RULE 5.041. SERVICE OF PLEADINGS AND DOCUMENTS

Unless the court orders otherwise, every petition or motion for
an order determining rights of an interested person, and every other
pleading or document filed in the particular proceeding which is the
subject matter of such petition or motion, except applications for
witness subpoenas, shall be served on interested persons as set
forth in Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial
Administration 2.516 unless these rules, the Florida Probate Code,
or the Florida Guardianship Law provides otherwise. No service
need be made on interested persons against whom a default has
been entered, or against whom the matter may otherwise proceed ex
parte, unless a new or additional right or demand is asserted. For
purposes of this rule an interested person shall be deemed a party
under rule 2.516.

If the interested person is a minor whose disabilities of nonage
are not removed, and who is not represented by an attorney, then
service shall be on the persons designated to accept service of
process on a minor under chapter 48, Florida Statutes.

Committee Notes
Derived from Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.080. Regulates
the service of pleadings and documents in proceedings on petitions
or motions for determination of rights. It is not applicable to every
pleading and document served or filed in the administration of a
guardianship or decedent’s estate.

Rule History

1984 Revision: New rule. Subdivision (c) is same as former
rule 5.040(d).

1988 Revision: Committee notes revised. Citation form
changes in committee notes.

1992 Revision: Editorial changes. Committee notes revised.
Citation form changes in committee notes.

1996 Revision: Subdivision (b) amended to allow service to be
made by facsimile. Committee notes revised.

2000 Revision: Subdivision (b) amended to clarify
requirements for service of pleadings and papers. Subdivision (e)
amended to clarify date of filing. Editorial changes in subdivision (f).

2003 Revision: Committee notes revised.

2005 Revision: Changes in subdivisions (b) and (f) to clarify
service requirements, and editorial changes in (e).

2006 Revision: Committee notes revised.

2007 Revision: Provisions regarding service on a minor added
in subdivision (b) in response to Cason ex rel. Saferight v. Hammock,
908 So. 2d 512 (Fla. 5th DCA 2005). Committee notes revised.

2008 Revision: Committee notes revised.

2010 Revision: Committee notes revised.

2012 Revision: Portions of subdivision (b) and all of
subdivisions (d), (e), (f), and (g) deleted in response to creation of
Rule 2.516 of the Rules of General Practice and Judicial
Administration. Committee notes revised.

2016 Revision: Committee notes revised.

Statutory References

ch. 39, Fla. Stat. Proceedings relating to children.

ch. 48, Fla. Stat. Process and service of process.

ch. 61, Fla. Stat. Dissolution of marriage; support; time-
sharing.

ch. 63, Fla. Stat. Adoption.

§ 393.12, Fla. Stat. Capacity; appointment of guardian
advocate.

§ 731.201, Fla. Stat. General definitions.

§ 731.301, Fla. Stat. Notice.

§ 733.212, Fla. Stat. Notice of administration; filing of
objections.

§ 733.2123, Fla. Stat. Adjudication before issuance of letters.

§ 733.705(2), (4), Fla. Stat. Payment of and objection to claims.

ch. 743, Fla. Stat. Disability of nonage of minors removed.

§ 744.3085, Fla. Stat. Guardian advocates.

§ 744.3201, Fla. Stat. Petition to determine incapacity.

§ 744.331, Fla. Stat. Procedures to determine incapacity.

§ 744.3371, Fla. Stat. Notice of petition for appointment of
guardian and hearing.

§ 744.447, Fla. Stat. Petition for authorization to act.
ch. 751, Fla. Stat. Temporary custody of minor children by
extended family.

Rule References

Fla. Prob. R. 5.020 Pleadings; verification; motions.

Fla. Prob. R. 5.025 Adversary proceedings.

Fla. Prob. R. 5.030 Attorneys.

Fla. Prob. R. 5.040 Notice.

Fla. Prob. R. 5.042 Time.

Fla. Prob. R. 5.150(c) Order requiring accounting.

Fla. Prob. R. 5.180 Waiver and consent.

Fla. Prob. R. 5.240(a) Notice of administration.

Fla. Prob. R. 5.340(d) Inventory.

Fla. Prob. R. 5.550 Petition to determine incapacity.

Fla. Prob. R. 5.560 Petition for appointment of guardian of an
incapacitated person.

Fla. Prob. R. 5.649 Guardian advocate.

Fla. Prob. R. 5.681 Restoration of rights of person with
developmental disability.

Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.080 Service of pleadings and documents.

Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.505 Attorneys.

Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.516 Service of pleadings
and documents.