What is service of process?
Service of process is the formal delivery of court papers to give another party notice. It follows requirements about the recipient, the person delivering the papers and the method used. The permitted method depends on the case, the documents and the stage of the proceedings.
For a service request, start with the papers you have prepared and the person or entity to be served. A delivery address is one part of that instruction; it does not replace identifying the correct recipient and the work required.
Service, courier delivery and filing do different jobs.
One matter may need all three. Describe each task separately so the packet, destination and record of the result remain clear. The distinctions below help you prepare an assignment; they do not select the legal procedure for your case.
| Task | Purpose | Record to request |
|---|---|---|
| Process serving | Serve the identified papers on the required recipient using the applicable procedure. | The reported attempts and outcome, with the applicable Proof of Service for completed service. |
| Courier or document pickup | Move a prepared packet between specified pickup and delivery locations. | The pickup or delivery outcome and any available receipt. A courier receipt alone does not establish proper service of process. |
| Court filing | Submit documents to the correct court through an accepted filing method. | The filing result and any returned copy or confirmation. A physical handoff alone does not establish filing acceptance. |
The service method comes from the matter.
California Courts describes several methods, including personal service, service by mail and substituted service. They are not interchangeable, and not every method is available for every document. An unsuccessful visit does not automatically make another method appropriate.
Share any case-specific instructions or order with the prepared packet. If the permitted method is unclear, check the court’s guidance or obtain advice before requesting a change. An urgent pricing tier changes the requested timing and rate; it does not change the legal requirements for service.
What should you prepare for a process server?
Keep the recipient information and document packet together. For several recipients, identify each person or entity, which papers belong to them and whether the addresses are the same. State what is known about an address rather than assuming that a business listing or shared entrance identifies the recipient.
Send access information privately with the request. A useful brief helps the team plan the work, but it cannot guarantee access to a property or successful contact.
- Complete prepared papers and any supplied proof-of-service form
- Recipient names, identifying information and full addresses, including units or suites
- Court and case reference, where applicable
- The exact requested deadline and relevant handling instructions
- Known access details and a contact who can clarify the brief
- Any separate pickup, court handoff or return-document task
Choose the service that matches the work.
Use Legal Document Service for prepared summonses, complaints and other legal papers, or Subpoena Service for a prepared subpoena assignment. If you need scheduled on-site time focused on a serve, describe that as a stakeout request. For urgent work, give the exact requested date and time so the request can be assessed with the correct pricing tier.
A pickup, a court filing or a courtesy-copy delivery has its own destination and expected result. Add it as a separate task and explain any dependency, such as collecting the packet before a service attempt.
Keep the service address separate from the courthouse.
The recipient’s home or business and the courthouse may be different stops. A court request also needs the relevant building, department or counter. Use the local guides below to prepare those destinations without treating the court’s address as the address where a recipient should be served.
The San Jose guide distinguishes its court buildings; Oakland explains the courtroom and clerk’s-office handoff. Redwood City covers records preparation, while San Francisco separates clerk filing and department courtesy-copy delivery. Each guide links to official court information to check before arranging work.
What happens after a service attempt?
Review the reported result and available documents in your client workspace. A completed serve and an unsuccessful attempt are different outcomes. For completed service, the applicable Proof of Service records the delivery; a further court-filing task may still need to be completed.
If service was not completed, review the attempt information before changing the address, packet or instructions. Agree on any further work within the scope of the request. Do not describe an attempt update as proof that the recipient has been served.
Review the price and submit the complete request.
Affid’s process-serving estimate depends on the address classification, requested due-date tier and recipient count. Review the published rates and any additional charges for your actual request. Routine, Rush and Same-Day are pricing bands, not guarantees of a first-attempt time or successful service.
Continue in the client portal to supply the case details, addresses and prepared documents, then review the request and fees. Creating an account alone does not submit the assignment. Keep the request confirmation and follow the next step shown for the work you selected.
Official California Courts 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 the practical workflow. The correct documents, recipient, service method and legal deadlines depend on your matter. Use the court’s case-specific instructions or your legal adviser for those decisions.
