Civil Process

The Walton County Sheriff's Office utilizes two full-time deputies to serve several hundred subpoenas, summons, writs, and other civil papers per month. Florida Statute 30.15 states that Sheriffs, in their respective counties, in person or by deputy, shall:

• Execute all process of the Supreme Court, circuit courts, and boards of county commissioners of this state, to be executed in their counties.
• Execute such writs, processes, warrants, and other papers directed to them, as may come to their hands to be executed in their counties.

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CIVIL PROCESS FEES - as of JANUARY 1, 2007 THESE FEES ARE SET FORTH BY FLORIDA STATUTUE 30.231 AND ARE NON-REFUNDABLE
SUMMONS	$20.00 per person & per paper
SUBPOENAS	$20.00 per person & per paper
ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE	$20.00
WRIT OF GARNISHMENT	$20.00
NOTICE OF HEARING	$20.00 per person
WRIT OF POSSESSION	$50.00
WRIT OF REPLEVIN	$50.00

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In order to have papers served, provide us the original or a certified copy and another copy to serve. Please provide as much information as possible so the individual being served can be found as easily as possible.

There are five (5) steps to evict a tenant:

1. A written three (3) to thirty (30) day notice from the landlord to vacate the property must be delivered to the tenant.
2. Once that amount of time has passed, the landlord must go to the Clerk of the Court's office to obtain a Complaint for Eviction, which is a "five (5) day eviction summons". This summons will be served by the Walton County Sheriff's Office.
3. After those five (5) days, not counting weekends or holidays have passed, the landlord must go back to the Clerk of the Court's office to get a Writ of Possession, which is a "twenty-four (24) hour eviction notice".
4. The Walton County Sheriff's Office will post the writ of possession.
5. After the twenty-four (24) hour period has passed, the landlord contacts the Walton County Sheriff's Office to set up a date and time to arrange to have the possession of the property turned over to the landlord.

NOTE:  If any possessions of the tenant are left in the residence, the landlord has the right, according to the Florida Statutes, to pack up ALL belongings and move them to the property line.

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