What Does it Mean to be a Certified Process Server?

While few Americans understand the full role of a process server, they are an important part of America’s Constitutional guarantees. The early function of many local sheriffs was to notify citizens they were involved in a specific legal case. As the need for proper service grew, the position of the process server allowed the sheriff to attend to other law enforcement duties. The process server ensured an individual or organization was properly notified of their involvement in a specific legal issue.

Today, while that function has expanded significantly, the primary role remains that of notifying defendants and other individuals of their involvement in a court case. Other responsibilities may include filing court papers, retrieving and delivering legal documents, and providing written evidence of proof of service.

Ensuring Compliance with Individual State Laws

This latter function is fulfilled by notarizing an affidavit of service and providing it to the company, individual or attorney who initiated the process of serving the papers. Each state has its own specific guidance on how such process service is carried out, and individual servers may have their own style of executing service.

A certified process server is one who has applied to an individual state and, after appropriate training and testing, is provided with a license to act as a process server. Most states also require ongoing education as part of maintaining a current license. This emphasis on having the functions of a process server carried out correctly is fundamental to each citizen receiving proper “due process.”

The entire justice system starts with this formal notification, making the process server an integral part of the American legal system. Most law firms rely on professional process server firms to ensure that each notification is handled promptly and correctly and that they have reliable proof of service.

If you or your firm are involved in serving, delivering or retrieving summons, complaints, injunctions, civil actions, subpoenas, or other legal documents, you’ll find the certified process servers of Same Day Process will get the job done with the highest professional standards.

 

 

 

How to Serve a Trucking Company’s Registered Agent?

Legal cases involving transportation accidents are a frequent challenge for attorneys across the country, particularly when they involve companies regulated by the Department of Transportation (DOT). According to recent figures, DOT-regulated...

Mobile Notary Services FAQs

Originally published ​March 1, 2016. Last updated April 30, 2023. Mobile notary services provide a convenient and accessible option for individuals who require notarial acts but cannot travel to a traditional notary's office or need...

The Importance of Process Serving in Legal System

Originally published 01/19/2016. Last updated 04/05/2023. The United States judicial system operates on the principles of fairness and due process. This system aims to ensure that all parties involved in a legal case receive equal and...

5 Things Private Investigators Can and Can't Do

Originally posted on 11/08/2016 Have you been frustrated with a case that doesn't move forward? Many people dealing with a stuck case might consider hiring a private investigator. These professionals have a large amount of...

What Happens If I Avoid A Process Server?

Original Post: 07/31/2017 If you are looking to sue someone, divorce them, obtain child support, or many other legal issues, you may attempt to have the papers served to them. A process server can be hired to track them down and serve the...

What should I expect from my process server?

Navigating the legal world is a challenge, but finding an experienced, reliable, and knowledgeable process server shouldn’t be. Here at Same Day Process, we treat each client as our only client and go above and beyond to assure each case is...

The Signs of a Trustworthy Process Server

Blog originally published on December 11, 2015. Updated on December 8, 2022. When beginning legal proceedings, it’s extremely important to have an iron-clad process serving procedure in place for any legal document you need to deliver....

The Benefits of Hiring a Private Investigator

Originally posted on 07/05/2016 We all want more info in life, but sometimes that information is hard to come by. A private investigator can help to uncover important information including a search for a person's whereabouts. Private...

What Is Skip Tracing?

Originally posted on 09/10/2015 Sometimes finding someone is the biggest issue with having them do something! Process servers help deliver the legal documents that make the legal system operate. This system would not run nearly as...

Which Industries Most Often Use Process Servers?

Originally posted on 10/19/2015 At Same Day Process Service, our clients come from a variety of industries. With a combined 60 years of experience, every skilled process server we work with has successfully served individuals for...

How Is Skip Tracing Performed?

Originally posted on 12/21/2015 What do you do when you can't find something or someone? Do you call around? Maybe you check the place where you saw that object or person last. How does this search become more intense when you have...

Do I Need to Hire a Process Server?

Originally posted on 03/01/2016 Legal matters experience a better outcome through the hiring of a professional process server. Additionally, you’ll experience less frustration as well as time savings. Check out the reasons why you...

Serving Heavyweight Boxer Pedro Lovell

Serving civil process is often too exciting and is perpetually, non-stop OJT (on the job training). I received papers to serve on the heavyweight boxer, Pedro Lovell, often referred to as "KO King," "The LA Bomber," "The...

How Are Legal Documents Authenticated?

Originally posted on 04/04/2016 While a signature may be authenticated by someone who has reasonable familiarity with a subject's writing, the majority of legal documents require more than a simple statement stating that they are...

How to Choose the Best Process Server

Originally posted on 07/13/2015 Imagine that you want to take action against someone else in court, but you can't notify them because you can't find them. But since the law says that you must notify them, what can...

Serving An Evasive New York Attorney

I was asked to serve divorce papers on a New York attorney who had been avoiding service and was coming to Maryland to visit his parents to celebrate the Passover. He was supposed to be arriving between 2 and 5 pm Friday. Our client informed me...

