WHAT DO PROCESS SERVERS IN ARKANSAS DO?

This article will provide guidance on What Due Process Servers in Arkansas Do? Legal papers need to instruct defendants, witnesses, and others on how and when to appear in court in Arkansas; hence process serving is a common legal practice in the state. When these documents are served in a state, it is often because of a complaint filed in a civil or criminal case. Click Here for Frequently Asked Questions About Process Servers!

An organization, business, or individual must be informed of a complaint against them. A summons to court, including information about the proceeding, is required to ensure that all parties have access to due process. A process server finds the target and personally delivers the legal documents, such as a court summons, complaint, or subpoena. In Arkansas, these documents are delivered by professionals known as ‘process servers in Arkansas.’ These professionals carry a wide range of goods used in state courts. These workers are obligated to follow all applicable laws and regulations of the state of Arkansas. These people follow the rules established by the courts in Arkansas. Click here for information on How Rush Process Service Can Expedite Your Case.

PROCESS SERVice IN ARKANSAS

Papers are often served in Arkansas court proceedings through personal delivery. However, the process server may have access to more options. Documents are left at the defendant’s home with a person aged fourteen or older if personal delivery cannot be arranged. A transfer to an agent or other person authorized for the service of process in Arkansas is also possible. However, a default judgment will be entered against the individual if they fail to appear in court. A defendant has a significant obligation to answer a summons once it is received. Click here for information on How Service of Process Ensures A Solid Foundation.

A warning order is required if the clerks in Arkansas are unable to issue the summons. Here, the individual should provide information on the case, including its name and title. This public notice is being issued at the request of the claimant. In the county where the case is filed, this must be done in a newspaper with a wide distribution for two full weeks straight. It is also important to send the defendant a copy of these court papers by limited delivery. Click here for information on How Process Servers Protect Your Rights: Myths Debunked

Our process servers in Arkansas serve all legal documents, including summons and complaints, divorce papers, family court documents, subpoenas, citations, small claims court cases, orders to show cause, petitions, discovery documents, evictions, landlord/tenant notices, motions, and more. We are a full-service process server agency providing services to federal, state & city agencies, law firms, attorneys, and the general public in Arkansas.

PROCESS SERVERS IN ARKANSAS

The defendant and any witnesses will often get their summonses from the sheriff or someone working at the sheriff’s office. Anyone over the age of eighteen may act as a process server; however, some others have special authority to do so. However, only persons designated as process servers by the court in Arkansas are permitted to hand deliver legal documents to the defendant and any relevant witnesses. Additionally, they must be an adult and a legal resident of the United States. The appointment is granted by a state court and must be renewed periodically. The process server will be longer be able to serve legal documents in the state if this is not the case.

By designating a server or third party to deliver the papers, the court ensures that the documents reach the correct recipient. Someone other than the defendant may be the subject of interrogation, and this person might be a witness. A similar service is required for cross-motion documents and other papers containing specific information when submitted. The individual tasked with hand-delivering these legal documents often has to try more than once before the intended recipient finally gets them. Finding the person at their usually frequently places like their house or work is one option.

Since Undisputed Legal is a private process service agency, accountability for documents is paramount. Our private process servers are required to provide periodical updates, and our clients at all times are aware of the status of their service. Furthermore, multiple attempts at service are always made so that service is always provided. 

To ensure that all of our customers get the highest quality service possible, we work only with experienced process servers based in Arkansas. We provide three levels of service, either routine service, wherein the process server will make their first attempt within 5-7 business days; rush service, wherein the process server will do their best to complete their first attempt within forty-eight hours or mail service, wherein documents will be shipped out within twenty-four hours of receiving the request. Process servers will make up to three (3) tries to deliver your documents, regardless of the service level you choose. 

At Undisputed legal, we ensure holistic Arkansas process servicing. We provide customized ‘real-time’ email status updates based on GPS affidavits of service and a free basic skip trace with affidavit available to new clients. 

Only seasoned Arkansas process servers who adhere to the most recent license, education, and bonding standards established by their jurisdiction may serve legal papers in Arkansas courts. Defendants and witnesses who have been avoiding service of process may rely on Undisputed Legal, Inc. to track them down and provide them with legal documents. 

PROCESS SERVER IN ARKANSAS REQUIREMENTS

Whoever knowingly and willingly obstructs a server in serving or attempting to serve or execute any legal or judicial writ or process of any court of the United States can be fined up to three hundred dollars or imprisoned for a year. 

When attempting to serve a defendant, the plaintiff or attorney of record for the plaintiff may use a commercial delivery service like an Arkansas process service agency. However, Arkansas requires the agency to retain permanent records of actual delivery and be approved by the circuit court in which the action is filed or in the county where service is to be made. The defendant or an agent with authority to accept service of process on the defendant’s behalf must be served with the summons and complaint. The defendant’s or representative’s signature is required.

