subpoena or a memo. Due to the volume and time frames of these documents your subpoena will need to be received by the Civil Unit a minimum of fifteen days (holidays excluded) prior to the court date.
If your document has a court date, it’s strongly encouraged without delay the documents be sent as soon as they are issued by the court. However, all court date documents with the exception of subpoenas will need to be received by the Civil Unit eleven business days (holidays excluded) prior to the court date.
All fees for service are governed by Florida State Statute 30.231 and are non-refundable. Fees are collected according to document type and per party to be served. For example: a summons and complaint is $40.00 per person to serve. If you are a City or State Agency, each document is $20.00 per person to serve.
If in addition to your documents, you have a notice or order that has a court date then there is an additional Sheriff’s Fee required for the service of that document. For example; if you have a summons and complaint along with a notice with a court date then your cost will be $80.00. If you are a City or State Agency, your cost will be $40.00. As previously stated, please ensure proper copies of your documents are provided.
If your document is a Writ of any kind, the cost for service is $90.00 per person. Writs of Attachment require an information sheet with the person’s name, race, sex and date of birth is required as well. If your Writ of Attachment was not issued in Duval County proof from your local Sheriff’s Office that the Writ of Attachment has been entered into their local database is required. If you are a City or State Agency, the cost is $70.00. If you have an order or notice with a court date in addition to your writ, there is an additional $40.00, or $20.00 Sheriff’s Fee required for the service of those documents.
If you have been declared indigent for cost your indigency form is required. If a disposition was reached on your case after you were declared indigent, a new indigency form, approved, signed, and certified by your Clerk of Court will be required.
If you are an attorney or appointed counsel representing an indigent client, a copy of the order signed by the Judge declaring the client indigent is required.
Mailed payments can only be in the form of a money order, cashier’s check or business check. The payment must be written out to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, abbreviations such as JSO are not permitted.
Documents for service not properly issued or those with incorrect fees or incorrect payee on the check will be returned.
For additional detail on fees for service please see the “Schedule of Civil Process Fees” section.
Bringing In Documents
The Civil Unit Public Window is located inside the Duval County Courthouse at 501 W. Adams Street, 5th Floor, Room 5141, Jacksonville, FL 32202. The window is open Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., excluding holidays.
The party requesting service of process must furnish to the sheriff the original process, a certified copy of the process, or an electronic copy of the process, which was signed and certified by the clerk of court. A second copy of your primary document and one copy of your pleadings are required as well.
For example: if you have a summons and complaint; you will need to send two summonses and one copy of your complaint.
Cases that were filed in Duval, Clay or Nassau County Florida, only the service packet for the person being served is required. For example: if you have a summons and complaint; you will need one copy of the summons and one copy of the complaint.
With the exceptions of a subpoena or a motion, all documents must be signed and sealed by the Clerk of Court or signed by a Judge. If your document is a motion it will need to be filed with the Clerk of Court prior to bringing it for service. If your state does not sign and seal documents or file them until after service is completed; that fact will need to be provided in written form by your Clerk of Court or a written copy of your State Statute provided so this may be verified.
If your documents were not filed in Duval, Clay or Nassau County, Florida, then a self-addressed envelope large enough to fit all your documents, that has the same amount of postage it cost to send your documents will be required. If your case was filed in Duval, Clay or Nassau County, Florida, then your return of service will be e-filed with the Clerk of Court. Companies sending documents on behalf of filers no matter what county or state the case was filed in will need to send a self-addressed envelope large enough to fit all the documents. The envelope must have the same amount of postage it cost to send the documents.
If your documents were filed out of the state of Florida; please note all documents will only be served under Florida State Statute and the Florida Rules of Criminal and Civil Procedure. If your documents must be served under your state statute, you will need to hire a Duval County Special Process Sever.
If your document requires service to a business then the document must state if the business is a Corporation, LLC, Partnership or DBA. If the business is a Partnership, then one name of a partner is required. If the business is a DBA, then one business owners name is required. This information is required in order to properly serve the document under Florida State Statute.
Your document must state who is being served and an address for service; there can only be one individual or business to serve per document. Please note the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office does not serve unknown individuals or tenants. The only exception is a Writ of Possession that has an unknown in the case style. Your unknown individual or unknown tenant documents will need to be directed to a Duval County Special Process Server for service. We are also unable to serve attorneys on behalf of their client.
Please ensure the name and address for service on your eviction summons is complete and accurate; including the zip code. There will be an additional $40.00 Sheriff’s Fee per person to be served if the summons has an incorrect address for service.
