Family Law: Corporate And Trust Challenges To Service Of Process And Jurisdiction

The president of a corporation, manager of a limited liability company, trustee of a family trust, or principal of another business entity receives a summons in a Florida divorce case.  One spouse contends the other’s control, ownership of an interest in or history of substantial business with the entity being sued requires its joinder as a party.  The suing spouse may contend joinder is necessary for the court to transfer assets from the entity to the spouse.

A spouse who sues a trust may contend the trust must be joined because the spouse claims a direct or equitable interest in the trust or may attack the other spouse’s creation or use of a trust or entity as an attempt to manipulate the distribution of property in the divorce. See, e.g., Schneider v. Schneider, 864 So. 2d 1193, 1997 (Fla. 4th DCA 2004) (improper for husband to place marital funds in an irrevocable trust as a “stratagem” to manipulate equitable distribution).   The spouse may further contend that failing to join a trust and beneficiaries may invite later lawsuits and motions by them to intervene in proceedings or otherwise collaterally challenge decisions of the family court regarding trust assets.  See Crescenze v. Bothe, 4 So. 3d 31, 32 (Fla. 2d DCA 2009).

Are there avenues for the business entity or trust to get out of the case?  This article discusses preliminary challenges to service of process and jurisdiction that may be available to the entity or trust to secure dismissal.

Due Process: Service of Process and Personal Jurisdiction Over An Entity
For a family law judge in Florida to adjudicate a spouse’s claims over a corporate entity or trust, the spouse must satisfy due process requirements. First, service of process over the entity or trust must be sufficient.  Second, there must be a basis for personal jurisdiction over the entity. See Borden v. East-European Ins. Co., 921 So. 2d 587, 591 (Fla. 2006) and Scott-Lubin v. Lubin, 49 So. 3d 838, 840 n. 1 (Fla. 4th DCA 2010).

Service of process and personal jurisdiction are two distinct but related elements of due process protections. See Ulloa v. CMI, Inc., 2013 WL 5942299, 38 Fla. L. Weekly S804 (Fla. November 7, 2013)(discussing difference between service of process, personal jurisdiction, and subpoena power). Both valid service of process and a basis for personal jurisdiction are necessary before an entity can be compelled to answer a claim brought in a Florida family law case.

Service of process
Service of process is the means of notifying a party of a legal claim. When accomplished, service enables a court to exercise jurisdiction and proceed to judgment.

Caution: If the entity seeks affirmative relief, it may waive otherwise valid challenges to the Florida court’s exercise of jurisdiction.

Service of Process: Can It Be Challenged?
As a threshold matter, the entity sued in a family law lawsuit may consider challenging the sufficiency of service of process.  Proper service of the family law papers on the entity is required before the Florida court can acquire personal jurisdiction over the entity as a party in a family law action. See Fla. Rules of Civ. P. 1.080(a) and 1.180. See also Thompson v. State/Dept. Revenue, 867 So.2d 603, 605 (Fla. 1st DCA 2004) (the court lacks jurisdiction without proper service of process, and the burden of proof of proper service is upon the person who seeks to invoke the court’s jurisdiction). Entry of an order adjudicating rights of a party not properly served is reversible error.  See Varveris v. Alberto M. Carbonell, P.A., 773 So. 2d 1275, 1276 (Fla. 3d DCA 2000) (judgment debtor’s wife was not properly brought before the court to set aside allegedly fraudulent transfers).

A summons, properly issued and served, is the method by which a court acquires jurisdiction over an entity. See Seymour v. Panchita Inv., Inc., 28 So. 3d 194, 196 (Fla. 3d DCA 2010). Defects in the summons may make service void. Id. at 196 (attempt to serve corporation with summons naming person individually was void to effect good service on the corporation of which he was registered agent.)

A party who attempts to serve a foreign corporation not qualified to do business in Florida must show that the requirements for service have been met and that process has been served upon a person qualified to accept such process. The statutory requirements must be strictly construed and strictly complied with for effective service.  See Mecca Multimedia, Inc. v. Kurzbard, 954 So. 2d 1179, 1181 (Fla. 3d DCA 2007); S.T.R. Indus., Inc. v. Hidalgo Corp., 832 So. 2d 262, 263 (Fla. 3d DCA 2002).

