In Florida, service by publication requires that you publish a Notice of Action. To be approved for service by publication in a family law case, you must complete and file an Affidavit of Due Diligence. This affidavit shows the court the efforts you have made to locate and serve the other party in your case. You must also file a Notice of Action form for the Clerk’s office to issue.
Once the Clerk’s Office has issued your Notice of Action, you must arrange service with a newspaper of general circulation in Palm Beach County. The newspaper must have a print circulation. The Notice of Action must be published for four consecutive weeks. The newspaper will provide you with a proof of publication, which you must file in your case.
If you have been found indigent in your case, the Clerk’s office will forward your Notice of Action to the Palm Beach Post for publication at no cost, pursuant to Administrative Order 2.104.
The Affidavit of Due Diligence and the Notice of Action forms, along with detailed instructions on the service by publication process, may be purchased in the Service by Publication packet at any of our Self-Service locations or online. See Self-Service Forms.
Note: The rules for service by publication for a probate, county civil, or circuit civil case vary depending on the type of case you are filing and the type of party you need to serve by publication. To determine if you are eligible for service by publication for non-family law case types you should conduct your own research or consult with an attorney for advice.