If your document is a subpoena, please note the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office only serves First Degree Felony subpoenas and certain Civil Subpoenas. Please see Florida State Statute 48.031 (3)(a) for details. The level of felony will need to be noted on the subpoena or a memo. Due to the volume and time frames of these documents your subpoena will need to be received by the Civil Unit a minimum of fifteen days (holidays excluded) prior to the court date.
If your document has a court date, it’s strongly encouraged without delay the documents be sent as soon as they are issued by the court. However, all court date documents with the exception of subpoenas will need to be received by the Civil Unit eleven business days (holidays excluded) prior to the court date.
All fees for service are governed by Florida State Statute 30.231 and are non-refundable. Fees are collected according to document type and per party to be served. For example: a summons and complaint is $40.00 per person to serve. If you are a City or State Agency, each document is $20.00 per person to serve.
If in addition to your documents, you have a notice or order that has a court date then there is an additional Sheriff’s Fee required for the service of that document. For example; if you have a summons and complaint along with a notice with a court date then your cost will be $80.00. If you are a City or State Agency, your cost will be $40.00. As previously stated, please ensure proper copies of your documents are provided.
If your document is a Writ of any kind, the cost for service is $90.00 per person. Writs of Attachment require an information sheet with the person’s name, race, sex and date of birth is required as well. If your Writ of Attachment was not issued in Duval County proof from your local Sheriff’s Office that the Writ of Attachment has been entered into their local database is required. If you are a City or State Agency, the cost is $70.00. If you have an order or notice with a court date in addition to your writ, there is an additional $40.00, or $20.00 Sheriff’s Fee required for the service of those documents.
If you have been declared indigent for cost your indigency form is required. If a disposition was reached on your case after you were declared indigent, a new indigency form, approved, signed, and certified by your Clerk of Court will be required.
If you are an attorney or appointed counsel representing an indigent client a copy of the order signed by the Judge declaring the client indigent is required.
Forms of payment accepted at the Public Civil Window are cash (no bills larger than $20.00 unless you are paying with exact change), money order, cashier’s check, business check, personal check, or credit/debit card. Your driver’s license or ID must match the information on your personal check or credit/debit card. All written payments must be made out to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office; abbreviations such as JSO are not permitted.
Documents for service not properly issued or those with incorrect fees or incorrect payee on the check will be returned.
For additional detail on fees for service please see the “Schedule of Civil Process Fees” section.
Schedule of Civil Process Fees
| Summons, notices, orders, subpoenas etc. |
$40.00
|
| Agency fees for summons, notices, orders, subpoenas, etc. |
$20.00 |
| Foreign Process |
| Will only be processed and attempted under Florida statute and prepared on the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Return of Service, |
$40.00 |
| |
| Domestic violence. Repeat, date, sexual and stalking and cyberstalking injunctions (to include foreign) |
$0.00 |
| Writs |
$90.00 |
| Replevin* |
$90.00 |
| Certified Break Order for a Writ of Replevin |
$200.00 |
| Agency fees for service of Writs |
$70.00 |
| All other process |
$90.00 |
Executions*
(Advance Deposit For Levy, Pursuant T o F.S. 30.231) |
| For each automobile, small truck, motorcycle, small boat |
$2500.00 |
| For each large truck, bus |
$3000.00 |
| Other large equipment or items will be determined by supervisor or enforceable writs officer in the civil unit |
TBD |
| Real property (each parcel)(legal description 15 lines or less) |
$1500.00 |
| Real property (each parcel)(legal description 15 lines or more) |
TBD |
| Business |
TBD |
* Additionally, beyond the first hour, expenses incurred for officer subsequently scheduled to stand-by or conduct a levy will be $46.00 per hour per officer. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office reserves the right to determine the number of officers required for standby. Most often, two officers will be required.
Note: Fees are payable upon receipt of civil process. Fees are non-refundable, per Florida Statute 30.231(4). Fees are per document type and per party to be served.
Contact Information for JSO's Civil Unit
Injunctions
If you are with the Clerk of Court or a Sheriff’s Office and needing to send a document with a court date, please call the Civil Unit at 904.255.2470.
If your document does not have a court date you will need to mail the documents to:
Attention: Civil Unit, 501 E. Bay Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202.
If you are a Sheriff’s Office outside the State of Florida, please include a fax number where the return of service may be faxed in the event the Injunction is served.
Please ensure two copies of the Injunction or other type of primary document is sent and one copy of the petition or other kind of pleading is sent.
If you are attempting to check the status of an Injunction, the officer assigned the document will call the filing party at the number that was provided on the information sheet to advise if the Injunction was or was not served. Due to safety and Public Record Law, Injunction information will not be discussed or provided by the Civil Clerk when calling the Civil Unit.
If you currently know where the individual can be located for service and you have your copy of the Injunction, then you may call the non-emergency number at 904.630.0500 to have a patrol officer come out and serve the Injunction.
