Opinion ID: 1899029
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Need for Legislative Consideration

Text: We recognize that these types of cases have long presented Florida courts with significant dilemmas, and as legal scholars have noted, these dilemmas will persist as long as certain statutory provisions remain unchanged. [4] The service of process statute does not permit constructive service of process in paternity cases, and there is no express provision within chapter 409 to authorize constructive service or to ensure that a legal father's interests are appropriately protected. See § 409.257, Fla. Stat. (2000) (requiring personal service); see also § 49.011, Fla. Stat. (2000) (listing the actions and proceedings in which service of process by publication may be made  a list that does not include paternity actions); see also T.J.K. v. N.B., 237 So.2d 592, 595 (Fla. 4th DCA 1970) (holding that constructive service of process is not permitted by statute). Whether the statutes should be modified to address this dilemma is a policy decision for the Legislature to decide.