Improper service of process on a person who is not among those persons authorized to be served may be quashed.  See Seymour v. Panchita Inv., Inc., 28 So. 3d 194, 198 (Fla. 3d DCA 2010) (affirming order vacating final judgment after default because attempted service on a corporate officer in his individual capacity was void); S.T.R. Industries, Inc., 832 So. 2d at 264 (quashing service of process on a foreign corporation not qualified to do business in Florida because a party failed to meet its burden of proof to show a diligent search for superior officers or the necessity for substitute service and where the process server’s affidavit failed to indicate that the foreign corporation’s business agent was served in the absence of superior officers); Lisa, S.A. v. Gutierrez, 806 So. 2d 557, 559 (Fla. 3rd DCA 2002)(affirming order quashing service on a receptionist or on a law clerk); Washington Capital Corp. v. Milandco, Ltd., Inc., 665 So. 2d 375, 376 (Fla. 4th DCA 1996)(quashing service on a secretary/receptionist of a foreign corporation that was not in strict compliance with section 48.081, Florida Statutes). Compare with Kalb v. Sail Condominium Ass’n, Inc., 112 So. 3d 674, 675 (Fla. 3d DCA 2013) (judgment against a corporation that was qualified to do business in Florida was not void where service had been validly accomplished on an employee of the condo association’s registered agent, as permitted by amended section 48.081(3)(a), Florida Statutes).

An affidavit of service that merely alleges that the service of process statute has been complied with may not be enough to meet the burden of establishing proper service. See Johnston v. Halliday, 516 So. 2d 84, 85 (Fla. 3d DCA 1987)(a return of service merely stating that substituted service was effected on the defendant's son who was “of suitable age and discretion” was insufficient absent facts establishing that the process server complied with the specific requirements for substituted service); York Communications, Inc. v. Furst Group, Inc., 724 So. 2d 678, 679 (Fla. 4th DCA 1999)(a process server's statement that service was made on John Doe corporate employee, without including a statement supporting the necessity for substituted service, was “patently tainted” where the process server alleged neither that he first attempted to serve the registered agent nor that the agent was absent); Klemmerer v. Klass Associates, Inc., 108 So. 3d 672, 675 (Fla. 2d DCA 2013) (quashing service because plaintiff failed to submit competing evidence for the trial court to contradict defendant’s affidavit regarding her usual place of abode).  Cf. Panama City Gen. P'ship v. Godfrey Panama City Inv., LLC, 109 So. 3d 291, 293 (Fla. 1st DCA 2013)(partnership’s mere denial of validity of service insufficient, but its later motion for reconsideration with attached affidavits from managing partner and son, plus a moving company’s receipt and letter from director of retirement community to which managing partner moved, established prima facie case to challenge service, entitling the partnership to an evidentiary hearing); Robles-Martinez v. Diaz, Reus & Targ, LLP, 88 So. 3d 177, 181 (Fla. 3d DCA 2011) (returns of service were regular on their face and contained all information required to show plaintiff complied with the statute, plus corroborating testimony, entitled plaintiff to the presumption that valid service was effectuated, and affidavits defendants offered that failed to challenge the facial regularity of the return of service failed to overcome by clear and convincing evidence the presumption).

Checklist for challenges to service of process:

• Was process (summons and the papers being served) properly issued and sufficient under Florida law?
• Was service of process validly accomplished?
• Was the hierarchy for service of process followed, if required?

  • Was service made on the registered agent?
  • Was service made on the president, vice president, the cashier, treasurer, secretary, general manager, any director, any officer or business agent residing in the state?
  • Can service not be made on the registered agent’s employee of the the corporation’s principal place of business or employee of the registered agent, because the foreign corporation failed to comply with the requirements with regard to a registered agent?
• Was the proper party served?  This can be tricky in corporate families…

Caution: If the entity seeks affirmative relief, it may waive otherwise valid challenges to the Florida court’s exercise of jurisdiction, such as based on defective service of process.

