HOW TO IDENTIFY A GOOD PROCESS SERVICE AGENCY

This article will provide guidance on how to identify a good process service agency.  Not every case is the same, but not every process server is either. A party’s legal case might be delayed or destroyed if they engage a process server who messes up. It is important to be upfront. Parties should express their concerns about the process. Employing, particularly, the potential for these errors that might jeopardize your server you are. Click here for information on How Process Servers Protect Your Rights: Myths Debunked.

Competent process servers use judgment and care. It is important to ensure that your papers are served best, and your process server contributes largely to the same.  In many circumstances, the commencement of proceedings is contingent upon the service of documents. For months, some individuals may remain hidden in their homes or even go to extreme lengths, like donning disguises to evade the judicial process. Click Here for Frequently Asked Questions About Process Servers!

Signs your process server is not being careful

1. Your process server serves the wrong person

Often, service has to be done on an individual with a common name. If the process server accidentally gives the documents to the incorrect individual, the case comes to a standstill. Untrained process servers can often mistake the individual to be served.  In order to find the correct individual, a professional process server will consult with friends and neighbors, look into the matter online, review public documents, and perform any other required investigation. Click here for information on How To Identify A Good Process Service Agency.

2. Your Process server Does not Hand the Papers Over. 

Personal service is often the best, where your documents are handed over to the recipient. However, personal service cannot always be achieved. What then? A test of a good process server is how they can continue service after a primary setback. Our Undisputed Legal process servers usually make three attempts at personal service before turning to substituted service. 

Dropping papers in a mailbox or taping them to a door are two lesser-known alternative methods certain process servers use to distribute documents. However, most states can compel a court order before these forms of delivery may be enforced. Proof of personal delivery or other means of establishing that the proper person was served with the papers may be required.

If the process server does not serve your papers properly, your case might be stalled or postponed. The stress and expense of legal representation might increase as a result of this. At Undisputed Legal, we make sure we get the job done quickly and accurately. We do everything it takes to keep your case moving forward without a hitch.

At Undisputed Legal, we advise our servers to prioritize their safety. They are trained to leave the situation immediately and report the incident if threatened.  Click here for information on How Service of Process Ensures A Solid Foundation.

3. Your process server does not take care of themselves

If a process server feels threatened while performing their duties, their personal safety should be the primary concern. It is necessary for parties to evaluate the level of threat and determine whether it is safe to proceed with the service. If the threat is immediate and severe, retreating and seeking help may be necessary.

If the process server perceives an immediate danger, it becomes important to prioritize personal safety. They should leave the premises or move to a secure location where they can assess the situation further and determine the appropriate course of action. If the threat is significant or if the process server feels their safety is at risk, they should contact local law enforcement authorities immediately. A good process server should ask for relevant information about the situation, including the location, description of the individuals involved, and any details that can help them assess the situation accurately.

It is crucial for the process server to document the incident as soon as possible. This can include writing down a detailed account of what occurred, taking photographs or videos of any relevant evidence or individuals involved, and gathering witness statements, if available. This documentation can be valuable for legal purposes or if further action needs to be taken.

4. Your process server does not comply with laws on trespassing

The ability of a process server to enter private property while serving legal documents depends on the jurisdiction and the specific circumstances. In general, process servers are allowed to enter private property to serve legal documents, but they must follow certain limitations and guidelines. 

Process servers are typically required to make a peaceful entry onto the property. This means they cannot use force or break into a property to serve the documents. If the property owner or occupant grants consent for the process server to enter, the server may do so. It is important to note that consent can be revoked at any time, and the process server must respect the property owner’s wishes.

Process servers can generally serve legal documents to individuals in public areas, such as sidewalks, parks, or apartment complexes’ common areas, without explicit consent to enter private property. In cases where entry to private property is restricted or not possible, process servers may utilize alternate methods of service that comply with the specific rules and regulations of the jurisdiction. This can include mailing the documents, leaving them with a responsible person, or following any other legally accepted methods of service.

It is important to consult the laws and regulations specific to the jurisdiction to understand the precise rules governing process servers and their entry onto private property. If you have concerns about a process server’s actions, it is advisable to seek legal advice to ensure your rights are protected.

5. Your process server is not Up-front about how quickly they serve your papers.

Serving process is a job for process servers. Often, process servers tend to default to a volume of cases. A good process server is usually active and in high demand. Additionally, a good process server does its due diligence. Most of the time, they travel to places like banks, companies, medical offices, and other institutions with regular business. A defendant who is difficult to locate will often have their summons pushed further down the server’s to-do list. However, it is important that your server is communicative and lets you know exactly where your documents are. Failure to do the same can cause unimaginable stress and lead to even more delays.  

To find an elusive defendant, servers need to be in touch with their clients to know the defendant’s habits and the places they frequent. The server must submit an invoice, fill out a return of service (RoS), and receive the summons or subpoena. These are steps that must be taken for appropriate service of process. While some delays are inevitable, a process server must always be upfront with its clients. 

