A process server is a professional who serves legal documents to people involved in a court case. The process server hand-delivers or mails the documents, which might include a summons, complaint and/or subpoenas. These documents are typically related to either a lawsuit involving the person, or some other court proceeding.
What is a process server?
A process server is a person who delivers legal documents to individuals or businesses. The documents could be summons, subpoenas, or other legal notice. Process servers are also responsible for filing proof of service with the court.
The process server must be over the age of 18 and cannot be involved in the case.
How to become a process server
There are many different ways to become a process server. Some people become process servers through their work, while others become process servers through friends or family members. There are also many different training programs available to help you become a process server.
The first step to becoming a process server is to find out if you need to be licensed in your state. Some states do not require process servers to be licensed, while others do. You can check with your state’s licensing board to find out if you need to be licensed.
Once you have determined that you need to be licensed, you will need to take a training course. Many community colleges offer courses that will teach you the basics of being a process server. There are also many online courses available. After you have completed a training course, you will need to take an exam in order to become certified.
After you have been certified, you will need to find clients. You can start by checking with your local court system to see if they have any open positions for process servers. You can also check with law firms in your area. Many times, these firms will contract with outside agencies to provide process servers for their clients.
If you want to start your own process serving business, you can contact your local Chamber of Commerce. They may be able to help you find clients. You can also check with your local Yellow Pages. You may be able to find process servers listed under “Process Serving” or “Legal Services.”
Once you have found some clients, you will need to set up a schedule. You will need to make sure that you are available to serve papers during the times that your clients need them served. You will also need to keep track of your mileage and expenses so that you can properly bill your clients.
You can find more information on how to become a process server by checking with your state’s licensing board or by searching for “process server” online.
The different types of documents served
Process servers are often asked to serve all sorts of different documents. The most common type of document that process servers are asked to serve is a summons and complaint, but there are many others. Some other common types of documents that process servers are asked to serve include:
- -Subpoenas
- -Bank levies
- -Garnishments
- -Restraining orders
- -Eviction notices
Process servers are also sometimes asked to serve less common documents, such as:
- -Divorce papers
- -Child custody papers
- -Wills
- -Legal documents
No matter what type of document needs to be served, the process server’s job is to make sure that it gets delivered to the correct person.
When the process server is accosted by angry recipients
It’s not uncommon for a process server to be confronted by an angry recipient of the papers they’re serving. In some cases, the recipient may even become violent. While this can be a scary situation, it’s important to remember that the process server is just doing its job.
The best thing to do in this situation is to remain calm and try to de-escalate the situation. If the recipient becomes violent, it’s important to call the police and let them handle the situation. Remember, safety is always the top priority.
Interesting facts about being a process server
Did you know that being a process server can be pretty interesting? Here are some facts that you may not know about this line of work:
- Process servers have to be licensed in order to operate in many states.
- In order to become a process server, you must first complete a training program.
- Many process servers are also notary publics.
- Process servers must often deal with difficult people and situations.
- Process servers must be detail oriented and organized.
