Frequently Asked Questions

Three options, all easy:

• Online quote form — fastest path; submit through any service page
• Email — send documents and matter details to info@served123.com
• Phone — call (800) 321-2377 Mon–Fri 9–5 EST and we'll walk through it with you

No account required. Quotes are written, complimentary, and carry no obligation to proceed.

For service of process, the typical intake includes the documents to be served (PDF preferred), the recipient's full name and service address, the case caption and court information, and any deadlines or service preferences. For specialty services, requirements vary — we'll ask follow-up questions if anything is missing. Don't have everything? Submit what you have and we'll follow up rather than make you gather it all upfront.

Documents can be uploaded directly through our online quote forms or attached to an email to info@served123.com. All transfers occur over TLS-encrypted connections. For especially sensitive matters, we can provide a secure link or accept documents through your firm's preferred secure-share platform on request.

We respond to quote requests within 5–10 minutes during business hours. Quotes are written, free, and include any foreseeable supplementary fees so there are no surprises later. Outside business hours, we respond first thing the next business day.

No account required for individual matters. You submit, we quote, you authorize, we execute, you receive the affidavit. For volume clients placing multiple matters per month, we set up a standing account with consolidated invoicing and a dedicated coordinator — but that's an upgrade for convenience, not a requirement.

Every matter receives instant email status updates at each milestone — order confirmation, server assigned, attempt completed, affidavit ready. You can reply to any update email, contact your dedicated coordinator, or call (800) 321-2377 with the case reference for an interim status check.

Email is our default — instant, written, archivable, and easy to forward to colleagues. We also support phone, text message for urgent updates, and secure portal communication for clients who require it. Every matter has a single point of contact (your dedicated coordinator) so you're not bouncing between departments.

Yes — contact us as soon as possible. Changes before dispatch are typically free and easy (corrected name spellings, revised case numbers, additional documents). Changes after dispatch may require additional work or fees, especially if the server has already attempted the original instructions. A change of service address after submission is treated as a new job and incurs a separate fee.

Reply to any email update from your case file — it routes directly to your dedicated coordinator. You can also call (800) 321-2377 Mon–Fri 9–5 EST, or email info@served123.com with the case reference. Same-day tier matters include a direct line to the coordinator handling that specific dispatch.

Service of process is the formal delivery of legal documents — Summons, Complaints, Subpoenas, Orders — to a party or witness in a legal proceeding. It provides official notice that legal action is being taken or testimony is required. A licensed process server physically delivers the documents in compliance with the applicable jurisdiction's rules and prepares an affidavit of service documenting the date, time, location, manner of service, and recipient.

We serve the full range of civil litigation documents:

• Summons & Complaints (state and federal)
• Subpoenas Duces Tecum (records) and Ad Testificandum (testimony)
• Notices of Deposition
• Orders of Protection / Restraining Orders
• Rule-to-Show-Cause and Contempt orders
• Notices & Demands (statutory and contractual)
• Eviction notices and landlord-tenant filings
• Discovery requests, motions, and time-sensitive court orders

If your document type isn't listed, contact us — we likely handle it.

Four tiers, all starting prices:

Every tier includes 3 attempts, instant email updates, a dedicated coordinator, court-ready affidavit, and secure records retention.

Each order includes up to three (3) diligent attempts at a single address, generally varied across days and times. If all three are unsuccessful, you receive a documented affidavit of non-service detailing each attempt — date, time, address, observations, and outcome — which courts can rely on to support a motion for alternative service. We'll also discuss next steps such as skip tracing, alternate addresses, or a stake-out attempt.

• Personal service — the documents are physically handed to the named recipient. The strongest form of service in every jurisdiction.
• Substitute service — when personal service isn't possible after diligent effort, the documents may be left with a person of suitable age and discretion at the recipient's residence or workplace, depending on jurisdictional rules.
• Posted service — when authorized by court order, documents may be conspicuously posted at the property and supplemented by mail. This typically follows a motion for alternative service.

The exact rules vary by state and the nature of the action; we apply the appropriate method based on jurisdictional requirements and your instructions.