Family Law Pleadings: Must Allege Basis for Personal Jurisdiction Over the Entity

If process was sufficient and service valid, is there a basis for subject matter jurisdiction for the family law party to proceed against the entity?  A court has no jurisdiction over foreign entity named in family law proceedings when the petition fails to allege that the entity has minimum contacts with Florida or is subject to long-arm jurisdiction. See Fishman, Inc. v. Fishman, 657 So. 2d 44, 45-46 (Fla. 4th DCA 1995).  See also Morgan v. Morgan, 679 So.2d 342, 346 (Fla. 2d DCA 1996) (mother’s unsworn pleading alleging nonresident father failed to provide child support to children in Florida was deficient because she failed to allege a proper basis for jurisdiction under the Long Arm Statute).

A spouse’s claims that an entity must be brought in because of either spouse’s marital contributions of marital funds or effort do not constitute allegations sufficient to bring the entity within the jurisdictional reach of the Circuit Court in which the Florida divorce action is pending. See Fishman, 657 So. 2d at 46; Manus v. Manus, 193 So. 2d 236, 237-38 (Fla. 4th DCA 1966) (affirming order quashing service of process on the president of a foreign corporation, while he was in Florida en route to the Bahamas, where it was not shown a wife’s alleged cause of action arose out of an obligation or cause connected with the corporation’s activities in Florida, but was merely based upon the husband’s majority ownership of stock in the corporation and alleged threats to remove his assets from the state and country).

Operating a business in Florida, owning real property in Florida, committing a tortious act in Florida, breaching a contract in Florida, or engaging in substantial business activity in Florida may give rise to long arm jurisdiction. Section 48.193, Florida Statutes.  For example, jurisdiction was extended to a foreign corporation in a marriage dissolution case because the suing spouse alleged that marital assets were unlawfully removed from the state or improperly encumbered within the state by the foreign corporation – the predicate for jurisdiction was the alleged commission of a tortious act within the state of Florida. See Lee B. Stern & Co., Ltd. v. Green, 398 So. 2d 918, 919 (Fla. 3d DCA 1981).

Checklist for challenges to personal jurisdiction:

• Is there a proper basis to proceed against the entity in Florida state court?
• Corporations: look to state of incorporation and principal place of businesss
• Partnerships/LLCs: look to residence of the partners/members.
• Trusts: look to the situs of the trust.
• What is the specific conduct or asset at issue in the family law proceeding?
• What does the party allege the entity allegedly did to bring it into the family law action?
• Does the alleged basis for the cause of action arise out of the entity’s conduct in  or directed to Florida?
• How have corporate formalities been observed?
• Has the spouse controlled and operated the entity and its assets and debts and, if so, how?
• Issues can be tricky where declaratory or injunctive relief or sequestration of assets is sought.

More about Personal Jurisdiction: Two-Part Test or “Alter Ego” Theory?
A spouse attempting to bring in a corporate entity or trust must meet the requirements under Florida’s two-part test for establishing personal jurisdiction over the entity or trust, under Florida’s long arm statute.  In the alternative, a spouse may assert personal jurisdiction is established because the entity is merely the “alter ego” of the other spouse.

Personal jurisdiction refers to whether the actions of an individual or business entity as set forth in the applicable statutes permit the court to exercise jurisdiction in a lawsuit brought against the individual or business entity in this state.  See Borden v. East-European Ins. Co., 921 So. 2d 587, 591 (Fla.2006). See generally section 48.193, Florida Statutes; White v. Pepsico, Inc., 568 So. 2d 886, 888 (Fla.1990); Venetian Salami Co. v. Parthenais, 554 So. 2d 499, 500 (Fla.1989) (in order to subject a defendant to personal jurisdiction, “due process requires that the defendant have certain minimum contacts with the forum”).