If you are providing additional location information for service please call 904.255.2470; the Civil Clerk will take the information, but no further information will be discussed or provided.
Writ of Possession Procedures
The plaintiff or plaintiff's agent will provide the Civil Unit with the following:
- Two copies of the writ of possession that have been signed and sealed by the Clerk of Court. The name and phone number of the person the officer is scheduling the eviction with will need to be written on one of the two copies. Please note the Civil Unit will not make copies; please ensure proper copies are provided.
- Non- Refundable fee of $90.00. Forms of payment accepted at the Public Civil Window are cash, money order, cashier’s check, business check, personal check or credit/debit card. Your driver’s license or ID must match the information on your personal check or credit/debit card. All written payments must be made out to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office; abbreviations such as JSO are not permitted.
- Commercial Writs of Possession, if the address has more than one suite number/letter and there is more than one outside door that has to be accessed to execute the Writ of Possession then there will be a $90.00 fee per suite. Additional copies of the Writ of Possession will be required as well. Example: Suite 1-3, the total cost $270.00 total copies of the Writ of Possession six.
- Residential Writs of Possession, if there is a separate location listed on the Writ of Possession such a detached garage and the structure is located away from the residence then there will be an additional $90.00 fee to execute the Writ of Possession. Additional copies of the Writ of Possession are required as well. Example: Apt 201, garage 11-C, total cost $180.00 total copies of the Writ of Possession four.
- Duplicate Writs of Possession- if a duplicate Writ of Possession is received and not realized before processing occurs, the writ will be closed out as un-executed, duplicate will be noted, and the return of service will be E-Filed with the Clerk of Court; the Sheriffs fee will not be refunded.
- Mailed payments can only be in the form of a money order, cashier’s check or business check. The payment must be written out to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, abbreviations such as JSO are not permitted.
- Please ensure the address on your writ of possession is complete and accurate; including the zip code. There will be an additional $90.00 Sheriff’s Fee if the writ has an incorrect address for service.
Appointments will be made on a first come, first served basis.
The Civil Clerk will prepare the appropriate paperwork and place the Writ of Possession package in the Officers box. Please do not ask the clerk when the officer will complete your eviction or call to ask because the clerk does not know this information. The assigned officer may post the premises the following day or shortly thereafter and will schedule the eviction with the plaintiff or plaintiff's agent as soon as possible, taking into consideration statute limitations and workload.
On the scheduled day and time of eviction, the plaintiff or the plaintiff's agent will meet the officer at the premises and the officer will turn possession of the premises over to this person. If the Plaintiff or Plaintiffs Agent has to re-schedule the appointment there will be a $92.00 re-schedule fee. The only responsibility the officer has is to remove persons from the premises and maintain the peace. If the officer is required to stand by, there may be additional fees required at a rate of $46.00 per hour, per officer, or any part thereof after the first hour.
Upon delivering possession of the premises to the plaintiff or his agent, the officer will provide the plaintiff or his agent with a copy of the Writ of Possession. The date, time and the officer's signature or initials will be noted on the writ. The officer will e-file the return of service with the Clerk of Court.
Disclaimer: This is not to be considered as legal advice, but only to be used as a guideline
Document Status Information
If you are looking for service status information on a document, please choose the Civil Process Search link.
You may also view and print the Return of Service once the service has been closed.
For best results when searching a document; search by name or control number.
Injunction, Writ of Attachment, Mental Health and Child Support information will not be provided in this search.
If your document cannot be located;
- You may have placed incorrect information into the system for searching
- Your documents may have been returned to you because they could not be processed due to an error or issue; a memo stating the reason for the returned documents will be attached.
- Your documents may have not been received yet
- Your document may have been received but have not been processed
Return of Service - If your case was not filed in Duval, Clay or Nassau County Florida, and you did not provide the required postage for the return of your documents then your documents will be mailed to the Courthouse with jurisdiction over the case.
If you need any additional information, please call the Civil Unit at 904.255.2470.
Location and Times
For more information about having your documents served, please call the Civil Unit at 904.255.2470, open Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m, excluding holidays. You may also visit the public window at the Duval County Courthouse located at 501 W. Adams Street, 5th Floor, Room 5141, Jacksonville, FL 32202.
You may also mail your civil documents with the service fee* to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, Attention: Civil Unit, 501 E. Bay Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202 (Please note: This is a different address than above)
Special Process Server Application Renewal
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office does not appoint new Special Process Servers. If you are an existing Special Process Server in Duval County and need to renew your appointment please download and fill out the form.
If you have a question or complaint regarding a Duval County Special Process Server, please contact the Process Server Coordinator at 904.255.2470.
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