WHAT DO PROCESS SERVERS IN TEXAS DO?

This article will provide guidance on What Due Process Servers in Texas Do? Service of process is ‘the official delivery of a writ, summons, or other legal process or notice,’ as defined by the state of Texas.  Throughout the state of Texas, it is the role of the process server to ensure that all relevant parties have received their respective court papers and citations. As an additional step, they need to submit a ‘Return of Citation’ form to the appropriate court. This may be used as evidence that you provided service. Click Here for Frequently Asked Questions About Process Servers!

In Texas, you must be formally served with a lawsuit if you are being sued for a debt. The completion of this service is contingent upon your receipt of the citation through hand delivery or other valid delivery methods. This is where a private process service agency like Undisputed Legal comes into the picture.  Providing proper notice of a lawsuit in Texas is required by law. Engaging a private process server like Undisputed Legal can lessen the risk of losing your documents or improper service.  Click here for information on How Rush Process Service Can Expedite Your Case

WHO CAN SERVE IN TEXAS

In Lone Star State, the serving process may be handled by any impartial third party at least eighteen years old. A professional process server in Texas, however, will have the necessary knowledge and experience to carry out this duty successfully. This prepares them to serve and also informs them of the regulations that govern this procedure. Having a trained process servers in Texas like those at Undisputed Legal do the job also decreases the likelihood of accidentally serving the incorrect person or violating jurisdictional regulations. If not, the service might be compromised. Click here for information on How Service of Process Ensures A Solid Foundation.

When they deliver the papers, a process server must inform you that a lawsuit has been filed against you. At Undisputed Legal, we conduct service in this manner, and all our clients will get a copy of the documents sent in the mail as proof of service as well as the affidavit of service with the document. Click here for information on How Process Servers Protect Your Rights: Myths Debunked

The server must prove to the court that they have made several efforts to serve you without success before they are given this order.   Delivery of legal papers to a recipient is called ‘service of process’ and is required by law. There must also be a formal notice to the defendant that legal action is being launched.

HOW IS process SERVICE DONE IN TEXAS

To begin, a defendant must be located so they may be served. After that point, evidence is often presented to the court during the trial, as opposed to prior to it. Either side may cite these as supporting evidence (the plaintiff or defendant). The court hearings itself may be the first time these materials are utilized.

This evidence is sometimes not obtained until far into the court case. The documents may be submitted to the court whenever they are needed as evidence, but only after they have been presented. Additionally, one must provide early notice to the opposing party before taking legal action against them, such as filing a lawsuit after suffering injuries in an auto accident. Evidence procedure is governed by a wide variety of laws and statutes that vary from state to state.

When serving legal documents in Texas, a process server must first get certification from the Judicial Branch Certification Commission (JBCC). Each process server must abide by the commission’s Code of Ethics.  At Undisputed Legal, only seasoned Texas process servers who have met the most recent license, schooling, and bonding criteria required by the jurisdiction in which they serve court papers are allowed to do so. 

The Code of Ethics stresses the need to act professionally and with respect for everyone they serve legal documents. This may be difficult for a process server if the individual being served is actively avoiding service, but it is necessary. We at Undisputed Legal, Inc. make it our business to track down elusive defendants and witnesses so that we may serve them with legal documents. The Code of Ethics ensures that process servers do not act in a manner that overstates their power and goes beyond requiring them to be honest in their work. All process servers should follow this regulation, but police officers and other law enforcement personnel should pay special attention to it. The Code states explicitly that a server shall not wear a badge when serving documents since police officers often double as process servers.

process servers IN TEXAS

Before a lawsuit may go forward, all parties involved must get notice of the summons or complaint filed against them, a procedure known as ‘service of process.’ Everyone, including a business or partners, must be notified of the hearing before the court may go on.

You have the right to retain private process serving assistance whether you are a plaintiff or defendant in a lawsuit or a complainant in a complaint filed against an individual, organization, or business.  Since sheriffs or local enforcement may also be competent to serve documents, the court may ask these persons to be the process servers instead if you are unable to employ a personal service or your legal team does not have a professional process server in their institution. It is preferable to hire a legal agency like Undisputed Legal to help you with the filing process, however. Our process servers are accountable to our clients and ensure service is done promptly.

Except for injunction, attachment, garnishment, sequestration, or distress actions, no civil suit may be initiated nor process issued or served on Sunday, albeit citation by a publication published on Sunday may be effective. All writs and processes will be in the style of ‘The State of Texas,’ made returnable on Monday next after the expiration of twenty days from the date of service thereof, dated and attested by the clerk with the seal of the court impressed thereon, and note the date of issuance.

