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HOW TO SERVE LEGAL PAPERS IN DELAWARE

This article will provide guidance on How To Serve legal papers in Delaware. To begin an action in Delaware, the Clerk of Court must immediately issue and deliver for Delaware Process Service the praecipe to the sheriff of the county or counties named in it, or to a person specifically nominated by it by the Court. Delaware Process Service may be issued only once the Clerk of Court has signed and sealed an application form with their official seal. Following a request by the plaintiff, in the praecipe, a separate or additional Delaware Process Service will be issued against the defendants. Click Here for Frequently Asked Questions About Process Servers!

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WRITS

The proof required for the issuance of a mesne writ of attachment under will be satisfied by filing with the complaint an affidavit of the plaintiff or some credible person setting forth the facts required by the applicable statute. In addition to the facts required, the affidavit must also state the defendant’s last known address or a statement that the address is unknown and cannot be ascertained even with due diligence. Click Here for information on What Do Process Servers in Delaware Do!

Information as to the property of each defendant sought to be seized should contain [A.] a reasonable description; [B.] estimated amount and value; [C.] nature of the defendant’s title or interest therein, and if such title or interest be equitable in nature, the name of the holder of the legal title; [D.] source of affiant’s information about any of the items as to which the affidavit is made on information and belief and [E.] a reason for the omission of any of the required statements. Click here for information Delaware Rules of Civil Procedure

The plaintiff must post a bond. In order to obtain an attachment writ, the plaintiff must post a bond and provide surety in an amount and form approved by the court from which the writ is to be issued, guaranteeing that if the suit is not successfully prosecuted or results in a judgment in favor of the defendant, the plaintiff will pay any costs and damages awarded to the defendant up to an amount not to exceed the amount of the amount.  Click here for information on How To Identify A Good Process Service Agency

Any property seized under a mesne writ of attachment can be released in whole or in part if the defendant provides such security for its release as the Court approves, conditioned for the payment of any judgment that may be recovered in the proceedings, as well as the cost of the proceedings; however, the furnishing of sui generis security is not required. Click here for information on How Rush Process Service Can Expedite Your Case.

It is possible for a writ of foreign attachment to be issued against any non-resident person or legal entity, as well as a foreign business, even when they are joined as defendants by other non-resident or resident parties. In the county in which the writ is issued, the Clerk of the Court must ensure that a copy of the writ is published in a newspaper of public circulation at least once within twenty days for Delaware Process Service to be fulfilled. The Clerk of the Court must send certified copies of the complaint, affidavit, writ, and return filed in the case to every nonresident defendant whose appearance is sought to be compelled within seven days after the filing of the sheriff’s return of a writ of mesne attachment, in addition to making the required publication. Click here for information on How Service of Process Ensures A Solid Foundation.

how to serve  A WRIT in delaware

When the description of the property to be taken appears to be such that it cannot be physically taken within the State, the plaintiff must obtain from the Court order, a certified copy of which will be served along with the writ, directing the person to turn over possession or control of the property to the plaintiff. This requirement does not apply to garnishments. Click here for information on How Process Servers Protect Your Rights: Myths Debunked

 When a foreign attachment writ is issued, the plaintiff must deposit with the Clerk of the Court a sum adequate to cover the cost of publishing in addition to the standard deposit for costs. The defendant must serve the response (and, if necessary, an affidavit of defense) in any action brought by mesne writ of attachment within forty days of the date on which the property was attached or the writ was served on a garnishee, as the case may be. It will continue as a summons-based case after the forty-day period has expired or when a defendant appears, whichever happens first.

CONTENTS OF A WRIT

Delaware Process Service is made by the sheriff to whom the writ is directed, by a deputy sheriff, or by some person specially appointed by the Court for that purpose, except that a subpoena may be served as provided in Rule 45. The Delaware Process Service, complaint, and affidavits, if any, must be served together. The Prothonotary is responsible for furnishing the person doing Delaware Process Service with such copies as are necessary

how process service is done in Delaware

To serve a summons on a person who is not an infant or an incompetent person, it is required to follow certain requirements, is delivering a copy of the summons, complaint, and affidavit, to that person personally or leaving copies thereof at that person’s home or usual place of abode with someone of suitable age and discretion.

