Service of Process Online
- The Division of Corporations accepts Substituted Service of Process under Chapter 48 of the Florida Statutes.
- We will notify the plaintiff’s attorney of any accepted service, including the time and date of acceptance. However, we do not serve the designated individual.
- The notice includes:
- Two acceptance letters.
- A copy of the summons.
- A copy of the complaint.
- The plaintiff’s attorney is responsible for notifying the defendant of an accepted Substitute Service of Process.
- Search our records by name to find the name and address of an entity’s registered agent.
Filing Requirements
You can submit Service of Process online at online-sop.sunbiz.org. You will need PDF copies of the following:
- The court-issued summons, which should include:
- The signature of the Clerk of the Circuit Court and the Seal.
- The name of the defendant, in care of the Secretary of State.
Example:
John Doe
c/o Secretary of State
P.O. Box 6327
Tallahassee, FL 32314
- The complaint.
- If the defendant is an active business entity on our records, include a copy of the returned service or an affidavit from the process server as proof of attempted service.
Submit only a single document, do not include copies.
Get Started Online
Paper Submission
If you need to submit by paper, provide two copies each of the summons and complaint so that a copy can be returned to you. Also, include a cover letter indicating the specific section of Chapter 48, F.S., (e.g., 48.161, 48.181) that authorizes the Division of Corporations to accept the service.
Payment
Effective 1/2/2023, there is no fee for Substitute Service of Process. Any payment received will be returned.
Additional Instructions
- Direct Service of Process naming the Secretary of State as a Defendant to: The Secretary of State, R.A. Gray Building, Tallahassee, Florida 32399.
- Direct Service of Process naming the State of Florida as a Defendant to: The Florida Attorney General’s office or call 850.414.3990 for additional information.
- Direct Service of Process naming an insurance COMPANY (not an insurance AGENCY) as a Defendant to: The Chief Financial Officer at the State of Florida, or call 850.413.4200 for additional information.
Questions?
- Call 850.245.6953 for specific questions about filing substitute service.
- Direct all other inquiries to the attorney(s) involved.
- The Division of Corporations does not provide information pertaining to the summons or complaint.
Notice to Filers
Recent legislative amendments to Section 48.161, Florida Statutes, effective October 1, 2025, provide clarifications to the use of substitute service of process on the Florida Department of State in lieu of serving the actual party. Although there are multiple amendments to the service of process statutes that you may wish to review at the link here; the Florida Department of State would like to make practitioners aware of the following two clarifications.
- Such process must be issued in the name of the party to be served, in the care of the Secretary of State, and must be made by personal delivery; by registered mail; by certified mail, return receipt requested; by use of a commercial firm regularly engaged in the business of document or package delivery; or by electronic transmission. (S. 48.161(1), F.S.)
- The Secretary of State and the Department of State are not parties to the lawsuit by reason of substituted service under this section, and additional court filings regarding such lawsuit may not be served upon or sent to the Secretary of State or the Department of State after the substituted service is effectuated. (S. 48.161(9), F.S.)
The Department of State does not provide legal guidance on whether substitute service of process is appropriate, and any legal questions should be addressed by legal counsel involved in the dispute.
