FL S0826

Requires all process in Florida to be served exclusively by the sheriff of the county where the person to be served is found, eliminating the use of special process servers and certified process servers effective July 1, 2025

Repeals three Florida statutes (ss. 48.27, 48.29, and 48.31) that authorized and governed certified process servers, including provisions for their certification by sheriffs and judges and their removal for false returns of service

Removes provisions allowing sheriffs to appoint special process servers, including all associated application requirements, background checks, examinations, ID cards, annual recertification, and oversight programs

Amends substituted service rules so that only a sheriff of the county may serve a spouse with substituted service, replacing the prior authorization for any individual approved under the repealed process server statutes

Makes conforming changes to related statutes, including removing special process servers from surety bond exemptions (s. 113.07) and eliminating the window tinting exemption for vehicles owned or leased by certified process servers (s. 316.29545)