When serving papers on a domestic or foreign corporation, partnership, or unincorporated association that is known by a common name, an officer, managing or general agent (or any other agent authorized by law to receive service of process) should receive copies of the summons and complaint, as well as an affidavit, and if necessary, mail a copy to that entity.

Delivering the summons and complaint to the chief executive officer of the municipality or other government entity, or serving copies of the summons in the manner specified by law for a summons against such defendant.

AFFILIATION

Attachment or garnishment procedure must be served on those people or entities subject to such Delaware Process Service. In the case of garnishment, garnishees must be served with a copy of the writ, the complaint, and an affidavit by the person who serves the writ. Real or personal property may be seized in accordance with the writ’s execution, and the sheriff will make his return as before.

SCIRE FACIAS

In actions begun by scire facias, two returns without Delaware Process Service of two consecutive writs, itself being original writ as well as an alias writ, accompanied by a credential by the sheriff that he has posted a copy of the alias writ on the subject property and has mailed a copy of the alias writ by both certified mails, return receipt requested. 

Scire facias actions must be started within ten (10) days of filing, and the plaintiff or their counsel of record must send a notice consisting of a copy of the complaint and a certified letter, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, to all liens on the real estate involved, as well as any tenants who have had a leasehold interest in the property for a period of time or at their own discretion, within ten (10) days of filing (Superior Court). 

RETURN OF PROCESS

Original process, whether an original, alias, or pluries writ should be returnable twenty days after the writ’s issue, except that in cases for mandamus, the Court may, upon application for cause shown, declare that the writ is returnable in a shorter period. The person serving the process must immediately make return thereof to the Court following Delaware Process Service and in any case on the return day. Delaware Process Service which cannot be served before the return day thereof must be returned on the return day, and such return will lay out the reasons why service could not be obtained. Unless an officer or a deputy makes service, the individual making service must provide a copy of their return. Failure to make a return or evidence of service shall not impact the legitimacy of the Delaware Process Service.

If a service of the summons and complaint is not made upon a defendant within a hundred and twenty days after the filing of the complaint and the party on whose behalf such Delaware Process Service was required cannot show good cause why such Delaware Process Service was not made within that period, the action shall be dismissed as to that defendant without prejudice upon the court’s own initiative with notice to such party or upon motion. 

Whenever Delaware Process Service is needed or authorized to be made upon a party represented by an attorney, the Delaware Process Service should be performed upon the attorney unless service upon the party directly is directed by the Court. In order to serve an attorney or a party, the document must be delivered or sent to the attorney or the party at the last known address of the attorney or party, or the Clerk of the Court if there is no known address. When a copy is delivered, it is given to the attorney or the party or left at their office with a clerk or other person in charge [A.] if no one is in charge, it is left in a conspicuous place there or, [B.] if the office is closed or the person to be served does not have an office, it is left at the person’s residence or usual place of abode with some person of suitable age and discretion.

A ‘Notice of Service’ stating that certain forms of discovery or replies were served on other counsel or opposing parties, together with the date and mode of service, should be filed with the Court in its place by the party seeking discovery and the party serving responses.

how to serve a SUBPOENA in delaware

Anyone over eighteen who is not a party to the case may serve a subpoena. In the event that proof of service is required, the person who served the subpoena must certify that he or she filed a statement with the county’s Prothonotary stating the date, method, and names of those served.

A party must be served with all discovery papers except those that can be heard ex parte, every written motion other than one that can be heard ex parte. Every written notice, appearance, demand, the offer of judgment, and designee’s deposition must be served unless otherwise ordered by the Court pursuant to Delaware Process Service Rules.