 A copy of the summons and complaint, along with a notice that the case will go forward despite the defendant’s refusal to accept service, must be sent to the defendant by first-class mail as soon as possible after the plaintiff or his attorney learns of the refusal to accept service. If the defendant does not appear to defend the suit, the plaintiff or their attorney may seek judgment by default. Please visit our rules and laws page, Arkansas Rules of Civil Procedure.  For instructions on How To Serve Legal Papers in Arkansas, Click Here!

process SERVICE OUTSIDE THE STATE

When service outside of this state is permitted, notice may be served either by personal delivery in the same manner as service within this state or as directed by a foreign authority in response to a letter rogatory or pursuant to the provisions of any treaty or convention pertaining to the service of a document. Service outside the state can also be done by mail or any other means provided by the law of the place in which service is made in action in any of its courts of general jurisdiction. 

If service is made in a foreign state under the terms of a treaty or convention, then proof of service must be produced in accordance with the terms of that treaty or convention. Unless it seems that considerable injury will arise to the substantial rights of the person against whom the summons is issued, the court may at any time in its discretion and under such conditions as it considers fair allow any summons or evidence of service thereof to be altered.

Suppose a defendant is not served with the summons within a hundred and twenty days of the complaint being filed. In that case, the action may be dismissed as to that defendant without prejudice upon motion or on the court’s initiative. Any application to extend the period for service must be submitted within a hundred and twenty days of the filing of the complaint, and the court will only grant the extension if there is a good reason. However, the order granting any such extension must be issued no later than thirty days after the request to extend is filed or the end of the original term. 

WARNING ORDERS IN ARKANSAS.

Arkansas also specifies a warning order as a method of service. A warning order may be applicable when it appears on the affidavit of the party seeking a judgment that the identity or whereabouts of a defendant remains unknown after diligent inquiry or when a party seeks a judgment that affects or may affect the rights of persons who are not subject personally to the jurisdiction of the court. The clerk then issues the warning order. 

The warning order must include the caption of the pleadings, a description of the property or other res that will be affected by the judgment if applicable, and a notice to the defendant or interested person that they must appear within thirty days of the first publication of the warning order or face entry of judgment by default or be otherwise barred from asserting their interest. The party seeking judgment must ensure that the warning order is published once a week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper with general circulation in the county where the action is filed and that a copy of the complaint is sent to the defendant or interested party at his or her last known address via certified or registered mail with delivery restricted to the addressee or the agent of the addressee.

Suppose the party seeking judgment has been granted destitute pro se status without prepayment of fees. In that case, the clerk must prominently display the warning order in the county courthouse or courthouses for a full thirty days. 

A party seeking a default judgment or their attorney must file an affidavit with the court stating that thirty days have passed since the warning order was first posted at the courthouse before the court will enter a default judgment. Suppose the party seeking judgment or his or her attorney is familiar with the defendant or other interested person. In that case, the affidavit must also attest that thirty days have passed since a letter containing a copy of the warning order and the complaint were mailed to the defendant or other interested person as provided in this subdivision.

Within the time allotted for the person served to reply to the summons, the person effecting service must provide evidence of service to the clerk. Proof of service might be provided by executing a certificate of service or return that is part of the same document as the summons if a sheriff or deputy served it. 

OUR PROCESS

Documents can be faxed at (800)296-0115, emailed ps@undisputedlegal.com, or uploaded to our website. 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.; Our receptionist will receive all documents.

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

Simply 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 Arkansas 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.

“Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction, and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives”– Foster, William A

Sources

1. A summons may be served by:

 (1) the sheriff or a deputy sheriff of the county where service is to be made unless the sheriff is a party to the action;

 (2) a process server appointed by the court in which the action was filed or the court in the county where service is to be made pursuant to Administrative Order No. 20; or 

(3) a person authorized to serve process under the law of the place outside this state where service is to be made.

2. Judgment by default shall not be entered on the basis of service unless the record shows actual delivery on and the signature of the defendant or agent or an affidavit by an employee of an approved commercial delivery company reciting or showing refusal of the process by the defendant or agent.

3. If the court determines that someone other than the defendant or agent signed the receipt or denied delivery, or if the commercial delivery firm was not authorized as required by this subdivision, the default judgment may be set aside.

4. When service is made by mail in accordance with this regulation, it will be considered made as of the day the procedure was accepted or declined.

5. A copy of the complaint and the warning order must be sent to the defendant or other interested party by the party seeking. An announcement of the warning order in the newspaper is optional.

6. Affidavit of service must be made by anyone other than the sheriff or his deputy, and if the service was made by the mail or commercial delivery service, the return receipt, envelope, affidavit, or other paper required by Rule 4(d) must be attached

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The information contained herein has been prepared in compliance with Section 107 of the Copyright Act. Fair use is a legal doctrine that promotes freedom of expression by permitting the unlicensed use of copyright-protected works. The articles/Images contained herein serve as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, educational, and research-as examples of activities that qualify as fair use. Undisputed Legal Inc. is a Process Service Agency and “Not A Law Firm” therefore the articles/images contained herein are for educational purposes only, and not intended as legal advice.