The Volusia Sheriff's Office Civil Unit is charged with the statutory responsibility of serving and returning the judicial process and enforcing judgments and orders that originate from the Supreme Court, Circuit Courts, County Courts, and Board of County Commissioners. Each year, the Civil Unit's deputies, supervisors, and office staff work together to process and execute more than 100,000 individual writs.

Note: For information on Florida's new "Squatters Law," which took effect July 1, 2024, click here.

How to arrange for service

• (386) 254-4660, Daytona Beach 
• (386) 822-5014, DeLand
• (386) 860-7037, Deltona
• (386) 423-3386, New Smyrna Beach

Contact the Civil Unit via email at: civilunit@volusiasheriff.gov

Please note: The Volusia Sheriff's Office is unable to provide legal advice on civil matters. These questions should be directed to private legal services.

All civil court documents to be served should be delivered to the Civil Unit office nearest to the location where the process is to be served. The Civil Offices are open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and are located at the following addresses:

• 442 South Beach St. 
  Daytona Beach, FL 32114
• 101 North Alabama Ave., Basement
  DeLand, FL 32721
• 1691 Providence Blvd.
  Deltona, FL 32725

The mailing address is:

Volusia Sheriff's Office
Civil Unit
P.O. Box 2658
Daytona Beach, FL 32115

Please note: We serve all court-ordered documents pursuant to Florida Statutes. We make our return of service through both mailed and electronic delivery. We do not complete out-of-state affidavits. Please call if you have any questions regarding Out-of-State Service of Process, or our Return of Service. We will be happy to assist you.

Fees for Service

The fees the Volusia Sheriff's Office Civil Unit assesses for docketing and service of process are fixed by Florida Statute 30.231 and are non-refundable. 

Fees can be paid by credit card at any Civil location, or by check. All checks must be made payable to "Sheriff of Volusia County."

All Summons and Subpoenas

$40.00 for each person or entity served

Witness Subpoenas

$40.00 for each subpoena
+ a check to the witness for fees and mileage

Involuntary Assessment Orders (Ex Parte/Marchman Act)

No charge

Out of State Non-Enforceable Process

$40.00

Injunction for Protection

No charge

Writ of Execution (Levy)

$90.00 ($40 service fee + $50 levy fee)

Writ of Replevin

$90.00 ($40 service fee + $50 levy fee)
+ any applicable cost deposits
+ $40.00 per each additional person to be served

Writ of Possession (Landlord/Tenant or Foreclosure)

$90.00 ($40 service fee + $50 levy fee)

Distress Writ (service only)

$90.00 (service fee: $40 per person and $50 for execution of the writ IF accompanied with Order to Levy)

Writ of Attachment (Bodily)

$90.00 ($40 service fee + $50 levy fee)

Writ of Attachment (Property)

Note: Contact the Civil Unit for a complete list of fees and cost deposits associated with this type of writ.

Child Custody Orders

$90.00

Other Fees for Service

Certain types of specialized civil process require additional service fees. For additional details about the fees listed here, or for information about service fees not mentioned here, contact the Civil Unit.

Sheriff's Sales

(as described in Florida State Statute Chapter 56)

• All Sheriff's Sales are held at the locations advertised once per week for four consecutive weeks in the newspaper.
• All items are available for viewing 30 minutes prior to the sale, excluding real property.
• All sales are to the highest bidder cash in hand.
• There is no time allowed to go to the bank, and only cashier's checks or money orders are acceptable other than United States currency.
• Plaintiffs may bid the total amount of their judgment interest and costs, without cash in hand, if there are no prior writs.
• All property sold is subject to all prior taxes, liens, prior judgments and encumbrances, as only the defendant's right, title and interest in the property is sold by the sheriff.
• In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons needing a special accommodation to participate in the preceding should contact the individual or agency sending notice not later than seven days prior to the proceeding at the address given on notice.

Using Certified Process Servers

The Sheriff of Volusia County does not appoint certified individuals to serve non-enforceable civil process. This is completed through the chief judge of each judicial circuit per Florida State Statute 48.27.

The Sheriff appoints Special Process Servers who have limited authority for the sole and exclusive purpose of exercising the Sheriff’s authority to serve non-enforceable process in Volusia County, Florida, pursuant to Florida State Statute Chapter 48. 

Civil Escorts

When a person is released from jail following an arrest and needs to return to the location to obtain items of necessity documented in their release paperwork from the jail (personal hygiene items and tools of the trade):

• The person will contact VSO Central Dispatch and requests a deputy respond to the location for the items, a deputy will respond to the location and stand by for no longer than 15 minutes, as the person collects the minimal items stated in the release paperwork from the jail.
  There is no cost associated with this type of escort request.
• If any disturbance arises during the escort, the deputy will discontinue the escort and the requestor will be told to leave the location and will be subject to trespass by the owner of the location.
• Any additional items belonging to the person, will need to be obtained by court order or in a civil agreement between all parties at the location, at a later date.

Any Civil Escorts or Standby requests that are not court ordered and will take longer then 15 minutes to collect the minimal items needed are handled as an Off-Duty Deputy Request. These details have a minimum of three (3) hours at a cost of $62.00 per hour. This can be completed by clicking on this link: https://www.volusiasheriff.gov/services/extra-details.stml or calling the Extra Duty Coordinator at 386-822-5712.

Eviction FAQs

How does the eviction process work?

• There are 3 steps to the eviction process: 3-day notice, 5-day eviction/unlawful detainer, and 24-hour writ of possession.
• The Volusia Clerk of Courts provides all of the paperwork online at https://www.clerk.org/forms.aspx. You can file your eviction at either the DeLand or Daytona Beach courthouses.

When serving multiple people at the same residence/business, why do I have to pay for each person?

• There is a service charge for each individual being served by the civil process server or deputy regardless of whether or not they share an address.
• The 24-hour writ of possession is the exception. The service fee is a flat rate of $90.
• Any and all unknown occupants, defendants, parties, or tenants are the judicial designation for those who should be listed on all evictions, if there is a belief others are residing/occupying the structure.  It is highly encouraged to ensure proper research is completed before filing any legal process.

Why do you need a phone number for a 24-hour writ of possession?

• The deputy needs a valid phone number with voicemail features to set up the appointment for eviction.
• At your appointment, you must be able to enter the property and change the locks or have a locksmith on site.
  
  

Why can a 24-hour writ of possession take longer to serve?

• A 24-hour writ of possession is not to be taken literally; after it is posted the tenant has at least 24 hours before the eviction will be enforced.
• The deputy will call the landlord/plaintiff to set up the appointment at a later date then when the 24-hour posting was physically posted.
• At your appointment, you must be able to gain entry to the property and change the locks.
• You must have a locksmith present if you cannot gain entry to the property.
• If you are unable to gain entry at the time of your appointment, the 24-hour writ of possession will be returned unexecuted (not served).
• You must then file an “alias” 24-hour writ of possession with the Clerk of Courts.
• You will be charged another $90 fee to attempt service again.