Yes. Specific-time service requests are supported when the recipient is only reachable during a known shift or appointment. Stakeout-style attempts — where a server observes and waits for an opportunity to serve — are coordinated as well. Both fall under our supplementary Specific-Time Service Request fee, disclosed in advance and authorized before dispatch.

• Correctional facilities — coordinated through facility credentialing and visitor protocols. A Restricted Facility Surcharge applies.
• Hospitals and care facilities — coordinated through institutional liaison; service is handled with appropriate sensitivity.
• Military installations — coordinated through base provost or judge advocate as required by installation policy.
• Out of country — handled through Hague Convention or non-Hague international service channels. Timelines are typically 2–8 months.

Any applicable supplementary fees are quoted before commencement.

Yes. Corporations and LLCs are typically served on their registered agent as listed with the Secretary of State, with the affidavit identifying the entity, the agent, and the manner of service. We can also serve corporate officers, managing agents, or other persons authorized by statute. Government entities follow agency-specific service rules, which we apply based on the body being served (federal agency, state agency, municipality, school district, etc.).

Yes. Each physical address is a separate job with a separate fee — including different units within the same building. A change of address after order submission constitutes a new job and incurs a new charge. If you anticipate the recipient may be at multiple addresses (residence + workplace), we can quote both upfront and dispatch in parallel for faster resolution.

You receive a court-ready affidavit of service or non-service in PDF format, formatted to the receiving court's evidentiary standards. By default the affidavit is executed as an affirmation under penalty of perjury, which is accepted by virtually all courts. Notarization is provided where the receiving court requires it or on request — let us know at intake if your jurisdiction or judge requires a notary jurat. It's your responsibility to file the affidavit with the court unless we've separately agreed to handle filing.

Yes — we format affidavits to the standards of the receiving court, including required statutory language, jurat type, and any state-specific elements (e.g., New York's CPLR 2106 affirmation language, Georgia's penalty-of-perjury wording). If the court has a specific local form or rule, send it to us at intake and we'll match it exactly. If a clerk rejects an affidavit for clerical reasons, we re-issue at no charge.

Subpoena domestication converts a foreign (out-of-state) subpoena into one issued by a court in the discovery state, consistent with that jurisdiction's procedure. It's required when a case is pending in one state but a witness or records custodian is located in another. Without domestication, the foreign subpoena may not be enforceable where compliance is required — a hospital, bank, or witness in another state can refuse to comply with a subpoena that hasn't been issued under their state's authority.

Yes. We handle domestications under the Uniform Interstate Depositions and Discovery Act (UIDDA) in adopting states (the substantial majority of U.S. jurisdictions), as well as the alternate procedures required in non-UIDDA states. We identify the applicable procedure at intake and flag jurisdiction-specific requirements — motion practice, commission requirements, court appearance — before proceeding.

Four stages:

• 1. Intake & Review — confirming venue, recipient type, and jurisdictional requirements before proceeding.
• 2. Preparation — drafting required forms, notices, and the local subpoena package.
• 3. Filing & Issuance — filing with the proper clerk under UIDDA or applicable local procedure, including coordination with local counsel where required.
• 4. Service & Proof — coordinating compliant service of the domesticated subpoena and delivering a court-ready affidavit of service.

Timelines vary by jurisdiction and the complexity of the underlying matter. UIDDA states with electronic clerk filing typically complete domestication within a week or two. Non-UIDDA states or jurisdictions requiring motion practice can take several weeks. Service of the domesticated subpoena follows issuance and proceeds at standard service tier timelines. Specific timing for your jurisdiction is included in your written quote at intake.

For most domestications:

• The foreign subpoena issued in the originating state (signed by the issuing attorney or clerk)
• The case caption from the originating action
• The recipient's full name and address in the discovery state
• Any document requests, deposition notice, or scope of testimony attached to the subpoena
• The compliance deadline required for production or appearance

We follow up at intake if anything else is needed for the specific jurisdiction.

