Process Server Guidelines

IMPORTANT: Every job is done on a case-by-case basis. The following are guidelines for contractors.

A first attempt is made within 72 hours of receiving the documents for routine service.
For routine serve, we make up to three attempts at service within 7 days, on three different days, in the morning, afternoon, and evening, with at least one attempt being made on the weekend
Maintain a level of professionalism at all times. A process server is not party to the case he or she is serving, and it is not the process server's battle to fight.
When attempts are entered into Serve Manager, enter all of the information regarding the attempt while in the vicinity of the address whenever possible.
If there is no answer at the door, talk to the neighbor(s) and determine if the address tests positive or negative for the recipient. Talking to the neighbor(s) is the best way to gather information about an address.
If a recipient has moved, ask the new tenants if they have the recipient's new address.
When a resident indicates that an intended recipient is homeless, but the intended recipient receives mail at the service address, sub-serve the documents and document it as such.
Once a job is completed, send the affidavit to the manager.
Posting the documents to the door is a last resort and would only be done on the third attempt when permissible.
When sub-serving documents, always get the person's name and relationship to the recipient.
If a corporation, government agency, or any other type of entity is being served, get the recipient's first and last name along with their job title..
When serving at gated communities or apartment complexes with locked buildings, always talk with the leasing office or property manager to verify residency when applicable.
Look for a call box when a building is locked, and scroll through the call box to see if the intended recipient is listed.
A process server may NOT open a person's mailbox to verify residency, however, they may talk to postal workers, and observe packages in plain view.
If someone who you are communicating with about the papers asks for your name, politely tell them who you are and the company name.
When there is no answer at the door, make the best possible observation if the property appears to be occupied or not. If an address is vacant, it is non-service.
Papers must not be concealed at the time of service. Papers cannot be served in an envelope. The process server is NOT allowed to pretend to be someone they’re not such as a Door Dash driver or a flower delivery person.
Do not put the recipient's age in the affidavit unless specifically instructed by management.
If a resident verifies that a recipient no longer lives at the respective address, find out what relationship, if any, the recipient has to the current resident.
If you are serving a corporation which has a different company name on the building than is on the court papers, always check inside to see if the company on the court documents is owned by a parent company.
Whenever scanning documents, use a REAL scanner and NOT a scanning app on a phone.
Always use blue ink when signing a document, and ask the notary to use blue ink when applicable.
In a situation where you can't see 100% of the recipient while serving him/her DO NOT put a physical description in the affidavit.
The only types of service we use in Serve Manager are 1) Personal/Individual. 2) Posted, 3)Substitute Service - Abode, 4) Corporation, 5) Unsuccessful Attempt, 6) Government Agency, and 7) Non-Service. DO NOT enter any other type of service unless instructed by management.
'Non-Service' occurs when the intended recipient does not live (and does not receive mail if they are homeless) at the respective address, or all of the attempts at service have been exhausted.
When making a 'New Affidavit' in Serve Manager, DO NOT delete previous attempts that are on the affidavit.
Do not contact any client, contractor, or employee whose name is in Serve Manager. Any contact with a client, employee, or contractor, who is visible in Serve Manager, may result in the cancellation of one's process server contractor eligibility.
Extra printing occurs when a service exceeds 30 pages, and the process server will receive $.10 per page for every printed page beyond the first 30 pages on the respective service.
It is the process server's responsibility to find an address when Google Maps/any map app is wrong. Google maps will be wrong at times, and the process server must locate the correct address in those circumstances by talking to the neighbor(s) or other delivery personnel familiar with the area.