Frequently asked questions

Service of process is the legal step that notifies the other side that a case has been filed against them. California courts will not move a matter forward, enter a judgment or hold most hearings until there is proof on file that the other party was properly notified. That proof is a signed declaration describing exactly who was served, by whom, where, when and by what method. Because so much depends on it, the rules about who may serve papers and how are unusually specific, and small mistakes have outsized consequences.

Who is allowed to serve papers

In California, a party to the case cannot serve their own documents. Service must be performed by someone at least 18 years old who is not a party to the action. Friends and relatives technically qualify, but courts and clerks are far more comfortable with a registered process server, and for several document types a registered server's proof is accepted without additional steps. Registration also means the server is bonded and operating under California Business and Professions Code sections 22350 and 22353.

Common reasons a serve fails

The most frequent problems we see are an outdated address, a party who works hours that make home attempts pointless, a gated community or secured office building, a business served through an agent who no longer represents it, and a name on the documents that does not match the person actually living at the address. Most of these are solvable with skip tracing, a workplace attempt, a different time of day, or an agent lookup before dispatch, which is why we ask for as much detail as you have when you send the assignment.

What to send us with your documents

Send the documents in PDF form along with the full name of the party to be served, the service address plus any second address such as a workplace, a physical description if you have one, the court name and case number, any hearing or response deadline, and the times the person is most likely to be found. Intake is entirely online by email or through our submission portal. If hard copies are required, call us to coordinate. If your question is not answered above, call 818-857-4333 and someone will walk you through it.