DOMESTIC process SERVICE IN TEXAS

A copy of the citation and the petition must be delivered to the defendant in person and marked with the date of delivery or sent to the defendant through registered or certified mail, return receipt requested. The court may authorize service upon a motion supported by a statement (made before a notary or under penalty of perjury) listing any location where the defendant can probably be found and setting forth specifically the facts showing that service has been attempted at the location named in the statement but has been unsuccessful. This service may be done by hand delivering a hard copy of the summons and petition to an adult at the address listed in the statement or by using any other method, including social media, email, or other technology, that the statement or other evidence shows will be reasonably effective in providing notice of the suit to the defendant.

The process server must fill out a return of service. The return might be endorsed on or attached to the citation, although it is not necessary. Legal documents such as summons and complaints, divorce papers, family court documents, subpoenas, citations, small claims court proceedings, orders to show cause, petitions, discovery documents, evictions, landlord/tenant notifications, motions, and more are all served by our process servers in Texas. Undisputed Legal is a countrywide process-serving organization that assists government entities at all levels, private legal practices, and the general public.

Using a three-tiered system, our in-state team of expert process servers provides customers at all three levels of service across Lone Star State. We provide Routine Service, where the Process Server will make its first attempt within five to seven business days, and Rush Service, wherein the  Process Server will make its first attempt within forty-eight hours. We also serve legal papers delivered through mail within twenty-four hours. 

Regardless of what service level you may choose, the process server will make up to three (3) attempts to deliver the paperwork, regardless of the service level our clients may choose (Routine or Rush.) These three attempts will be made in the morning, afternoon, and evening for every service level.

OUT OF STATE process SERVICE IN TEXAS

A citation and petition may be served on a foreign count party in the manner prescribed by the law of the foreign country for service in that country in action in any of its courts of general jurisdiction. Service may also be done as directed by the foreign authority in response to a letter rogatory or letter of request or pursuant to the terms and provisions of any applicable trespass treaty. 

Process served abroad must be done in a way that is likely to reach the defendant in time for them to mount a proper defense. Unfortunately, the timelines for Texas process service in international situations will be significantly longer since the service needs to go through two different courts in order to get documents approved. In the event that a defendant is served with process, they must appear and respond in the same way and within the same time frame as if he had been personally served with a citation.

For any form of service, we email ‘Real-Time’ status updates with customized GPS affidavits of service to our clients in order to reassure them as to the safety of their documents. Further, we also email a copy of the affidavit prior to mailing. We also offer a free basic skip trace for new clients. 

It takes highly skilled individuals to carry out the legal procedure methodically and lawfully. Serving legal papers is the initial stage, and this may be done by engaging a professional process server like those at Undisputed Legal. 

OUR PROCESS

Documents can be faxed at (800) 296-0115, emailed to ps@undisputedlegal.com, or uploaded to our website. We do require prepayment 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, N.W. 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 Texas Process Service Coverage Areas, Click Here!

Contact us for more information about our process-serving agency. We are ready to provide New York City 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. The creditor may request an order for substituted service under TRCP 106 if the process server is unable to locate you.

2. Under these circumstances, they may leave the paperwork with any person above 16.

3. Requirements of service:

  1. The defendant’s documents must be served by someone at least 18 years old.
  2. The messenger must be completely unrelated to the matter.
  3. The individual delivering the documents must verify delivery to the sitting judge.

4. In reality, the Commission has the power to take disciplinary action against a process server who fails to comply with this requirement.

5. Addressed to any sheriff or any constable within the State of Texas,

6. Every officer or authorized person is required to sign and date official reports attesting to the day and time they received process and precepts, as well as the method in which they were executed and the location at which they were served. 

7. The following information must be included in the service of process record: (1) the cause number and case name; (2) the court in which the case is filed; (3) a description of the item served; (4) the date and time the item was received for service; (5) the person or entity served; (6) the address served; (7) the date of service or attempted service; (8) the manner of delivery of service or attempted service; (9) the name of the person who served or attempted to serve the process; (10) if the person named in

 8. Service can also be done in the manner provided by Rule 106

9. Every subpoena has to be issued in the official name of ‘The State of Texas’ and include the following specifics:

  1. Include the name of the court issuing the subpoena, the name of the case, the cause number, the date the subpoena was issued, and the name of the individual it was issued to.
  2. Identify the party at whose request the subpoena is issued, as well as the party’s attorney of record, if any; Provide the time, location, and type of the conduct requested of the person to whom the subpoena is addressed, as stated in Rule 176.2;
  3. bear the subpoena issuer’s signature and the language of Rule 176.8(a).

10. If you retain a law firm or legal service that employs a team of process servers, the cost of having legal documents served may be rolled into the total cost of representing you in court. This is the best course of action since law firms provide comprehensive support both before and after papers are served.

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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.