What Are the Benefits of Hiring a Mobile Notary?

Originally posted on: 11/17/2015 Mobile notaries are notary publics who travel to a client’s location to conduct a notarial act. Almost anyone can benefit from a mobile notary’s services, but there are a few surprising benefits...

How Long Will It Take to Have My Papers Served?

Originally posted on: 03/14/2018 "Are we there yet?" We all remember hearing our kids or maybe or younger selves saying that at one point. We want to be at our destination without the wait on the journey. Serving processes is...

There are court documents inside that Pizza Box!

Imagine for a moment that someone shot you, robbed you, or burglarized your house, and some persons witnessed the crime but refused to testify about what they saw. On occasion, we receive legal documents for people who refuse to make themselves...

A Most Ferocious Dog

I received a subpoena for a person living in Virginia's boondocks.  The trip was a long winding drive through the mountains where I eventually found the house, set back in the trees, 150 yards from the road.  There was a creek and...

Serving Barack Obama: A Private Citizen

When Barack Obama was President, he had to be served legal documents by certified mail.  When he left office, he moved into this beautiful 8,000 square foot brick home on Belmont Street, overlooking Rock Creek Park. Since he was no longer...

5 Tips For Being a Better Process Server

Just like people, not every process service is the same. Some people are harder to hand papers off to than others. Many defendants believe that avoiding a process server means their legal troubles go away (this is false). This myth leads some people...

A Story of Patience and Persistence

The doctor we were trying to serve had been an enigma for over a month. Our servers made several unsuccessful attempts to serve him at his office in White Plains, MD. His door was always locked and no sound heard from within. The receptionist in the...

How to Become a Successful Mobile Notary

Helping people is a great way to make a living. Mobile notaries have the chance to meet new people they will help daily. If you need a career that constantly changes pace so you won’t get bored, being a mobile notary may be for...

The Life of a Process Server

Court proceedings move forward every day. Similarly, the legal system needs to notify people of a requirement to appear in court or to take note of legal action taking place. The people who make contact with the persons of interest are process...

How to Avoid Breaking the Law as a Process Server

Process servers have a tough job. They are responsible for delivering court documents to people. Many people being served have misconceptions that challenge the delivery process. Knowing the rules based on local and state laws is important for...

Can I Avoid Being Served?

If you know you will be sued, do yourself a favor and DO NOT try to avoid the server. Many people think it’s a good idea - if they avoid the server, then they can prevent the case from moving forward. In reality, when a person physically avoids a...

The Must-Know Rules for Serving Processes on Holidays

The task of serving process involves many considerations that most people don’t consider. A server must be fair, firm, and respectful. They must think of their own safety while also making the individual they serve to feel calm. To effectively...

How to Serve Processes to Military Members

Members of the United States military often put their lives on the line to defend their country and its assets. Sometimes the courts will need to provide written documents to these active duty individuals for several reasons including a summons to...

Prepare for Process Serving Wearing a Body Camera

  A process server’s job is not easy. Servers deliver a summons to many folks who would prefer not to receive the court documents. As with most sectors, advances in technology have been and will continue to disrupt the process...

The Most Common Types of Affidavits

An Affidavit is a written testimony given under oath. Affidavits are only valid when given freely, without any coercion. To provide a legal affidavit, an individual needs to be of sound mind (lucid) and typical of legal age (over 18).   The...

Tips for Staying Safe While Process Serving

Process serving is a necessary role that helps the legal system running efficiently. As beneficial as this role is, it also involves some inherent safety risks. There are safety concerns with many jobs, but a process server can interact with a...

Getting The Most Out Of Your Process Server

Many firms use process servers to deliver legal notices. When they are contracting with a private process server, there are some things that can make the whole process more efficient. No matter how busy a process server is, there are still ways to...

What Is A Sting Operation?

Sting operations are potentially valuable tools used in law enforcement and some government agencies. Sting operations are tools used by local, state, federal and international agencies often working together on resolving the commission of illegal...

Everything You Need To Know About Skip Tracing

Skip tracing involves locating someone. Most entrepreneurs, debt collectors, and investigators apply it regularly. Typically, private investigators handle numerous skip-tracing lawsuits each year. Read on to learn more about skip tracing, its...

What Job Functions Does a Process Server Perform?

Have you ever wondered what a process server does? You’ve probably seen movies or TV shows where someone approaches the main character and hands them an envelope and says, “You’ve been served!” Then the character is required...

3 Tips For Choosing The Best Process Server

In the fifth and sixth amendments of the constitution of the United States of America, every citizen holds the right to be informed of being summoned. The messenger system intended to notify persons concerning legal issues privy to them is the...

Can A Process Server Trespass?

Process servers sometimes find themselves in trouble while doing their job. Their most common predicament is trespassing. Many people that are being served often call the police to report that the server is trespassing their private property....

3 Facts About Social Media Investigations

Investigating a person is so different to do now than it was 20 years ago. With the rise of social media and its extensive use by well, everyone, it is a tool that can be used to learn more about people. Users publicly put out information to share...