The defendant must submit and serve with their response answers to the interrogatories found in Superior Court Rules Form 30 in any case involving a personal injury claim.

A defendant in a personal injury case who is facing a counterclaim, cross-claim, or third-party complaint must provide in the response all discovery required of a defendant in such a case.

In any action in which there are huge numbers of defendants, the Court, upon motion or of its initiative, may order that service of the pleadings of the defendants and replies thereto need not be made as between the defendants and that any cross-claim, counterclaim, or matter constituting an avoidance or affirmative defense contained therein shall be deemed to be denied or avoided by all other parties and that the filing of any such pleading and Delaware Process Service thereof upon the plaintiff constitutes due notice of it to the parties. A copy of every such order should be delivered to the parties in such manner and form as the Court specified.

All subsequent documents that must be served on a party must be submitted with the Court within a reasonable period of service, subject to restrictions. No documents need to be filed with the Court if they are served on all parties or counsel involved in the case under Civil Rule 31 of the Court of Common Pleas, as well as replies and responses. 

To avoid any ambiguity, the originals of all discovery documents must be retained and guarded by those responsible for serving the request and those responsible for responding to it. The party taking an oral deposition shall be the original custodian; no copy shall be submitted unless under the clause. In the circumstances involving out-of-state counsel, local counsel shall be the custodian.

If depositions, interrogatories, requests for documents, requests for admission, replies, or responses are to be utilized at trial or are required to a pretrial or post-trial petition, the verbatim sections thereof determined pertinent by the parties should be submitted with the Court when relied upon.

The Court may require the custodian to provide to it any discovery not previously filed with the Court for an appeal on its motion, application by any party, or by agreement of counsel. The Court may also direct the custodian to file the original of any discovery document on its motion, on motion by any party, or on application by a non-party.

When discovery materials are to be submitted with the Court other than during trial, the submitting party must file the material coupled with a notice giving out an itemized inventory of the information. If a deposition was taken on behalf of the party, that party is responsible for ensuring that the officer who took the deposition delivers the original transcript to that party. The Court’s Clerk may, unless otherwise directed by the Court, unseal any deposition taken in reliance on this Delaware Process Service.

The filing of pleadings and other papers with the Court must be made by filing them with the Clerk of the Court, except that the judge may authorize the judge may be allowed the papers to be submitted to the judge. If this is the case, the judge must record the date of filing and send it to the Clerk of the Court’s office. Papers may be submitted by facsimile transmission or electronically as per Delaware Process Service, by administrative order, or by a judge.

how to domesticate an OUT-OF-STATE SUBPOENA in delaware

Issuing an out-of-state subpoena pursuant to the Uniform Interstate Deposition and Discovery Act (UIDDA)-Delaware, the clerk of the court in the county where discovery is to be performed in this state must be presented with a foreign subpoena before it may be requested that a subpoena be issued under this section. Subpoenas issued under this law do not obligate a person to appear in court in Delaware.

Second, the clerk of a court in this state must swiftly issue a summons to the person to whom the international subpoena is sent, in line with that court’s process.

A subpoena issued for a foreign defendant must include: [A.]   the terminology appropriate for the subpoena from abroad; and [B.]  part of the subpoena, it must include or be accompanied with the names, addresses, and phone numbers of all counsel of record and of any party that is not represented by counsel.

OUR PROCESS

Documents can be faxed at (800) 296-0115, emailed ps@undisputedlegal.com, mailed, or dropped off at any of our locations. We do require pre-payment and accept all major credit and debit cards. Once payment is processed, your sales receipt is immediately emailed for your records.

Drop-offs must call and make an appointment first to be added to building security to permit access to our office. Documents for service must be in a sealed envelope with payment in the form of a money order or attorney check (WE DO NOT ACCEPT CASH) payable to UNDISPUTED LEGAL INC.; All documents are received by our receptionist.