First prong: Specific Jurisdiction or General Jurisdiction
Long-arm jurisdiction over a foreign corporation or entity may be either specific See sections 48.193(1)(a)-(h), Florida Statutes (where the defendant either “personally or through an agent does any of the acts enumerated in those subsections”) or general see section 48.193(2), Florida Statutes (where the defendant is “engaged in substantial and not isolated activity”). See Caiazzo v. American Royal Arts Corp., 73 So. 3d 245, 250 (Fla. 4th DCA 2011)(considering the role the internet plays in a specific and general jurisdiction analysis). See also Northwestern Aircraft Capital Corp. v. Stewart, 842 So. 2d 190, 193 (Fla. 5th DCA 2003); Christus St. Joseph's Health Sys. v. Witt Biomedical Corp., 805 So. 2d 1050, 1052 (Fla. 5th DCA 2002); Helicopteros Nacionales de Colombia, S.A. v. Hall, 466 U.S. 408, 414 (1984) (determining the extent of a State's judicial power over persons outside of its borders under the International Shoe standard can be undertaken through two different approaches—by finding specific jurisdiction based on conduct connected to the suit or by finding general jurisdiction); Christian Science Bd. of Dirs. of the First Church of Christ, Scientist v. Nolan, 259 F. 3d 209, 216 (4th Cir.2001).

If an entity’s contacts with Florida are also the basis for the suit, those contacts may establish specific jurisdiction. See section 48.193(1)(a)-(h), Florida Statutes; Caiazzo v. American Royal Arts Corp., 73 So. 3d 245, 255-56 (Fla. 4th DCA 2011)(applying traditional minimum contacts analysis, whether or not the internet is involved); Canale v. Rubin, 20 So. 3d 463, 467 (Fla. 2d DCA 2009). In determining specific jurisdiction, courts consider (1) the extent to which the defendant purposefully availed itself of the privilege of conducting activities in Florida; (2) whether the claims arise out of those activities directed at Florida; and (3) whether the defendant’s contacts with Florida are such that the defendant should reasonably anticipate being brought into court in Florida. See Corporacion Aero Angeles, S.A. v. Fernandez, 69 So.3d 295, 299 (Fla. 4th DCA 2011).

On the other hand, if an entity’s contacts with Florida are not also the basis for the claims, jurisdiction must arise from the entity’s general, more persistent, but unrelated contacts with Florida. Section 48.193(2), Florida Statutes. To establish general jurisdiction over the entity, its activities in Florida must have been “continuous and systematic,” a more demanding standard than is necessary for establishing specific jurisdiction. See Helicopteros Nacionales de Colombia, S.A., 466 U.S. at 414; Biloki v. Majestic Greeting Card Co., Inc., 33 So.3d 815, 820 (Fla. 4th DCA 2010); Canale v. Rubin, 20 So. 3d 463, 467 (Fla. 2d DCA 2009) (“General jurisdiction requires far more wide-ranging contacts with the forum state than specific jurisdiction, and it is thus more difficult to establish.”)

Specific jurisdiction
Florida law provides that an entity that personally or through an agent does certain acts submits itself to the jurisdiction of the courts of Florida for any action arising from the doing the acts. Fla. Stat. §§48.193(1)(a), (1)(b) and (1)(f).  These acts include:

• Operating, conducting, engaging in, or carrying on a business or business venture in Florida;
• Having an office or agency in Florida;
• Committing a tortious act in Florida;
• Causing injury to persons or property within Florida arising out of an act or omission by the entity outside this state, if, at or about the time of the injury, either:
  • (1) The entity was engaged in solicitation or service activities within Florida; or
  • (2) Products, materials, or things processed, serviced, or manufactured by the entity anywhere were used or consumed within Florida in the ordinary course of commerce, trade, or use.

The absence of sufficient jurisdictional facts alleged by the suing party against an entity gives grounds for dismissal for lack of jurisdiction. See Reynolds American, Inc. v. Gero, 56 So. 3d 117, 119-20 (Fla. 3d DCA 2011) (reversing denial of nonresident parent and subsidiary’s motion to dismiss because there were insufficient jurisdictional facts existing to confer personal jurisdiction over them under Florida's long-arm statute).