Some jurisdictions require local counsel to issue or sign the subpoena. Where local counsel is required, it's included in the quote we provide — you don't need to find or retain a separate attorney in the discovery state. We handle local counsel coordination directly so you receive a single all-in price covering preparation, filing, issuance, and service.

All three primary types:

• Subpoena Duces Tecum (SDT) — for production of documents or records (medical, financial, employment, electronic)
• Subpoena Ad Testificandum — for compelled testimony at deposition or trial
• Notice of Deposition — when paired with a subpoena for a non-party witness

We also handle hybrid subpoenas combining records production with deposition testimony, which are common in commercial litigation.

Statutory witness fees and mileage are required in most jurisdictions when serving a subpoena on a non-party witness. The amounts are set by statute and vary by state and federal forum. Witness fees are passed through at cost — billed at the statutory amount, no markup, itemized on the invoice — and tendered to the witness with the subpoena at service.

Yes — service of the domesticated subpoena is included in our standard end-to-end domestication package. Once the local clerk issues the subpoena, we coordinate compliant service against the witness or records custodian and return a court-ready affidavit. You receive a single coordinated workflow — preparation, filing, issuance, service, proof — rather than juggling separate vendors at each stage.

Modifications before filing are typically straightforward — corrected dates, scope adjustments, or refined document requests. After filing and issuance, modifications usually require re-issuance through the clerk and can incur additional fees. Contact us as soon as a modification is needed and we'll outline the options for your specific jurisdiction.

Skip tracing is the process of locating individuals whose current whereabouts are unknown — defendants, witnesses, deponents, judgment debtors, missing heirs, and other parties who must be served, contacted, or notified. We provide skip tracing to attorneys, law firms, paralegals, investigators, compliance teams, insurance carriers, and self-represented parties for lawful legal purposes only.

Reports typically include:

• Current address and alternate address candidates
• Practical confidence indicators on each lead
• Phone numbers and email addresses where available
• Employer and workplace leads when present in licensed sources
• Vehicle and property associations
• Notes on data sourcing and recency

We prioritize recent data signals and cross-check leads where possible — not just stale public records. Results are shared only with the requesting party for the stated lawful purpose.

Yes, when performed for lawful purposes. We perform skip tracing exclusively in support of litigation, judgment recovery, compliance, and other recognized legitimate uses. We do not provide services intended for harassment, unlawful surveillance, stalking, domestic interference, or prohibited consumer-reporting uses under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, GLBA, or other applicable law. Use of skip trace results outside the stated purpose violates our terms.

Skip tracing is probabilistic — we work from licensed databases and cross-reference signals to surface the most likely current locations. Quality depends on how recently the subject has had address-changing life events (rental moves, vehicle registration changes, employment shifts) and whether they're actively trying to remain hidden. We grade leads by confidence and flag stale data so you can prioritize attempts. Skip tracing identifies likely locations; it does not guarantee them.

Standard skip traces are typically returned within 1–3 business days. Rush requests can be expedited depending on the depth of search required. The time required varies with the available identifying information — a name plus last known address typically returns faster results than a name alone.

At minimum, the subject's full legal name. Additional identifiers significantly improve accuracy and speed:

• Last known address (even if outdated)
• Date of birth or approximate age
• Last known employer
• Phone number or email (even outdated)
• Vehicle make/model or license plate (where known)
• Aliases, maiden names, or known associates

More information up front leads to higher-confidence results and fewer wasted attempts.

Yes — and most clients with hard-to-find subjects do. Our Skip Trace + Service Strategy combines locate work with service planning so we prioritize the strongest address candidates, reduce wasted attempts, and maximize first-attempt success. Pricing is bundled and disclosed up front; you don't pay separately for full attempts at addresses we've already deprioritized.

Skip trace reports are typically used as investigative work product to support service or contact efforts — not as standalone evidence. If you need supporting documentation for a motion for alternative service (e.g., a sworn declaration of due diligence), we can provide an investigator's affidavit summarizing search efforts and lead disposition. Discuss specific evidentiary requirements at intake.

