All You Need To Know About Process Servers

Legal documents are served to individuals through the process of service. Such documents can range from divorce papers to those requesting a defendant’s presence at a court hearing. If you are wondering what process servers are and what they can do for you, we share with you everything you need to know in this article.

The Job of a Process Server

The job of a process server is to serve legal documents to an individual. This can be done at locations such as the individual’s home or office or in a public space if they are unable to be reached at home or work. A licensed process sever has to be over the age of 18 and can be an attorney, a county officer, a professional process server or even a friend. However, this person cannot be involved with the case.

Process servers and businesses offering process services must be registered with the clerk of court in their county. In the case of businesses, they must also hold a certificate of registration. However, not everyone who serves legal documents need to register. Below are some exceptions:

• Attorneys and their employees
• Parties who are appointed by the court
• Licensed private investigators (PIs) and their employees
• Professional photocopiers

Although process servers are required to understand the laws governing process serving in their state, there are no specific educational requirements.

How Legal Documents Are Served

When serving documents, there are things that a process server is not allowed to do. Papers can be served at locations such as the individual’s home or office or in a public space. However, process servers cannot:

• Pretend to be a law enforcement officer in order to get someone to open the door.
• Serve papers to a minor – legal documents can be served to a party 18 years or older who is not the defendant.
• Break or enter a locked building without permission – they can wait outside for the person to leave and serve them the papers in a public place.
• Use threats to force a person to open the door.
• Stalk or harass individuals – however, they can wait outside an individual’s home or office or that of a family member or friend’s if they have reason to believe the defendant is inside.

Why Choose Process Service Network for the Process of Service?

Headquartered in California, Process Service Network has 7 offices internationally. Regardless of where in the country you are located, we can assist you with the domestic service of process. In We are able to serve documents via email in limited jurisdictions and obtain clear documentation that the defendant has received and acknowledged the service of process. As the only service processer who makes use of this system, we can also conduct process service by publication if a defendant’s whereabouts remain unknown.

If you would like more information about our services or to engage a process server, please do not hesitate to contact us today.