General jurisdiction
Florida courts have jurisdiction over a foreign entity when it is engaged in “substantial and not isolated activity” within Florida, whether such activity is wholly interstate, intrastate, or otherwise, and whether or not the claim arises from that activity. “Substantial and not isolated activity within the state” means that the entity must be found to have maintained continuous and systematic general business contacts here in Florida.  See Vos, B.V. v. Payen, 15 So. 3d 734, 736 (Fla. 3d DCA 2009); Gadea v. Star Cruises, Ltd., 949 So. 2d 1143, 1145 (Fla. 3d DCA 2007).

Showing continuous and systematic contacts is more demanding than what must be shown to establish specific jurisdiction because section 48.193(2), Florida Statutes does not require any connection between a petitioner’s claim and the foreign defendant's Florida activities. Vos, B.V., 15 So. 3d at 736.

By itself, ownership of property is insufficient to subject a nonresident defendant to jurisdiction of the courts, unless the cause of action asserted arises out of such ownership. See Fla. Stat. §48.193(1)(c); Nichols v. Paulucci, 652 So. 2d 389, 393 n. 5 (Fla. 5th DCA 1995); Forrest v. Forrest, 839 So. 2d 839, 841 (Fla. 4th DCA 2003).  Likewise, an out-of-state party's contract with a Florida resident alone is insufficient to establish minimum contacts. See SDM Corp. v. Kevco Fin. Corp., 540 So.2d 931, 932 (Fla. 2d DCA 1989).

Whether an entity targeted a Florida resident through website activity at Florida or operated an active or passive website may be considered as part of the determination of minimum contacts and due process. See Caiazzo v. American Royal Arts Corp., 73 So. 3d 245, 255-56 (Fla. 4th DCA 2011). See also Internet Solutions Corp. v. Marshall, 39 So.3d 1201, 1207 (Fla.2010) (the Supreme Court of Florida  addressing the narrow question of the type of internet activity that will fall under the tortious acts section of the long arm statute, concluded that posting allegedly defamatory web statements about a Florida resident directed to potential readers within Florida and accessing of such statements in Florida were sufficient facts to constitute committing a tortious act within Florida); Carmel & Co v. Silverfish, LLC, 2013 WL 1177857 (SD FL 2013)(entity purposefully availed itself of Florida forum through website sales and advertising to Florida consumers, and such availing related to cause of action for trademark infringement).

Second prong: Constitutional Due Process Principles
After the first determination regarding a basis for long-arm jurisdiction is made, the second inquiry a court must make involves constitutional analysis that is controlled by United States Supreme Court precedent interpreting the Due Process Clause.  This second inquiry requires a party to establish that the entity has sufficient minimum contacts with the state to meet the federal requirements of fair play and substantial justice.  See Burger King Corp. v. Rudzewicz, 471 U.S. 462, 474 (1985).  The degree of contacts must be enough for the entity to reasonably anticipate being brought into court in Florida to defend the claims brought against it in the case.  Id. at 475-76. Caiazzo v. American Royal Arts Corp., 73 So. 3d 245, 255-56 (Fla. 4th DCA 2011) (defendant could reasonably anticipate being sued in Florida based on the extent of its website business originating in Florida, and posting on its website of allegedly defamatory statements targeted into Florida at a competitor’s business headquartered in Florida, to damage the competitor’s reputation).

If a spouse successfully alleges sufficient jurisdictional facts to bring the entity into the case under the Long Arm Statute, exercise of jurisdiction over the entity in Florida must still be consistent with due process principles.  The test for “minimum contacts” depends on whether the entity’s “conduct and connection” with Florida are such that the entity should reasonably anticipate being haled into court” in Florida. See World-Wide Volkswagen Corp. v. Woodson, 444 U.S. 286, 297(1980). The paramount question is, “Has the entity purposefully established minimum contacts in Florida to anticipate being haled into the family court in Florida?”

