It depends on the recipient, not just the request.
How long service takes depends mostly on when the person can be found. A first attempt may complete service, or it may be the first of several. California Courts’ restraining-order guide notes that service can be a hard step to complete and may take multiple tries.
Keep two dates separate: the due date you request for the work, which sets Affid’s pricing tier, and the deadline set by law or the court. A pricing tier does not change the court’s deadline.
Affid’s due-date tiers.
Your requested due date selects one of 3 tiers, counted in calendar days in Pacific time. Each tier includes up to 4 attempts per recipient and address.
The tier sets the requested timing and the rate. It is not a guarantee of when the first attempt is made or that service will be completed, and it does not mean every attempt is made on the same day.
| Tier | Requested due date | Rate: regular / remote or rural |
|---|---|---|
| Routine | Due in 7 or more calendar days | $100 / $150 |
| Rush | Due in 3–6 calendar days | $150 / $250 |
| Same-Day | Due today or within 2 calendar days | $230 / $330 |
Why an attempt is not a guaranteed serve.
A server can plan an attempt but cannot control whether the recipient is there. Common obstacles fall into three groups.
Availability: the person may work shifts, travel or simply not be home when the server arrives. Access: a gated community, locked lobby, front desk or missing unit number can keep a server from reaching the right door. Evasion: some people avoid service by not answering or by asking others to turn the server away.
An unsuccessful attempt is recorded as an attempt, not as service. California Courts suggests giving a process server a photo of the person, if you have one, and a list of times and places where the person will be easy to find.
- A recent photo or physical description of the recipient
- Times and places where the person is likely to be found
- Unit numbers, gate details and other access notes
- Work schedule or shifts, if known
Substituted service adds a 10-day wait.
If personal delivery has not worked, Code of Civil Procedure section 415.20 may allow the papers to be left with a qualifying adult at the person’s home, usual place of business or usual mailing address, followed by mailing a copy to the same address. Service in this manner is deemed complete on the 10th day after the mailing, not on the day the papers are left.
For an individual, substituted service depends on first trying personal delivery with reasonable diligence. A version of section 415.20 operative on January 1, 2027 states that reasonable diligence is shown by good-faith attempts on at least three occasions, on three different days, at three different times. Build those attempts and the 10-day period into your plan.
Small claims: count back from the hearing.
Code of Civil Procedure section 116.340 requires small claims papers to be served at least 15 days before the hearing if the defendant resides in the county where the case was filed, or at least 20 days before the hearing if the defendant resides outside that county. Proof of service must be filed with the court at least five days before the hearing.
In small claims, section 116.340 allows substituted service under section 415.20 without first attempting personal service. Because that service is not complete until 10 days after mailing, California Courts explains that substituted service has to be done 10 days before the service deadline, and it recommends serving as soon as you can.
Civil cases: 60 days to serve and file proof.
In many civil cases, California Rules of Court, rule 3.110(b) requires the complaint to be served on all named defendants, and proofs of service to be filed, within 60 days after the complaint is filed. The rule does not apply to collections cases under rule 3.740(a), unlawful detainer actions, Family Code proceedings or other proceedings with different service requirements.
The court can extend the time. Under rule 3.110(e), an application to extend the time to serve must be filed before that time has passed, with a declaration showing why service has not been completed and documenting the efforts made.
Plan backward from your deadline.
Start from the court’s date and work back. Allow time for several attempts, any 10-day mailing period, the return of the Proof of Service and filing it with the court. Requesting service early leaves more room if the first attempts do not succeed.
A Rush or Same-Day tier changes the requested timing and the rate. It does not change the legal deadline or guarantee completion.
- The hearing date or filing deadline, and where it comes from
- Any court order that sets or extends the time to serve
- The date you need the Proof of Service back
- Every address where the person may be found
Following the work.
Each attempt and its outcome are recorded, and the reported result and available records appear in your client workspace. If the deadline is close and service is not complete, review the attempt record with the team and your legal adviser before deciding the next step.
Official sources.
Follow the instructions for your case and check the relevant court’s current requirements. These links provide the official information referenced in this guide; Affid is not affiliated with the courts.
This guide explains timing to help you plan a request. It is not legal advice and is not a promise of when service will be completed. Deadlines depend on your case, the papers and any court order, so check the court’s instructions or ask your legal adviser for the dates that apply to you.