We retrieve case dockets, certified copies, pleadings and motions, orders and judgments, court transcripts, and general filings and exhibits from local, state, and federal courts nationwide. Common requests include divorce decrees, probate records, criminal histories, judgment records, and complete case files for appeal or post-judgment matters. Rush requests are accommodated where the court can support them.

No — court-assessed filing and copy fees are separate from our service fee and passed through at cost. They vary widely by court, document type, and certification requirements. All foreseeable court fees are disclosed in your written quote and require client authorization before we advance payment to the court. There is no markup on pass-through court fees.

Yes. We handle both electronic and physical court filings based on the court's rules. We manage submission routing, deadline compliance, and provide written confirmation of filing on every order, including stamped/conformed copies where the court returns them. Speed options range from routine handling through same-day rush filings, subject to the court's own intake processing.

For courts with online dockets and digital records, retrieval is typically same-day or next-day. For courts requiring physical clerk visits or off-site archive retrieval, turnaround is usually 3–7 business days depending on the court's processing time. Rush retrieval is available where the court can accommodate it. Specific timing is included in your quote.

Yes. We retrieve and deliver certified copies, exemplified copies, and triple-certified (apostille-ready) copies based on your downstream use. The court charges per-page certification fees that are passed through at cost. Specify the certification level needed at intake — exemplified copies are typically required for use in another court, while triple-certified are required for international apostille processing.

We dispatch a field agent to the courthouse to pull, copy, and certify records on site. This is common for older cases not yet digitized, sealed records requiring clerk supervision, and microfilm or off-site archive matters. Travel time and clerk-window wait time are factored into the quote.

Yes — federal district courts, bankruptcy courts, and circuit courts of appeals nationwide. Federal filings typically run through PACER/CM-ECF for electronic filing and ECF for retrieval; physical clerk visits are handled by field agents in the relevant district. Federal pass-through fees (PACER charges, certified copy fees) are billed at cost.

Yes — same-day filings are routinely handled when received with sufficient time before the court's daily intake cutoff. For courts that close at 5 PM, we generally need clean documents in hand by mid-afternoon to file the same day; the exact cutoff depends on the court. Rush filings carry a same-day handling fee, disclosed at intake.

Sealed records are accessible only with appropriate authorization — a court order, party-status credentials, or counsel-of-record verification. We can advise on the correct procedure and submit an unsealing motion package where appropriate, but the underlying access decision rests with the court. Restricted records that require party verification are retrieved upon submission of the appropriate credentials.

We dispatch a certified notary professional to your location — office, home, hospital, assisted-living facility, or any agreed-upon site. You can request a specific appointment date and window through our order form. We can also bring printed documents (specify at intake) and offer mailing options after notarization: First Class, Certified Mail, Priority Mail, and Express Mail. Availability varies by location and time.

All standard notarial acts:

• Acknowledgments — confirming the signer is who they say and signed willingly (deeds, contracts, powers of attorney)
• Jurats — administering an oath or affirmation to the signer of an affidavit or sworn statement
• Signature witnessing — observing and verifying signing
• Copy certifications — certifying photocopies of original documents (where state law permits)
• Oaths and affirmations — administered for testimonial or evidentiary purposes

Specify the act type at intake so the notary brings the correct form language.

A current government-issued photo ID: driver's license, state ID, U.S. passport, U.S. military ID, or permanent resident card. The ID must be valid (not expired) and bear a photograph and signature. The name on the ID must match the name on the document being notarized — flag any discrepancies at intake (recent name changes, marriage, etc.) so we can advise on the correct procedure.

Remote Online Notarization (RON) is supported in states that have authorized it. RON requires audio-visual technology, identity verification through a third-party service, and a notary commissioned in a RON-authorized state. Discuss your specific requirements at intake — for some matters, in-person mobile notary is faster and simpler than the RON setup process.

An apostille is an international authentication certificate issued under the Hague Apostille Convention that certifies a U.S.-issued document for use in foreign countries. You need an apostille when a U.S. document — birth certificate, power of attorney, corporate resolution, court judgment, academic transcript, marriage certificate — must be officially recognized by authorities in another Hague Convention country.