DOMESTIC COVERAGE AREAS:

Alaska | Alabama | Arkansas | Arizona | California | Colorado | Connecticut | District of Columbia | Delaware | Florida | Georgia | Hawaii | Iowa | Idaho | Illinois | Indiana | Kansas | Kentucky | Louisiana | Maryland | Massachusetts | Maine | Michigan | Minnesota | Mississippi | Missouri | Montana | North Carolina | North Dakota| Nebraska | New Hampshire | New Jersey | New Mexico | Nevada | New York | Ohio | Oklahoma | Oregon| Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | South Carolina | South Dakota | Tennessee | Texas | Utah | Virginia | Vermont | Washington | West Virginia | Wisconsin | Wyoming

INTERNATIONAL COVERAGE AREAS:

Albania | Andorra | Anguilla | Antigua | Argentina | Armenia | Australia | Austria | Azerbaijan | Bahamas | Barbados | Belarus | Belgium | Belize | Bermuda | Bosnia and Herzegovina | Botswana | Brazil | British Honduras| British Virgin Islands | Bulgaria | Canada | Cayman Islands | Central and Southern Line Islands | Chile|China (Macao) | China People’s Republic | Colombia | Costa Rica | Country of Georgia | Croatia | Cyprus| Czech Republic| Denmark | Dominican Republic | Ecuador | Egypt | Estonia | Falkland Islands and Dependences | Fiji | Finland | France | Germany | Gibraltar | Gilbert and Ellice Islands | Greece | Guernsey | Hong Kong | Hungary | Iceland | India | Ireland | Isle of Man | Israel | Italy | Jamaica | Japan | Jersey Channel Islands | Jordan | Kazakhstan | Korea| Kuwait | Latvia | Lithuania | Luxembourg | Malawi | Malaysia | Malta | Mauritius | Mexico| MonacoMontenegro| Montserrat | Morocco | Namibia | Netherlands | New Zealand|Nicaragua | Norway | Pakistan | Panama | Paraguay | Peru | Philippines | Pitcairn |Poland | Portugal | Republic of Moldova | Republic of North Macedonia | Romania |Russian Federation | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | San Marino | Saudi Arabia | Serbia| Seychelles | Singapore| Slovakia | Slovenia | South Africa | Spain | Sri Lanka | St. Helena and Dependencies | St. Lucia | Sweden| Switzerland | Taiwan | Thailand | Tunisia | Turkey | Turks and Caicos Islands| UkraineUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | Uruguay | US Virgin Islands | Uzbekistan | Venezuela | Vietnam

OFFICE LOCATIONS

New York: (212) 203-8001 – 590 Madison Avenue, 21st Floor, New York, New York 10022
Brooklyn: (347) 983-5436 – 300 Cadman Plaza West, 12th Floor, Brooklyn, New York 11201
Queens: (646) 357-3005 – 118-35 Queens Blvd, Suite 400, Forest Hills, New York 11375
Long Island: (516) 208-4577 – 626 RXR Plaza, 6th Floor, Uniondale, New York 11556
Westchester: (914) 414-0877 – 50 Main Street, 10th Floor, White Plains, New York 10606
Connecticut: (203) 489-2940 – 500 West Putnam Avenue, Suite 400, Greenwich, Connecticut 06830
New Jersey: (201) 630-0114 – 101 Hudson Street, 21 Floor, Jersey City, New Jersey 07302
Washington DC: (202) 655-4450 – 1101 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 300, Washington DC 20004

FOR ASSISTANCE SERVING LEGAL PAPERS IN DELAWARE

Pick up the phone and call Toll-Free (800) 774-6922 or click the service you want to purchase. Our dedicated team of professionals is ready to assist you. We can handle all your process service needs; no job is too small or too large!  For a complete list of our Delaware Process Service Coverage Areas, Click Here!

Contact us for more information about our process-serving agency. We are ready to provide service of process to all our clients globally from our offices in New York, Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island, Westchester, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Washington, D.C.

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