Service of Process FAQ

Service of process is the formal delivery of legal documents to a party, giving them notice of an action and an opportunity to respond. A process server delivers the documents using court-compliant methods, documents each attempt, and returns a filing-ready affidavit of service recording the date, time, location, manner of service, and recipient.

Proper service protects a party's due-process rights and the enforceability of the outcome. Defective or improper service can lead to a case being dismissed, a default judgment being vacated, or costly delays. Courts require valid, well-documented service before a matter can move forward — which is why disciplined execution and a clean affidavit matter as much as the delivery itself.

• Personal service — delivery directly to the named recipient. The strongest form of service in every jurisdiction.
• Substitute service — leaving the documents with a person of suitable age and discretion at the recipient's home or workplace after diligent attempts, where the rules allow.
• Posted service (nail-and-mail) — conspicuously posting the documents and supplementing by mail, usually only when authorized by court order.

The correct method depends on the jurisdiction and the nature of the action; we apply it based on the governing rules and your instructions.

We serve the full range of civil litigation documents, including:

• Summons & Complaints / Petitions (state and federal)
• Subpoenas — records (Duces Tecum) and testimony (Ad Testificandum)
• Orders to Show Cause and notices of motion
• Restraining orders and orders of protection
• Eviction and landlord-tenant notices
• Family law filings — divorce, custody, support
• Small claims papers and other court notices

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

We provide nationwide coverage across all 50 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico through a vetted network of local process servers familiar with each jurisdiction's procedural rules. International service is available worldwide through the Hague Convention or other jurisdiction-specific channels where permitted.

Yes. International service is coordinated through the Hague Convention's Central Authority channels or through alternate channels in non-Hague countries. Translation and language-specific server placement are arranged as needed and identified in your written quote at intake. International timelines are typically longer and are confirmed for your destination country before work begins.

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. If you have a known registered agent, include that entity name and address in your submission.

Yes. These locations are coordinated through access notes, building rules, and facility credentialing. Please include gate codes (if authorized), best entry points, and any prior access issues in your submission. We document any access barriers and attempt outcomes so the record supports a motion for alternative service when needed. A restricted-facility surcharge may apply for correctional or secured institutions, disclosed in your quote.

Timing depends on the service tier you choose and the recipient's availability. The windows below apply to the first attempt:

Service is billed per recipient and address, with starting prices by tier:

Every tier includes up to three attempts, instant status updates, a dedicated coordinator, and a court-ready affidavit. Any supplementary fees — for example a rural address or restricted facility — are itemized in your written quote and authorized before any related work begins.

Standard orders include up to three (3) diligent attempts at a single address, generally varied across days and times, unless your jurisdiction, a court order, or your instructions require a different plan. Each recipient and each address is treated as its own order for accurate compliance and reporting.

If service is unsuccessful due to a bad address or evasive behavior, you receive a documented affidavit of due diligence detailing each attempt — date, time, address, observations, and outcome — which courts can rely on to support a motion for alternative service. Where appropriate, we use skip tracing to locate an updated address and plan additional attempts.

Yes. Next-Day and Same-Day tiers are available subject to document cutoff times and local availability. Send clean documents as early in the day as possible for same-day dispatch. Rush handling is disclosed in your quote before the server is dispatched.

You receive a court-ready affidavit or proof of service — or an affidavit of non-service and due diligence when applicable — delivered as a PDF and formatted to the receiving court's evidentiary standards. By default it is executed as an affirmation under penalty of perjury. Physical copies are available on request.

It depends on the jurisdiction and document type. Many courts accept an affirmation executed under penalty of perjury, while others require notarization for certain papers. We align the proof format to the applicable court requirement and can provide notarization where it is required or requested — let us know at intake if your jurisdiction or judge requires a notary jurat.

We format affidavits to the standards of the receiving court, including any required statutory language and jurat type — for example New York's CPLR 2106 affirmation language. 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 a clerical reason, we re-issue at no charge.

Yes. We serve subpoenas and handle out-of-state subpoena domestication under the Uniform Interstate Depositions and Discovery Act (UIDDA) and the alternate procedures used in non-UIDDA states — preparation, filing, issuance, and compliant service of the domesticated subpoena, returned with a court-ready affidavit.

Three options:

• Online quote form — the fastest path; submit your matter here
• Email — send documents as a single PDF per recipient to info@served123.com
• Phone — call (800) 321-2377, Mon–Fri 9–5 ET

We reply with a written quote in the form of a no-obligation invoice; work begins once you approve and pay it. No account is required.

• Recipient name (and business name, if applicable)
• Full service address and any access notes
• Case caption, court, and docket number (if available)
• Any deadline, hearing date, or requested service tier
• Special instructions — e.g., a court order for alternative service

Don't have everything? Submit what you have and we'll follow up rather than make you gather it all upfront.

Yes. When an address is unknown or outdated, we offer skip tracing to identify likely current locations, plus a combined skip-trace-and-service strategy that prioritizes the strongest address candidates to reduce wasted attempts. Skip tracing is provided for lawful legal purposes only.