How To Serve Legal Papers in Illinois: A Complete Guide

This article will provide guidance on How to serve legal papers in Illinois: a complete guide. Serving legal papers in Illinois is crucial for starting legal action. It notifies another party of legal proceedings. This process allows them to respond and subjects them to the court’s jurisdiction. Click here to watch our introduction video.

Understanding Illinois Process Service

Illinois does not have a statewide process service license. However, requirements vary, especially in Cook County, which has its own rules. Click here for Illinois Rules of Civil Procedure.

Licensing and Serving Process

In Illinois, private detectives can serve legal papers without special court approval, except in Cook County. Here, the court must appoint a special process server. Anyone over eighteen can serve papers if the court appoints them. They must show ID, fill out an application, pass a background check, and pay fees. Click Here for information on What Do Process Servers in Illinois Do?

The Sheriff’s Role

The sheriff is the primary server in Illinois. In less populated counties, civil staff may help. Licensed detectives or their employees can also serve, but they must show their license to the sheriff. Click Here for Frequently Asked Questions About Process Servers!

Filing for Service

To serve someone, you must first file a complaint and request a summons. The summons, which the clerk issues, identifies the parties and the court date.

E-Filing

Illinois requires e-filing for civil cases, with some exceptions. The summons tells the defendant when to appear and to file an answer within 30 days.

Serving Papers in Illinois

Sheriffs, detectives, or licensed private servers can serve papers. In counties with a large population, a licensed detective or their employee can serve without special appointment. If the sheriff cannot serve, the coroner will take over. Courts can allow private citizens over eighteen to serve if they are not part of the case.

Personal Service

An authorized person can serve the defendant anywhere in the state. They can serve outside their county, delivering the summons directly to the defendant or leaving it at their residence.

Mail and Publication Service

For small claims, you can serve by mail for a fee. If you can’t find the defendant after trying hard, you can publish a notice in a local newspaper.

Serving Corporations and Special Cases

To serve a corporation, deliver papers to their registered agent or an officer in the state. If usual methods don’t work, you can ask the court for an alternative way to serve.

Subpoenas in Illinois

Subpoenas compel testimony or document production. Anyone over eighteen who is not part of the case can serve a subpoena. They must pay the witness for one day’s attendance and mileage.

Domesticating Out-of-State Subpoenas

Under the UIDDA-Illinois, present a foreign subpoena to the county clerk where discovery will happen. This does not force the person to appear in court in Illinois.

This guide streamlines the process of serving legal papers in Illinois, ensuring you understand how to proceed effectively.

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, N.W. Suite 300, Washington DC 20004

FOR ASSISTANCE SERVING LEGAL PAPERS IN ILLINOIS

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 help you out. We can handle all your process service needs; no job is too small or too large! For a complete list of our Illinois Process Service Coverage Areas, Click Here!

Please feel free to 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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