Whether you need to serve divorce papers or a lawsuit, it is important to consider the different ways you can move your case along. The automatic assumption is that you should just let the sheriff’s office handle service, but there is a better option. There are a lot of great reasons to consider using a private process server for your case.

Speed of Service

The sheriff’s department handles quite a bit, from law enforcement to transport of prisoners. Service of process is not close to their main priority. Because of this, service can take quite some time before it is completed. This is especially true if the individual being served is not home when service is attempted.

Repeat Attempts

The sheriff’s department may make more than one attempt to serve process, but they are likely not going to try as many times as a private process server. In addition, a private process server usually charges a set price, while the sheriff’s department may tack on additional fees each time they attempt service. Continue reading →

Some celebrities have a tendency to get themselves into legal trouble, and the process servers responsible for serving their papers often stay very busy!

Movie star Shia LaBeouf, for instance, is now being sued for $5 million after calling a bartender “racist” for not serving him at a bar. Bartender David Bernstein is suing LaBeouf for defamation, character assassination, and assault due to the backlash he has received for denying LaBeouf his drink on the grounds of already being too intoxicated. According to Bernstein’s attorney, Bernstein has “experienced significant emotional distress, anxiety and fear” since the incident, and he is now called “the racist bartender” by LaBeouf’s fans. Continue reading →

Over the past ten years, private and professional process servers have become a popular alternative to county sheriffs for lawyers and others who need to serve court papers quickly and efficiently. Professional process servers are known for being dedicated to their responsibilities, even in the most difficult service situations. Unlike sheriffs, who are overwhelmed by countless other legal tasks, process servers are able to focus entirely on providing clients with fast and effective service of process.

Many sheriffs in Georgia are pushing back against the growth of process servers in their state, and the controversy has now been sent to the Georgia Supreme Court for a decision.

A Sheriffs’ Conspiracy? Continue reading →

Chris Brown just can’t seem to keep his name out of the news. Brown transformed from idolized pop star to infamous celebrity after he brutally assaulted his then-girlfriend Rihanna in 2009. Now, 8 years later, Brown is facing more legal trouble regarding his behavior in his relationships. Karrueche Tran, Brown’s girlfriend of four years, filed court documents in February 2017 accusing Brown of abusing her and threatening to kill her after the two broke up.

Since Tran is seeking legal protection from Brown, a process server must legally serve Brown with a summons and other court documents to inform him of the court proceedings. However, it seems that Brown is doing his best to avoid and evade the process server that has been assigned to his case. Tan’s original restraining order hearing was scheduled for March 29, 2017 and then rescheduled since Brown had yet to take receipt of the official court documents. The new court date, April 19, 2017, was just recently postponed for the same reason. Continue reading →

Receiving legal papers is rarely a joyous or exciting occasion, which explains why so many people react poorly to the sight of a process server standing at their door. The arrival of a process server indicates that the recipient has become embroiled in some type of legal matter, whether it be a judgment for debt, a divorce, or a home foreclosure. It’s certainly hard to cope with these types of negative events, and many people forget the old adage “don’t shoot the messenger” when a process server arrives on their doorstep.

One South Florida woman, for example, barricaded herself in her home and called 911 when a process server provided her with eviction papers as the result of a recent divorce. However, even though she called the police herself, the woman made threats that she would shoot if police responded to the scene. She went as far as to claim that she would blow up the house if forced into an eviction. Fortunately, the police were able to resolve the conflict and take the unnamed woman into police custody, but the situation could have turned out very differently. Continue reading →

You’ve heard the phrase, “You’ve been served!” but do you know all of the legal technicalities behind that phrase? It’s called service of process, and it’s a critical component to the beginning of any civil lawsuit. You never know when service of process will impact your life, so it’s important to understand the basics.

What Is Service of Process?

Service of process is the first and foremost requirement to commence a lawsuit because it is the process of informing the other parties of their involvement via the formal delivery of papers like complaints and motions. Service of process also legally establishes which court has jurisdiction over the case. For instance, if Peter was injured in a car accident because another driver on the road named Jenna crossed into his lane while she was texting on her phone, Peter could sue Jenna for negligence. He would begin this process by filing to have Jenna served a summons and complaint of the lawsuit. Continue reading →

Problems between landlords and tenants are never pleasant, but strategically using a process server in such a situation can help to make it all a bit easier. This is especially true for landlords dealing with problematic tenants who are involved in illegal activities, violating lease terms, refusing to pay rent, or committing other undesirable actions.

Get Help From a Process Server

If you have exhausted all of your options as a landlord to resolve the problems caused by your tenant, you have the legal right to evict your tenant for failing to follow the terms of his lease. However, eviction does require court documents. The first step is providing the tenant with a written notice that serves as a warning, and that warning can be utilized in court proceedings to support your case if needed. Delivering the warning via a process server is far more efficient and reliable than sending it through the mail or placing it through your tenant’s door. It not only shows that you are serious about the eviction, but also makes your case more trustworthy in court. Continue reading →

In 2016 alone, judges made major headlines by announcing their approval of requests to use social media sites like Facebook and Twitter to serve papers. This is an enormous change from the traditional rules of service of process that require papers to be served in person. Though social media utilization is still limited to only a handful of situations, process servers in Singapore have now been granted permission to move beyond Facebook and Twitter and into the realm of WhatsApp.

The Changing Nature of Social Media Continue reading →

Chris Brown is a talented singer, but he has also gained an unfortunate reputation for his tendency to collide on the wrong side of the law. In fact, the troubled R&B star is known just as much for his music as for the fact that he physically assaulted then-girlfriend Rihanna in 2009. In addition to jail time, community service, and social media conflicts, Brown has also made enemies with the process servers tasked with serving the papers for his various lawsuits.

Mike G was hired as Chris Brown’s manager in 2009 to help improve his public image after the Rihanna attack, but Mike G has filed his own lawsuit against Brown based on accusations of more violence. According to the celebrity information site TMZ, Mike G tells of a drug-fueled Brown brutally attacking him with punches to the face and neck in May 2016. Continue reading →