If you are considering process server companies, it’s best to do some research on your own. You should give yourself adequate time to look for reviews and references from previous customers while asking questions about their services and fees for any company you contact. Keep in mind that you are hiring this company to perform a service for you, so getting the right one is important. It’s also best to do research on your own because process server companies can often be guarded about their methods.
What does a process server do?
A process server is a person who delivers court documents to defendants. These documents must be served in a timely manner, and the process servers are highly trained in getting these papers into the right hands as quickly as possible.
Who hires a process server?
Many people hire a process server when they have been sued or have filed an appeal. An attorney may have hired a process server for those purposes, or some other individual may be required to appear in court. When an order is handed down by the court, it must be executed as quickly as possible. There is usually a time limit of thirty days, and it’s up to the process server to make sure that this happens properly.
How much do process servers get paid?
Their rate is based on the distance to travel, the number of papers they must serve, and how quickly they can get them done. Generally, when you are looking for a good process server, there are certain things that you should consider. You want to look at their history or background and see what kind of experience they have and how much time they have been in the business. You should also consider what kind of payment plans they offer and if there are any extra charges for things like weekend work.
Here are some questions you should ask before making your final decision or signing any contracts:
- Are they licensed and insured?
- What kind of training do they offer their employees?
- Will I receive a list of references upon request? Ask to speak with several customers before you make any decisions.
- Do they have an expediting team, or are all documents served by hand?
- What is your process for notifying me when my documents have been served?
- How will you serve the papers exactly? Do you have a uniform process server or are they all private citizens?
- What percentage of your customers are referred by another customer? This is how many reputable service companies keep their customers coming back.
- Can I choose who serves the papers?
- What happens if I choose not to be at home when the process server arrives to serve papers?
- Can you track your process servers on my behalf? This is another way how a reputable service company can keep their customers coming back.
- Will a copy of all documents served to be mailed to my address within 48 hours? This will also show how professional the process server actually is.
- When I ask for your customer references, if they are less than three do not even consider hiring them to serve my paperwork.
- Can I have you go out and physically verify the individual lives at this address before serving papers? This can be crucial in some situations.
- Is the process server bonded and insured? This is definitely good to know when hiring someone to serve your papers. This way you will know that you do not have any liability issues if something goes wrong while serving papers.
- Will I be charged extra for this service? This can sometimes happen in certain situations with process servers. You need to be aware of this so you do not feel scammed when you are later charged extra for services that were previously mentioned as being free.
- Will the process server have any sort of special clothing or identification? Some process servers may have special clothing, but others will simply wear what is comfortable. This depends on the individual process server. You need to make sure you know beforehand if they will be wearing anything special so you do not have any confusion when the process server shows up for work.
- How long will it take to get my paperwork served? It is important that you receive your court papers as quickly as possible and this may vary depending on where you live and who you hire. It is best to ask the process server how long it will take and when they can start serving your papers.
- Does the process server offer any other court services? Most of the time a process server will be hired because they specialize in serving documents, but this is not always the case. They might offer other services such as filing paperwork or they can even act as your witness.
- What if I need to change the date of service? This might not always be possible, but you should ask the process server about any changes before they begin serving your papers. Keep in mind that this will require another fee and it is very time-consuming for them to make changes.
- What if I need to give them more time? Look for a process server who is willing and able to accommodate your requests. Some process servers are so busy that they cannot fit you in unless the date has already been set, but it doesn’t hurt to ask before choosing someone else.
Final Note
People must be very careful when looking for someone to serve legal documents, such as a process server. They must make sure that the people they hire are qualified and experienced because there could be serious consequences if the legal documents aren’t served correctly.