AA - authorized agent.
AOS - affidavit of service
affidavit of service - also referred to as a proof of service, certificate of service, return of service and affidavit of process server, among other names. It is the document detailing how a respective service played out. A process server signs this document, often under the penalty of perjury, or possibly in front of a notary.
alternative service - a specific motion, filed by the party who wishes to have papers served, which allows service to be completed in a manner falling outside of personal service. Alternative service may allow for service to be effectuated via multiple manners of service. The manners of service which are permitted, after a motion for alternative service has been granted, may vary from state to state, and/or by the specific ruling of a judge. One possible example of how alternative service is granted, would be posting the documents to the door as an acceptable method for good service.
authorized agent - a person who is permitted to accept service on behalf of an entity and is not necessarily the registered agent.
certificate of service - a term that is virtually synonymous with affidavit of service. (See affidavit of service).
collaboration - when HPS and another company are both using SM and can see the same job.
contractor - an individual and/or company HPS hires to serve papers and/or do office work. These individuals and companies are not considered to be employees for tax purposes. HPS mails them a form 1099 shortly after the end of each tax year.
copy service - the act of sending a copy of the documents via first class mail to the intended recipient. This is typically done in situations when the documents are posted to the door, or substitute served. The affidavit will indicate that a copy of the documents were mailed to the intended recipient when this occurs.
CUSA - check, upload, share, and archive the affidavit
CSC - Corporation Service Company. This is a company that accepts service on behalf of a great many other companies.
data vendor - a company that has a national database of people based upon multiple sources of information. HPS does not disclose the companies used for said purposes.
DBA - doing buisines as
domesticated subpoena - a document which results from taking a foreign subpoena, to the local court where the original case is pending and obtain a stamped subpoena from the respective clerk. Often times, the foreign subpoena will be served in conjunction with the local subpoena.
drop serve - an action by the process server in which the documents are placed at the feet of the recipient, or in a secure place in the presence of the recipient. This action is only used in the event a recipient refuses to take the papers with their own hand(s). Also called 'drop service.'
effectuated - when service is performed in a manner that satisfies the specific court pertaining to the case at hand.
nail and mail - a phrase used to indicate that the documents are to be posted to the front door, and a copy of the documents are mailed to the intended recipient thereafter.
NAPPS - National Association of Professional Process Servers
non-service - a manner of service, detailed on an affidavit, which denotes that the respective process was not served.
out of pocket serve - a phrase regarding documents to be served that were not filed with or stamped by a court. An attorney or pro se individual may generate these types of documents in the form of a written letter, or other methods.
party - a person or entity that is involved in a civil case. This may be referred to as the plaintiff or defendant. It may also refer to a person or entity by a different title who is involved with the case. A process server is not and must never be referred to by this term regarding the case or cases they serve.
perfect service - see perfected service
perfected service - the term to indicate when the documents are served upon the precise individual named as the intended recipient by the serving party.
personal service - a manner of service, detailed in an affidavit of service, which indicates that the intended recipient was served in person.
posted - a manner of service in which the documents are secured to the front door of the residence or business where service is to be effectuated. Most of the time this manner of service is not the first course of action and is rarely accepted as good service upon a business unless approved by a judge prior to execution.
pro se - the legal term for one who represents oneself. A pro se client is someone who does not have the representation of an attorney, regarding the specific case they hired Hoosier Process Service to serve.
process server - an individual who serves civil court documents upon individuals and/or entities. A process server is not party to the case which they are serving.
proof of service - a term that is virtually synonymous with affidavit of service. (See affidavit of service).
RA - registered agent.
registered Agent - the individual or business who is registered with the secretary of state as the person or entity designated to accept legal documents on behalf of a corporation, non-profit, government agency, or any other entity.
routine service - when a first attempt at service is made within 72 hours, and up to three attempts at service are made within 7-10 days, in the morning, afternoon, and evening with at least one attempt being made on the weekend.
service - see service of process
service by publication - an ad in a news publication which gives an intended recipient of process notice that they are being served. This is typically only granted after conventional methods of service has been tried multiple times.
service of process - the act of delivering legal process to an individual or company that is party to the case or legal issue at hand.
skip trace - the act of locating an individual's home or work address. It can be done to varying degrees and varying levels of action. HPS will run a locate report using a national database of the highest quality as a starting point when an individual needs to be found.
stakeout - For the purposes of serving papers, it is the act of watching an area until the target individual is present and ultimately served. Also referred to as 'surveillance.'
substitute service - a manner of service indicating that a co-resident was served on behalf of the intended recipient. This manner of service may or may not be permissible regarding a respective service. All states that permit substitute service require the person accepting service to be of a certain age. When permissible, substitute service can only occur at the residence of the intended recipient.
surveillance - For the purposes of serving papers, it is the act of watching an area until the target individual is present and ultimately served. Also referred to as a 'stakeout.'
return of service - aka return, aka service return. A term that is virtually synonymous with affidavit of service. (See affidavit of service).
TRO - temporary restraining order.