Affidavit of Diligent Search and Inquiry

An affiant who wishes to obtain a constructive service (otherwise known as service by publication) in a civil case must execute this affidavit. To complete this form, type or print the entries in blank ink. Upon completion, affiant must sign the completed form in the presence of a notary public or deputy clerk. The original completed copy of this affidavit must be submitted to the clerk of the Circuit Court while another copy should be kept by the affiant for records purposes.

Extracted Text for Proper Search

INSTRUCTIONS FOR AFFIDAVIT OF DILIGENT SEARCH AND INQUIRY 
 
  When should this form be used? 
 
This form is to be used  to obtain constructive service  (also called service by publication) in a  civil case.  
 
The  Defendant  is entitled to actual notice of the proceedings when possible.  When it is necessary to use 
constructive notice, it must be given in a way that is likely to provide actual notice.  You must disclose the last 
known address of the Defendant .  A last known address cannot be unknown. This form i ncludes a checklist of 
places you can look for information on the location of the Defendant .  While you do not have to look in all of 
these places, the court must believe that you have made a very serious effort to get information about the 
Defendant ’s location and that you have followed up on any information you received.  
 
This form should be typed or printed in black ink.  After completing this form, you should sign the form before a 
notary public  or  deputy clerk .  You should file  the original  with the clerk of the circuit court  and you should keep 
a copy for your records.

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE THIRTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT 
IN AND FOR  HILLSBOROUGH  COUNTY, FLORIDA 
GENERAL CIVIL DIVISION 
                 	
                                                                      ,        Case No.:  _________________  
Plaintiff(s),        
          Division:  _________________  
v.  
                                                                         
, 
                 Defendant(s) . 
 
  AFFIDAVIT OF DILIGENT SEARCH AND INQUIRY 
 
I, {full legal name}               , being sworn, certify that the 
following information is true: 
 
1.   I have made diligent search and inquiry to discover the name and current residence of Defendant  {full 
legal name}  _ _________________________________________ .  Refer to checklist below and 
identify all actions taken (any additional information included such as the date the action was 
taken and the person with whom you spoke is helpful) (attach additional sheet if necessary):  
[  √  all  that appl y] 
United States Post Office inquiry through Freedom of Information Act for current address or any 
relocations.  
____  Last known employment  of  Defendant , including name and address of employer.  You should also ask 
for any addresses to which W -2 Forms were mailed, and, if a pension or profit- sharing plan exists, then 
for any addresses to which any pension or plan payment is and/or has been mailed.  
____  Unions from which Defendant  may have worked or that governed his or her particular trade or craft.  
____  Reg ulatory agencies, including professional or occupational licensing.  
____  Names and addresses of relatives and contacts with those relatives, and inquiry as to Defendant ’s last 
known address. You are to follow up any leads of any addresses where Defendant  may have moved.  
Relatives include, but are not limited to: parents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, 
nephews, grandparents, great -grandparents, former in -laws, stepparents, stepchildren.  
____  Information about the Defendant ’s possible death and, if dead, the date and location of the death.  
____  Telephone listings in the last known locations of Defendant ’s residence. 
____  Internet at http://www.switchboard.com or other Internet databank locator service. Please indicate if a 
public library a ssisted you in your search.  
____  Law enforcement arrest and/or criminal records in the last known residential area of Defendant . 
____  Highway Patrol records in the state of Defendant ’s last known address. 
  ____  Department of Motor Vehicle records in the state of Defendant ’s last known address. 
____  Department of Corrections records in the state of Defendant ’s last known address. 
____     Title IV -D (child support enforcement) agency records in the state of Defendant ’s last known  
   address. 
____  Hospitals in the last known area of Defendant ’s residence. 
____  Utility companies, which include water, sewer, cable TV, and electric, in the last known area of 
Defendant ’s residence.  
____  Letters to the Armed Forces of the U.S. and their response as to whether or no t there is any information 
about  Defendant . (See Memorandum for Certificate of Military Service, Florida Supreme Court 
Approved Family Law Form 12.912(a).)  
_ ___  Tax Assessor’s and Tax Collector’s Office in the area where Defendant  last resided. 
_ ___  Other:  {explain} _ _____________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________ 
_
__________________________________________________________________________________  
 
2.   The age of  Defendant is [Choose only one] (    ) n  {en  k own ter age} _____ or (     ) unknown. 
 
3.   Defendant ’s current residence  
  [Choose only one]  
a.   ____ Defendant ’s current residence is unknown to me.  
b.   ____ Defendant ’s current residence is in some state or country other than Florida.    
                     ________________________________________________________________________  
c.   ____The  Defendant , having residence in Florida, has been absent from Florida for more than 60 
days prior to the date of this affidavit, or  conceals him/her self so that process cannot be served 
personally upon him or her, and I believe there is no person in the state upon whom service of 
process would bind this absent or concealed Defendant . 
 
4.     Defendant ’s last known address as of {date}  __________________________________ _, _  was: 
Address___________________________City_____________________State_________Zip______  
Telephone No. ______ _ F ________ ___  ax No._________________________.  
  Defendant ’s last known employment, as of {date}  _ _____________ ___________________, was  
Name of Employer_ _______________________________________________________________  
Address_ ____________________________City_ ____________________State _____Zip_______  
Telephone No.  _ ________________  Fax No.  _ ________________________.  
 
I understand that I am swearing or affirming under oath to the truthfulness of the claims made in 
this affidavit and that the punishment for knowingly making a false statement includes fines and/or 
imprisonment.  
 
Dated:                
Signature of Plaintiff 
Prin ted Name:    
Address:     
City, State, Zip:    
Telephone Number:    
Fax Number:    
            E- mail Address(es): _____________________________  
STATE OF FLORIDA 
COUNTY OF                                          
 
Sworn to or affirmed and signed before me on                                 by   . 
        
     _________________________________________________  
NOTARY PUBLIC or DEPUTY CLERK   
 
   
[Print, type, or stamp commissioned name of notary or clerk.] 
         Personally known    
         Produced identification  
Type of identification produced :  ________________________

IF A NONLAWYER HELPED YOU FILL OUT THIS FORM, HE/SHE MUST FILL IN THE 
BLANKS BELOW: [fill in all blanks] 
This form was prepared for: {choose only one}  (    ) P laintiff  (    ) D e	
 fendant 
This form was completed with the assistance of: 
{name of individual}  ___________________________________________________________________  
{name of business}  ____________________________________________________________________  
{address}  ____________________________________________________________________________  
{city} _ ______________________, {state} _ ___________, {telephone number} ____________________