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Can anyone shed some light on how they do due diligence searches in Florida. Our FD's bios are MIA and have been for just under 3 months. They started the diligence search process because they plan on starting TPR within the next few months. I just don't know how it works here in FL. Do they put ads in the paper? I haven't seen anything and the caseworker is little help. Thanks
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We had to have diligence searches for the bio parents of our oldest 2 kids. They start by sending a letter to the last known address with return receipt. If they have a forwarding address they try that, etc. If that's a no go they contact the utility companies, postal service, law enforcement, etc. If they strike out there they advertise, but they only have to advertise the TPR advisory court date, not before that.
I think we were told the due diligence takes about 4 months but I don't honestly remember how long it took. Hope that helps.
Kelly
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In my Florida district (D1), they do the certified letter thing, and do searches of certain entities like the prison system. They check with utility search services, and generally have an affidavit of diligent search done within a few weeks. In my experience (I work for DCF/CWLS as a paralegal) the only time we "serve by publication" in the newspaper is for TPR trials. Otherwise, the affidavit of diligence search gets the court to excuse us from further search. Hope that helps.Sarah
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