How to Hire a Process Server: Complete Guide

The role of a professional process server is not just about delivering legal papers; they also make sure that the service of process follows the right procedure and adheres to the applicable rules. If you do not serve your legal documents properly, you may face the risk of delays, additional costs, and sometimes, even the dismissal of your case. That’s why it’s important to learn how to hire a process server to be sure your legal papers are served the right way.

If you need to hire someone to serve papers, it’s important to find someone who is experienced, reliable, and knowledgeable about state and local regulations. Look for a process server who is registered or licensed, especially if you live in a state like California, where certification is required. Finally, a right process server should have a strong track record of successful service.

With over 16 years of experience, On-Call Legal Process Servers are the most reliable process servers for all services of process in California and nationwide. Our experienced process servers are always available to help you deliver your court documents safely and smoothly anywhere in the country. Schedule a free consultation with us to discuss your needs and guide you throughout the process.

In this guide, we provide a comprehensive step-by-step guide on hiring a competent process server, with a particular focus on hiring professional process servers in California.

Can You Hire Someone to Serve Papers?

Yes, you can hire someone to serve papers, but you must ensure they meet the legal requirements stipulated by your state. Some states require process servers to be licensed, while others only require them to be 18 years old and not a party to the case. Hiring a professional process server ensures that your legal documents are served in compliance with the law, avoiding potential case delays or dismissals.

How to Hire a Process Server

Finding a professional process server should be a straightforward experience. That is, of course, if you know what to look for. Whether you need to serve a subpoena, divorce papers or other important court documents, the competency of your process server can make or break your case.

The process (which we’ll dive into much more detail below) includes identifying professional process servers with the right experience and credentials, assessing the server’s reputation through reviews and testimonials, understanding the cost of hiring a process server, determining service guarantees, crosschecking the server’s technological proficiency, and highlighting the importance of regular communication. By following these steps, you can ensure the person you hire meets the highest quality standards, enhancing the efficacy and efficiency of your service.

Step 1: Understand Why You Need a Process Server

Before hiring a process server, it’s crucial to understand their role and responsibilities in the legal process. A process server is not just someone who hands legal documents to another person; they are responsible for ensuring that legal papers—such as subpoenas, summonses, and writs—are delivered correctly and in compliance with state and federal laws. They ensure all parties receive due notice. Proper service is essential because if documents are not served correctly, your case could face delays, legal challenges, or even dismissal.

Step 2: Confirm the Qualification of the Process Server

The first and most important step is to make your hiring decision primarily from a pool of qualified servers. To do this, you need to verify their credentials and licensing. Hiring a qualified professional is the only way to guarantee that your documents will be served legally and promptly in the first place. Here’s what you should look out for when looking to hire someone to serve papers:

Confirm Credential and Licensing

Each state has its own requirements for process servers. Some states require special licensing, registration, or background checks, while others only require the individual to be registered as a server, be above 18 years old and not a party to the case.

It’s your responsibility to verify that any process server you hire meets your state’s legal requirements. Hiring someone who isn’t appropriately credentialed could jeopardize your case, as improperly served documents may be challenged in court or lead to delays. If you stay in a state that requires process servers to be licensed or registered, you can verify a server’s credentials by checking your state or local licensing boards.

Verifying Professional Affiliations

Memberships in professional organizations such as the National Association of Professional Process Servers (NAPPS) is another way to verify a process server’s legitimacy, as membership in these organizations often indicates a process server’s commitment to industry standards, continuing education and adherence to a code of ethics. These associations provide resources and training to their members thereby ensuring they stay updated with legal requirements.

Step 3: Assess Experience

When choosing a process server, their experience should be one of your primary considerations. An experienced server will understand the most important tricks of the trade when serving legal documents and can handle potential challenges, such as defendants avoiding service.

As you vet potential process servers, you’ll want to ask about their experience in the field, the types of cases they have handled, and their familiarity with serving the particular court documents relevant to your case. For example, On-Call Legal Process Servers have over a decade of experience and a 99% success rate serving legal documents.

In certain cases, you may need a process server with specialized expertise and experience. For instance, if a process server is going to be serving papers to incarcerated individuals, such a person will need to be familiar with prison regulations and protocols. Same with perhaps hard-to-serve defendants or service in peculiar situations like rural areas or high-crime zones. A server would need to know how to navigate their way around such circumstances, and in most cases, only a server with specialized experience in such areas can get the job done.

Step 4: Scrutinize the Process Server’s Reliability and Reputation

Hiring a process server involves more than just confirming their qualifications. You also need to be sure that they can get the job done, not because their credentials say so but because they have a proven track record of reliability and professionalism. A professional process server will have a lot of positive client feedback to back up their claim. Here’s how you can verify this:

Evaluating Reviews and Testimonials

The process server’s reputation can provide insight into their reliability, professionalism, and efficacy. Look for reviews on their website, social media profiles, and online directories. Note whether past clients found them to be efficient in serving papers, whether they practiced due diligence, and if they exhibited professionalism in their conduct.

Asking for References

Another way to scrutinize a process server’s reputation is by asking for references from past clients or legal professionals they’ve worked with. This step can provide direct insight into their working style, dependability, and communication skills.