Alter Ego Basis for Jurisdiction
The two-step process for establishing long-arm jurisdiction does not apply when a spouse is traveling under a different theory for jurisdiction: the alter ego theory.  As an alternative basis for jurisdiction, Florida courts have recognized an “alter ego theory” that permits a nonresident shareholder of a resident corporation to be subjected to long-arm jurisdiction, when it is alleged and evidence establishes that the nonresident entity has operated as the mere instrumentality (or “alter ego”) of the resident shareholder or entity and the other party engaged in improper conduct in the formation of the entity. See Bellairs v. Mohrmann, 716 So. 2d 320, 323 (Fla. 2d DCA 1998); Dania Jai-Alai Palace, Inc. v. Sykes, 450 So. 2d 1114, 1120-21 (Fla.1984).

To support jurisdiction under an alter ego theory, the suing spouse must allege facts sufficient to “pierce the corporate veil” of the entity. See WH Smith, PLC v. Benages & Associates, Inc., 51 So. 3d 577, 582-83 (Fla. 3d DCA 2010) (reversing denial of motion to dismiss because the plaintiff failed to establish personal jurisdiction under the alter ego theory); Woods v. Jorgensen, 522 So. 2d 935, 937 (Fla. 1st DCA 1988). See also Hobbs v. Don Mealey Chevrolet, Inc., 642 So. 2d 1149, 1155 (Fla. 5th DCA 1994); Qualley v. International Air Serv. Co., 595 So. 2d 194, 196 (Fla. 3d DCA 1992).  The veil may be pierced if a party can prove both that the entity is a “mere instrumentality” or alter ego of the other party and that the other party engaged in “improper conduct” in the formation or use of the entity. See Bellairs v. Mohrmann, 716 So. 2d 320, 323 (Fla. 2d DCA 1998); Dania Jai-Alai Palace, Inc. v. Sykes, 450 So. 2d 1114, 1120-21 (Fla.1984).

In the divorce context, an entity may be so “inextricably intertwined” with a spouse that joinder of the entity is appropriate. See Hoecker v. Hoecker, 426 So. 2d 1191, 1192 (Fla. 4th DCA 1983) (error to dismiss corporation from dissolution action in light of husband’s testimony, “I’m the company,” and evidence of the parties’ course of conduct that demonstrated a blending of marital and business partnerships).  The alter ego theory has been extended to allow a trial court to inquire whether a non-profit corporation is the alter ego of a spouse in a dissolution proceeding for the purpose of achieving equitable distribution.  See Barineau v. Barineau, 662 So. 2d 1008, 1009 (Fla. 1st DCA 1995) (reversing final summary judgment entered in favor of not-for-profit religious organization and remanding for determination of whether the corporation was engaged in improper conduct involving assets that were rightfully marital assets that could be taken into account in equitable distribution).

A spouse may invoke the “outsider reverse corporate piercing theory” when a corporation’s controlling shareholder has formed or used an entity to defraud creditors be evading liability for pre-existing obligations.  Under such circumstances, one spouse may seek to hold the entity liable for the debts of the other spouse who formed or used the entity to secrete assets and thereby avoid preexisting personal liability. See Braswell v. Ryan Investments, 989 So. 2d 38, 39 (Fla. 3d DCA 2008) (denying reverse veil piercing because taking title to assets in corporate name preceded the former wife’s claims and former husband’s obligations).  The remedy is not available when to the spouse who has not alleged and cannot establish that the other spouse used the corporate form to prevent execution on a liability that did not yet exist at the time of the entity was used. Id.

In the absence of necessary allegations by a spouse in a pleading attempting to bring in an entity on an alter-ego theory, the pleading is subject to dismissal.  See In re: Big Foot Properties, Inc., 2012 WL 6892645, 23 Fla. L. Weekly Fed. B 505 (Bankr. MD FL 2012).

Checklist for challenges to Alter Ego Allegations:
Has the pleading alleged the alter ego theory as a basis for jurisdiction over the entity?