We process apostilles for all Hague Convention member countries — over 120 nations including the UK, EU member states, Japan, Mexico, Brazil, India, Australia, and most of Latin America. For non-Hague countries, we coordinate authentication through alternate channels: state-level certification, U.S. Department of State authentication, and embassy/consulate legalization. Provide the destination country at intake so we confirm the correct procedure.

Standard processing typically runs 1–3 weeks for state-level apostilles, depending on the issuing state. Federal documents requiring U.S. State Department authentication generally take 6–12 weeks. Expedited service is available in many states for an additional fee. Embassy legalization for non-Hague countries adds further time. Specific timing is included in your quote.

Both certify documents for international use, but the procedure differs based on the destination country:

• Apostille — single certificate sufficient for any Hague Convention member country. Issued by the originating state or the U.S. Department of State.
• Authentication / legalization — multi-step process for non-Hague countries: notary → state certification → U.S. State Department → destination country's embassy or consulate.

We handle both end-to-end based on the destination country.

Same-day secure delivery of legal documents and packages between courts, opposing counsel, clients, and other parties. Common requests include filed pleadings, settlement packages, signed agreements, original documents requiring physical delivery, and time-sensitive correspondence. We provide confirmation of delivery on every assignment, with the recipient name, location, and timestamp.

Yes. For documents requiring documented chain of custody — original signed instruments, sealed evidence, settlement payments, original certified court records — we provide tracked custody from pickup to delivery, with timestamped handoffs and signature receipts at each transfer point. Specify chain-of-custody handling at intake; standard couriers do not provide this level of documentation.

Every service of process tier includes:

• Up to three (3) diligent attempts at a single address
• A court-ready affidavit (perjury affirmation by default; notarization where required or requested)
• Instant email status updates throughout the matter
• A dedicated coordinator as your single point of contact
• Secure long-term retention of case records

Specialty services (subpoena domestication, apostille, etc.) include their own scope-specific inclusions detailed in the written quote.

No. Every charge is disclosed and approved before work begins. Some matters carry supplementary fees — for example, a rural address, restricted facility, or same-day rush. These are itemized in writing and require your authorization before any related work commences. There are no undisclosed charges on a Served 123 invoice.

All major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, AmEx, Discover), ACH transfer, business check, and law-firm IOLTA / trust accounts. Approved volume accounts can be invoiced on net-30 terms. We do not surcharge for paying by check or ACH versus card.

Yes. We accept payments drawn on law-firm IOLTA accounts and operating accounts. Provide the trust account information at intake and we'll structure the invoice accordingly. We also support split payments — fees from operating, costs from trust — when your firm requires that allocation for client billing purposes.

Yes — for approved volume accounts. We typically extend net-30 terms to firms placing roughly 10+ matters per month with a verifiable billing history. The net-30 setup includes a credit application and standard reference verification. Solo practitioners and one-off clients are billed at the time of order.

Firms placing roughly 10+ matters per month qualify for tiered volume rates, a dedicated account manager, consolidated monthly invoicing, and custom SLAs. We can also pre-authorize routine supplementary fees against your account so individual matters don't require case-by-case approval. Contact us with your typical monthly volume and we'll send a tailored rate card.

Yes. Clients can cancel at any time — cancellation handling, including any refund of fees already paid or work already performed, is governed by our Refund & Cancellation Policy. The policy details exact cutoffs, what's refundable, and how requests are processed. If you're considering a cancellation, contact us at (800) 321-2377 and we'll walk through the specifics for your matter.

Process serving fees compensate for diligent effort, not for a guaranteed outcome. If the address is bad or the subject is evasive, you'll receive a documented affidavit of non-service that's still court-filable. The base fee remains earned, but we'll discuss next steps — re-attempts at a corrected address, skip tracing, or alternative service — and only quote additional work once you authorize it.

Always. Multi-state coordinated service, vessel or remote-site service, trial subpoena coordination, foreign-language requirements, or any other atypical matter is reviewed individually and quoted with a written scope before work begins. Submit your matter with whatever detail you have and we'll come back with a complete quote — typically within minutes during business hours.