Can You Refuse Served Papers?

Process serving falls into the legal system under the due process of law, which states that an accused individual has the right to know what legal actions he or she is facing with enough time to build a defense case. The server will...

Serving Documents in Small Claims Court

Small claims court cases are different from other cases because they are limited amount to certain amounts in the claim, usually $5,000. Also, certain kinds of cases like medical malpractice suits are not allowed there. Small claims...

5 Tips For An Effective Social Media Investigation

Social media is an information goldmine for individuals and businesses. Social media investigation is a valuable modern tool for skip tracing, vetting and reference checks, and civil law investigations. Five Tips for Effective Social Media...

Process Serving Via Social Media- Is This Possible?

We currently live in a society that is consistently progressing in every way imaginable. It is quite amazing to see how far we have come in regards to the technology that we use on a daily basis. Social media platforms have become widely popular...

How Do You Become A Process Server?

If you want to become a process server in the United States, the rules you will have to follow will depend on your state of residence. In the vast majority of states, the main requirement is that you must be 18 years of age or older and you cannot...

Beware Of Bogus Process Servers

You Are Smarter Than Any Scammer Unfortunately, in today's society, there are scams for everything under the sun. There is not a week that goes by for most consumers when they are not confronted by someone assuming the guise of a legitimate...

What Should I Know Before I Hire A Process Server?

A Process Server is a particular individual who takes the responsibilities of giving legal notice to a party through delivering relevant court documents presented by the tribunal. If you have a case in the court, you will need the process server to...

How Does One Become A Private Investigator?

There is something about private investigators that appeals to our adventurous side and looks like a very interesting career option. Beyond the daily life shown on popular television programs, there is a lot of work that goes into becoming a private...

Who Can Benefit From Skip Tracing?

There are many different career paths that people can follow and most of these involve collecting money from people who have purchased goods or services. Unfortunately, it's not unusual for someone to swap a good or service with someone who...

Helpful Tips for Hiring a Private Investigator

Unfortunately, not everyone is as honest as they say that they are. For this reason, many people are interested in seeing what someone is up to when they aren't around because people need answers. Are they just being unnecessarily suspicious? Or...

What is Skip Tracing?

There are a number of reasons you or your business may be looking to locate someone. You may be looking to locate an ex-spouse to serve them with paperwork or your business may be looking to locate someone who your business money. Locating someone...

Advantages of Hiring a Private Investigator

When people think of a private investigator, they usually think of someone from the movies, say an old film noir that depicts a man wearing a fedora, working out of a seedy office. In fact, a PI is a professional investigator, usually someone who is...

When Do I Need a Social Media Investigation?

Social media investigations require more than a basic understanding of Twitter or Facebook. It is something that you should leave to the experts. You will require a team of highly trained experts that ensure the data you gather is valuable before a...

Things To Consider When Hiring a Process Server

If you are facing a day in court or have essential legal documents that must be presented to another party, a process server can be an invaluable asset. While a Google search will offer you a ton of local options, it’s essential that you take...

How A Private Process Server Can Help You

Process serving might not be an occupation you hear about often, but if you have watched any episode of any courtroom drama, then you have probably seen one in action. A process server is someone who serves legal documents to defendants involved in...

5 Myths About Private Investigation

Private investigation is something that many people have heard of but that very few really know the exact details of. There are some bits and pieces that everyone should know about private investigators that will help you determine what the truth...

Skip Tracing Defined

Skiptracing refers to the task of finding a person's whereabouts. There are many reasons why this process may be needed. When skip tracing is required, a professional, known as a "skip tracer," is often hired. Some skip tracers are...

Top 5 Reasons for Hiring a Private Investigator

Unfortunately, the world is full of people who commit dishonest, corrupt, and fraudulent acts. If you feel threatened by such a person, contacting a private investigator is smart. By gathering crucial evidence, this expert can often prevent a bad...

Legal Difference Between an Affidavit & a Declaration

Generally, the information in both a sworn affidavit and a statutory declaration is the same. A sworn affidavit contains facts that are written and the affiant swears that the contents are all true before an individual that is authorized to...

How Does One Become a Process Server?

Process servers deliver legal documents to named clients or defendants in legal proceedings. These documents include court summons, subpoenas, complaints and so forth. Process servers are responsible for delivering documents while abiding by...

What is Creditor Harassment?

Blog originally published on August 1, 2016. Updated on July 18, 2022. The phone rings for the fifth time that morning and you cringe as you glance at the caller ID. It’s a debt collector again, and although you’ve already told this...

How to Avoid Scammer Process Servers

When it comes to serving legal documents there are plenty of concerns that you should be aware of. In a world where people are always trying to get more than they deserve, there are now more process server scams than ever before. There are some tips...

How to Become a Skip Tracer

In the legal field, skip tracing is the attempted location of a fugitive who cannot be located by using their home address, usual hangouts, or other traditional means. The term comes from 'skip', meaning someone who has 'skipped...