The Night Owls and our licensed private investigators come from all walks of life, harboring a multitude of skills and strengths. 30+ years of experience behind us to accumulate a record trail of exceptional investigation services.
Our staff is committed to discretion, detail, and knowledge – assuring that your expectations are not only met, but go beyond measure in order to deliver the results you deserve. Each case is sheltered in 100% confidentiality with daily updates as each crevice of your case unfolds.
The Night Owls Agency, a Florida private investigation agency, offers complete service-of-process resources throughout the state and across the country. Every one of our agents is licensed, registered, and has passed an extensive background check. Our process and subpoena servers are among the most knowledgeable and skilled in the state.
Service of process sounds simple — hand someone a document — but anyone who has actually tried to serve an unwilling party knows better. A defendant who doesn’t want to be served can stall a case for months. And service that’s done incorrectly is worse than no service at all: it can be challenged, quashed, and set your case back to the beginning. Getting it done right, the first time, by someone who understands both the practical chase and the legal requirements, is what separates a professional server from a process that falls apart under scrutiny.
In Florida, service of process is governed by Chapter 48 of the Florida Statutes, which sets out who may serve process, how, and on whom. Original process is generally served by a sheriff or by a certified process server appointed or approved under Florida law. The rules dictate specifics that matter enormously to whether service holds up: personal delivery to the individual, permissible substitute service on a co-resident of suitable age, the handling of service on corporations and registered agents, and the strict requirements for service by publication when a party truly can’t be located.
Because these requirements are precise and unforgiving, we make sure every service we perform is documented properly — with a verified return of service or affidavit that will stand up when the other side’s attorney goes looking for a reason to challenge it.
One of the most important aspects of process service is that the client be informed the moment service has been completed. A judgment, a hearing date, or the next step in a case often hinges on confirmed service, and waiting in the dark helps no one. We use current tracking resources to give our clients around-the-clock access to the status of their service, so you know exactly where things stand at any hour.
We maintain a network of vetted affiliates who can serve process anywhere in the United States. No longer will you need to make additional phone calls to arrange out-of-state service. We use only firms that meet our high standards of professionalism, so you receive the same quality of service you’d get from our own team inside Florida.
We’re also equipped to handle the domestication of foreign — meaning out-of-state — subpoenas, and even the complexities of international service of process, which comes with its own layer of treaty requirements and timelines.
Our servers routinely handle the full range of legal documents, including:
Whatever the document, the goal is the same: valid, verifiable, timely service that moves your case forward instead of tripping it up.
Some people make themselves genuinely hard to find. They dodge, they relocate, they have someone else answer the door. This is exactly where being a full investigation firm rather than just a courier service makes the difference. When a subject is evading service, our investigators can bring the same skip-tracing and surveillance tools we use in our locating work to bear on the problem — running down a current address, establishing a pattern of movement, and identifying the right window to complete service.
And when a subject truly cannot be located despite genuine effort, we can conduct and document the diligent search that Florida requires before a court will permit service by publication — producing the sworn documentation of attempts that makes that alternative method possible.
It’s tempting to think of process service as a formality. It isn’t. Service is the step that gives a court jurisdiction over a party — it’s the legal foundation the rest of the case stands on. When service is defective, everything built on top of it is vulnerable. A defendant can appear months later, challenge service, and unwind a default judgment you thought was settled.
Professional servers exist precisely because that foundation has to be solid. We know the statutory requirements, we document our work to withstand challenge, and we don’t cut corners that a defense attorney could later exploit. Paying for it done right is far cheaper than paying to redo a case that collapsed on a technicality.
A large part of our process service work is done on behalf of law firms, and we understand what attorneys need: reliability, clean paperwork, fast turnaround on deadline-sensitive filings, and clear communication when a subject proves difficult. We provide verified returns of service formatted for filing, we flag problems early rather than at the last minute, and we treat your deadlines as our own. For firms handling volume, we can coordinate multiple simultaneous services, including across different locations at once.
Who can legally serve process in Florida?
Generally a sheriff or a certified/appointed process server operating under the requirements of Chapter 48 of the Florida Statutes. Using a properly qualified server is part of what keeps service from being challenged.
What happens if the person avoids service?
Evasion is common and rarely the end of the road. We use investigative tools to locate and reach evasive subjects, and where someone genuinely can’t be found, we document the diligent search required for alternative service methods.
Can you serve out-of-state or internationally?
Yes. Our affiliate network handles service nationwide, and we manage out-of-state subpoena domestication as well as international service under the applicable treaty procedures.
How quickly will I know service is complete?
Immediately. Prompt confirmation is a core part of how we work, and you’ll have status access around the clock.
What documents do I need to get started?
Typically the documents to be served and the relevant party information. Contact us and we’ll tell you exactly what we need for your specific matter.
We are here to assist you in answering questions you may have in regards to your case. To begin please call, email or submit a request form below.
Serving the entire state of Florida.
Our agents are on standby 24/7 to provide you with a detailed, comprehensive strategy for all your investigative needs.
Once retained, our investigators will be thoroughly briefed on all the details related to your case.
Our highly skilled agents will handle your matter from start to finish with the utmost professionalism while remaining 100% discreet.
At the conclusion of your case and after thorough review, our team will steer you in the right direction whether it be legal or non-legal.
