Frequently Asked Questions About Process Serving

Q: HOW MANY COPIES SHOULD I PROVIDE FOR SERVICE?

A: You should provide us with 2 copies of each document to be served per person.

Q: SHOULD I SERVE ORIGINALS OR COPIES?

A: Normally, original documents should not be served. The original Summons must be filed with the court in order to obtain a default judgment. Original subpoenas, discovery requests, ect. Should be retained in your files.

Q: WHAT IS SUBSTITUTED SERVICE AND WHEN IS IT APPROPRIATE?

A: Substituted service [(known as a "sub-serve"] is acceptable when serving a Summons, Claim of Plaintiff, Claim of Defendant, Notice, Writ of Attachment or Writ of Execution. It permits service by serving someone other than the named person and then mailing copies of the documents to the person served.

Corporations may be sub-served on the first attempt at serving. Individuals, however may be sub-served only after due diligence is established [usually by making at least 3 attempts]. Individual courts may have strict requirements for sub-service which dictate the number of attempts and times of the day when attempts must be made.