• What allegations, if any, have been made that the corporate veil should be pierced because the spouse is a “mere instrumentality” or alter ego of the entity?
• What dominance or control of the entity has the spouse exerted? Does such dominance or control reflect that the entity has no independent existence in fact?
• What allegations, if any, have been made that the spouse engaged in improper conduct in the formation or use of the entity, in the face of preexisting obligations, such as a device to defraud creditors (including the other spouse) or to defeat equitable distribution of marital assets?
• Where is the entity’s principal place of business, and what is its market?
• Does the entity own property, have a business agent or conduct business in Florida?
• How have the finances and business operations of the entity been kept independent from the affairs of the spouse who is the owner or control person?
• What separate management, bank accounts, observation of corporate formalities and other facts support this independence?
• How are decisions made and by whom?

Jurisdiction over Property at Issue
When an action between the parties in a divorce case is with respect to property located within the court’s jurisdictional boundaries, it does not matter if the owners or those claiming an interest in the property reside outside of Florida.  A typical example in a divorce case is an action to partition real property or personal property in which the spouses and another owner, such as a foreign trust or corporation, co-own the property.  Under these circumstances, jurisdiction over the property lies in the circuit court of the county in which the property is physically located, regardless of where the foreign corporate entity or trust is principally doing business.   See Ashourian v. Ashourian, 483 So. 2d 486, 487 (Fla 1st DCA 1986) (corporation dismissed as party because the wife’s general allegations against it failed to state cause of action for specific relief); Sandstrom v. Sandstrom, 617 So. 2d 327, 329 (Fla 4th DCA 1993) (the court lacked jurisdiction to order a transfer of a corporation’s assets because it was not made a party); Nichols v. Nichols, 578 So. 2d 851, 852 (Fla 2d DCA 1991) (an order distributing corporate property in a dissolution of marriage proceeding was reversed because the corporation was not made a party); Keller v. Keller, 521 So. 2d 273, 276 (Fla. 5th DCA 1988) (the court had no authority to award wife a Mercedes owned by husband’s corporation because the corporation was not joined).

Affidavits: Important!
An entity drawn into a family law dispute typically must assemble sworn affidavits supporting challenges it may make to service of process or personal jurisdiction or both. In reviewing a motion to quash service or dismiss, the court likely will derive facts from the affidavits, transcripts, and other records.  See Wendt v. Horowitz, 822 So. 2d 1252, 1254 (Fla.2002);WH Smith, PLC v. Benages & Associates, Inc., 51 So. 3d 577, 582-83 (Fla. 3d DCA 2010); See also Venetian Salami Co. v. Parthenais, 554 So. 2d 499, 502 (Fla.1989) (setting forth the process for determining factual issues raised by a motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction); Bellairs v. Mohrmann, 716 So. 2d 320, 322 (Fla. 2d DCA 1998) (following the Venetian Salami procedure with respect to the alter ego theory for establishing jurisdiction); Extendicare, Inc. v. Estate of McGillen, 957 So. 2d 58, 63 (Fla. 5th DCA 2007) (relying on defendant’s affidavits to refute the jurisdictional allegations in a complaint, and finding that plaintiff failed to meet its burden to come forward with sworn proof to contradict the jurisdictional allegations in the affidavit to establish a basis for jurisdiction).

The requirement of affidavits may be excused if the spouse who has sued the entity fails to plead a basis for jurisdiction, in which case the burden of establishing lack of jurisdiction never shifts to the entity. Fishman, Inc. v. Fishman, 657 So. 2d 44, 45 (Fla. 4th DCA 1995).  In Fishman, the wife joined three out-of-state corporations in her petition for dissolution of marriage.  The trial court denied the corporations’ motion to dismiss, apparently because they failed to file any affidavits in support of their position that they lacked the minimum contacts with Florida to satisfy due process.  The appellate court reversed, because the wife failed to plead in the first place a legally sufficient basis for long-arm jurisdiction, so the burden never shifted to the corporations to come forward with sworn affidavits to plead a negative—that there was no jurisdiction.

Be Prepared to Provide Facts for Affidavits Regarding

• The circumstances surrounding service of process
• Facts to refute incorrect allegations in the spouse’s pleading that purport to allege a basis for jurisdiction
• The nature and scope of the entity’s business and property
• The extent, if any, of agents or contacts in Florida
• Other specific facts directed to specific personal jurisdiction, general personal jurisdiction or the alter ego theory, if alleged.