Step 5: Understanding the Cost of Hiring a Process Server

Before hiring a process server, it’s essential to understand their cost and pricing structure. Some charge flat rates, while others base their fees on factors like distance, difficulty, or urgency. Knowing these details upfront helps you avoid unexpected costs later. Here are some things worth considering:

Asking for a Detailed Breakdown of Costs

Prices among process servers can vary significantly based on factors such as location, difficulty of service, and additional services required, and having this information upfront is always a good idea. To understand what you’re paying for, ask for a detailed breakdown of the costs.

This breakdown should include the cost of attempts to serve papers, travel expenses, and any additional services like filing court documents or skip tracing. Process servers often charge for things like mileage, rush service, notary service, skip tracing, and attempts to serve. Confirm exactly what is included in their cost so you can make demands on those services.

Evaluating the Cost-Effectiveness

While it may be tempting to go with the least expensive option, remember that in the legal system, the stakes are high. A missed deadline or improperly served document can have significant repercussions, so it’s essential to ensure you’re hiring a competent process server.

Step 6: Inquiring About Service Guarantees

Some process servers offer guarantees on the number of attempts they will make or provide refunds under certain conditions. While no server can guarantee 100% success, they should be transparent about their service policies.

Understanding the Process Server’s Approach

While no process server can guarantee 100% success due to variables beyond their control, they should be able to assure you of their commitment to due diligence. Ask how many attempts they are willing to make to serve the documents and what strategies they have in place if the initial attempts are unsuccessful. This is especially important because some defendants make it difficult to serve them papers, you shouldn’t necessarily expect the initial attempt to be successful.

Compliance With Legal Regulations

A competent process server will comply with all state and local laws regarding service of process. They should also be aware of the local rules, regulations, and court procedures in their jurisdiction. Confirm that they abide by these laws to ensure the legal validity of your service of process.

Step 7: Assessing Technological Proficiency

Hard-to-track defendants can make the entire service process a hassle; the best servers often employ different strategies to ensure a successful service, top on the list being various digital tools to improve tracking and transparency.

Checking for Use of Modern Technologies

Process servers who leverage technology can often provide more efficient and transparent service. Look for process servers who use digital tools (e.g., photo evidence, electronic tracking) for document management, case tracking, and real-time updates.

Evaluating Communication Channels

It’s essential for your process server to provide regular updates about the status of your service of process. Find out how they plan to communicate these updates – be it through email, text messages, or phone calls.

Step 8: Emphasizing Communication

Timely feedback is of the essence in any legal case. This is why you need to opt for servers that will be responsive and available. You should prioritize the following:

Clear & Transparent Communication

Regular updates are crucial when working with a process server. A professional process server will keep their clients informed about the progress of the case, provide timely proof of service, and be available to answer any questions or address concerns. During your initial interactions, take note of the process server’s responsiveness. This is usually a good indication of the level of communication you can expect during the process.

Step 9: Consider Working with a Service of Process Company

You could also skip steps one through six and work with a reputable service of process company like On-Call Legal Process Servers to handle everything for you. We have a network of experienced process servers who are already vetted, reliable, and knowledgeable about legal requirements.

With us, you can save potential time and energy that’ll be spent on tracking and interviewing different process servers. At On-Call Legal Process Servers, we work with only the best process servers nationwide. Our servers tick the boxes for things like credentials and licensing, reliability, professionalism, clear communication, timeliness, and success rate.

On-Call Legal Process Servers offers:

• Experienced, professional process servers with a proven track record
• Guaranteed service attempts and compliance with legal procedures
• Real-time tracking and status updates for complete transparency

How Much Does a Process Server Cost?

The cost of hiring someone to serve papers in California can vary based on several factors, including the type of service, location, and number of serving attempts required. On average, you can expect to pay between $65 and $95 for a standard process service in this state. This service generally includes attempts to serve process within a span of three days. However, the fees could escalate if there’s a need for expedited service or if the service needs to be carried out in a rural or hard-to-reach location.

The national average, on the other hand, typically hovers between $55 to $85. When choosing a process server, it is advisable to compare the prices, response times, and number of attempts included under the flat fee of different service providers in your area.

There might be additional costs if an individual proves to be evasive and needs to be located, or in the case of ‘skip tracing.’ It’s also worth noting that some process servers might charge extra for administrative services such as processing court records, mileage, parking, postage, photocopying, and affidavit processing.

If your case requires more specific services, such as multiple attempts, rush service, same-day service attempts, serving more than one party, or handling search warrants and court filings, the fees could be higher.

Need a Professional Process Server?

Whether you are dealing with small claims, divorce papers, subpoenas, or evictions, the importance of proper and timely service of process cannot be overstated. Regardless of where in the nation your legal requirements emerge, On-Call Legal Process Servers are ready to serve with a commitment to professionalism, reliability, and adherence to legal regulations. Don’t leave such a pivotal part of your legal process to chance. Contact On-Call Legal Process Servers today for exceptional nationwide service of process, and rest easy knowing your legal needs are in expert hands. Remember, the right process server is just a call away!