6. Your process server does not locate the defendant.

Databases to find individuals are not always easy to acquire. Private investigators sometimes shell out hundreds of dollars monthly to keep up with their subscriptions to various services. Typically, this entails searching for an affordable service that might provide an alternative address to attempt. Only sometimes is this enough to identify a defendant. 

Locating defendants and witnesses who are ‘hard to find’ is not easy. Sorting through the mountains of data presented by an exhaustive database report calls for expertise and persistence. Time and effort are usually required for the procedure. Ensure that your process server is meticulous. Skip traces involve high levels of skill, and a process server who does not make every effort to locate the defendant will usually come up short. Conversely, competent investigators have honed their abilities to go through databases in search of clues, and they also know how to mine social media, court cases, and even neighborhoods for information. 

7. Your Process Server Does not Verify the Delivery of the Service.

While clients usually assume that service of process has been accomplished, it should not be taken for granted. Sewer service has become infamous in legal proceedings to process servers not involved in their client’s matters. A proof of service is necessary for the process server for this reason.

An evidence of service serves as an invoice. A successful delivery of legal papers to a party by the server is confirmed. When notarized, it is known as an affidavit of service or a return of service. Because of this, the recipient has very little chance of proving that papers were served improperly. A competent process server like those at Undisputed Legal can help you fill it out appropriately.

No matter how diligent a process server is, there are situations when they cannot deliver the legal paperwork. The intended recipient may have fled or is hiding if this is happening. In such instances, the process server is required to put their signature on a paper affirming that they made every effort to deliver the documents. Here we have evidence of non-service. A notarized affidavit of non-service, evidence of non-service, or return of non-service describes in detail the process server’s efforts to deliver the papers. This is essential if someone questions whether they served the procedure correctly. Here at Undisputed Legal, we provide GPS affidavits of service and personalized ‘Real Time’ email affidavits. In addition, we deliver an email copy of your affidavit of service so that you are always kept in the loop.

8. Your Process Server Has Made an Incorrect Service 

Sometimes, the incorrect individual gets the papers, or someone else poses as the defendant. On other occasions, process servers may leave the paperwork with someone the defendant knows personally if they are unable to locate the defendant themselves. They could be a reliable coworker or a flatmate. However, it is against the law to pass over the documents to a minor or someone with intellectual disability since they are more likely to turn them over accurately.

After making an effort for personal delivery, the server must mail a second copy of the papers before leaving the first set on the defendant’s doorstep. If the defendant received just one set of documents, regardless of whether they were sent or left at the door, they may assert a claim of improper service. Anyone assigned the responsibility of serving legal documents must provide a court-recognized affidavit of service. The individual taking the oath of office runs the risk of perjury charges if the court finds that the information provided in the document is not true.

Your court case will be halted unless the necessary steps are taken to ensure appropriate service. There may be additional delays and charges due to poor service. The goal of postponing the lawsuit is to give the defendant additional time to prepare and fight back. The court may dismiss the case if the service is not corrected promptly.

What happens With a Process Server You Do Not Trust

 If a process server violates the rules of service, it can have various consequences depending on the jurisdiction and the specific circumstances. If the process server fails to follow the prescribed rules of service, such as not properly delivering the legal documents or serving them to the wrong person or address, the service may be deemed invalid. This means the court may not recognize the service as valid, and the legal proceedings may be affected. Click here for information on How Process Servers Protect Your Rights: Myths Debunked

If the improper service causes a delay in the legal proceedings or results in the defendant not receiving adequate notice of the lawsuit, the court may grant an extension of time or, in some cases, dismiss the case altogether. In certain situations, a court may impose sanctions or penalties on a process server who violates the rules of service. These sanctions can range from monetary fines to more severe consequences, such as contempt of court charges.

If the improper service causes harm or damages to the defendant, they may have grounds to pursue legal action against the process server. This can include claims for negligence, invasion of privacy, emotional distress, or other relevant causes of action. Depending on the jurisdiction, a process server that repeatedly violates the rules of service or engages in unethical behavior may face disciplinary action from the licensing authority or professional association governing process servers. This can result in the suspension or revocation of their license or certification.  Click here for information on How Rush Process Service Can Expedite Your Case.

It is important to note that the specific consequences will vary based on the jurisdiction and the nature and severity of the violation. Proper service of process is essential to avoiding case derailing. When you need your papers delivered quickly and reliably, our process servers at Undisputed Legal are here for you. By strictly adhering to the rules of proper serving of process, we may prevent the dismissal of your action from the outset.

You may serve documents in a few different ways. The jurisdiction, nature of the case, or kind of court will determine the technique. It is necessary to inform the defendant of the allegations against them within a hundred and twenty days after filing an index number with the court to initiate legal proceedings. Here the opposing party is apprised of the complaint, the charges against them, and the repercussions that might follow in the event that they reject or dispute the assertions made. 

The art of process serving requires finesse. Undisputed Legal, a respected and knowledgeable process service organization, may serve even the most elusive defendants. When it comes to serving court papers, take no chances.  Collaborate with our seasoned Undisputed Legal process servers with a dependable, timely, and precise history.  Our licensed process servers have delivered across all five boroughs of New York City and the country.  

Written by: Undisputed Legal Inc.