Legal documents are delivered (or served) by a legal process server to a defendant or an individual associated with a court case identified in the legal documents. The process server must deliver (serve) the legal documents relative to the laws in the service area. This might mean personally giving the documents to the defendant or performing Substitute service in compliance with state statutes. The process serving representative must supply evidence the papers were served after a successful delivery. This can be accomplished via an Affidavit of Service which is given to the requesting party or filed with the clerk of court.

Some process servers provide additional services to help locate defendants or others attempting to evade service.    

Process Servers and Deceptive Practices

Process servers are not allowed to use any means necessary to affect service, despite what the movies show.   Although some deception may be necessary in order to effect service, overt deception could invalidate service, such as knocking on someone’s door and announcing you have flowers for the defendant then handing a summons to the defendant when he opens the door.