San Diego, California Process Servers

The servers listed here cover the City of San Diego and the rest of San Diego County. Below are short answers to the questions people ask most before they serve court papers in San Diego.

Which San Diego courthouse handles my case?

Civil and small claims cases for the Central Division are filed at the Hall of Justice. Family, probate and criminal matters are nearby at the Central Courthouse. See the court's Hall of Justice and Central Courthouse pages for hours.

Hall of Justice (civil, small claims)
330 West Broadway
San Diego, CA 92101

Central Courthouse (family, probate, criminal)
1100 Union Street
San Diego, CA 92101

Two other courthouses sit inside city limits: the Kearny Mesa courthouse (8950 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., traffic) and Juvenile Court (2851 Meadow Lark Drive, dependency, delinquency and adoptions). Cases from the South Bay are usually heard at the South County Regional Center in Chula Vista.

Who can serve papers in San Diego County?

Any adult who isn't a party to the case (CCP § 414.10). Someone who serves more than 10 papers a year for pay must register with the county clerk and post a $2,000 bond (B&P § 22350). In San Diego County that means registering in person with the Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk. Hiring a registered San Diego County process server gives you a proof of service that carries their registration number. The sheriff also serves civil papers, but a private server can usually make more attempts, at more times of day, including evenings and weekends.

How long do I have?

In most civil cases, the court expects proof of service on every defendant within 60 days after the complaint is filed (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.110(b)). For small claims, the court says service must be done at least 15 days before trial if the defendant lives in San Diego County, or 20 days if they live outside it. Add 10 days for substituted service (small claims proof of service). More on timing: service of process deadlines.

What changes on January 1, 2027?

California's SPARE Act (AB 747) requires a photo of every service attempt, stamped with the date, time and GPS location, and three attempts on different days before substituted service. Read what the SPARE Act means when you hire a server.

How do I serve a company headquartered in San Diego?

Serve its registered agent for service of process, wherever that agent is. Many San Diego companies use a commercial agent, and the large national agents keep their California offices in Sacramento or the Los Angeles area, not in San Diego. Look up the agent with the California Secretary of State business search, and see what a registered agent is.

A server can reach an individual employee at work, for example at:

Qualcomm headquarters
5775 Morehouse Drive
San Diego, CA 92121

UC San Diego Health, Hillcrest
200 West Arbor Drive
San Diego, CA 92103

A lawsuit against the employer itself generally goes to the employer's registered agent, not to a front desk or a random employee.

How do I serve the City or the County of San Diego?

A public entity is served by delivering the summons and complaint to the clerk, secretary or head of its governing body (CCP § 416.50). Most damage suits against a public entity also require a government claim first, so check that before you file.

Office of the City Clerk (City of San Diego)
202 C Street, Second Floor
San Diego, CA 92101

Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, Room 335 (County of San Diego)
1600 Pacific Highway
San Diego, CA 92101

The Clerk of the Board takes a summons or subpoena in person only, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, and not by email or fax.

Can papers be served on a military base or Navy ship?

Not without permission. Naval Base San Diego, MCAS Miramar and the ships berthed in the bay are closed to the public. Under Navy rules, the commanding officer decides whether to allow service, and it is usually arranged through the command's legal office. Serving a service member off base, at home, is often simpler.

What if the person lives in Tijuana?

Mexico is a party to the Hague Service Convention, so papers for someone living across the border normally go through Mexico's Central Authority. A server handing papers over in Tijuana may not count. If the person crosses into San Diego for work, they can be served here like anyone else.

For the full statewide rules, see California process serving laws. To compare prices, read how much it costs to hire a process server.

This is a general summary, not legal advice.