A step-by-step guide to launching your process serving business: requirements, licensing, tools, and next steps.
A process server's principal job is to deliver, or "serve," legal documents to a defendant or person involved in a court case. Beyond serving papers, most also offer a variety of other services, such as filing court papers and document retrieval.
Process servers come from diverse backgrounds, from having no prior legal experience to a background in law enforcement. Many process servers only work part-time to earn additional income, while others make it their full-time career.
Salaries largely depend on your experience and type of employment. As you gain experience, you'll build a network of clients and improve your efficiency, allowing you to take on more work. Your income will also vary based on whether you work as a contractor or run your own business.
In the United States, the rules to become a process server vary from state to state. In many states, the main requirement is that you're over 18 years of age and not a party to the case. Other states mandate licensure or registration with your state or county.
Not all states require registration or licensing, so not all states have mandatory training. Regardless, new process servers should research local training programs or connect with experienced servers to learn how to serve papers in their community.
If there are no training options listed for your state and you're still interested, contact your local courthouse or your state process serving association .
Anyone looking to become a process server should be familiar with all state laws pertaining to service of process, not just the laws on how to become a process server.
Once acquainted with the laws in your state, contact your court or sheriff's office for registration and licensing guidelines, if applicable.
Some counties and courts have their own requirements on top of state law — notably in Florida, Missouri, New York, and Tennessee. Check with your local court or a state process serving association for the specifics in your area.
Once you've completed the necessary steps to become a process server, start planning your business strategy — whether you'll work as a contractor or start your own company, and the path to get there.
To get a process serving business up and running, you'll need marketing support, an online presence, and management software.
The next step to grow your business is expanding your networking and marketing to gain new business. A great option is to network with other process servers to offer contract work, particularly useful for nationwide agencies with coverage across states. You should also focus on marketing directly to law firms and courthouses — even if they already use a process serving company, introduce yourself and explain why you're the best choice for their needs.
Process servers with at least one year of experience and two letters of recommendation can join ServeNow to market to even more law firms, businesses, and private individuals.
New process servers often get jobs from a larger company they contract for or work for full-time. If you don't have ties to a company that already does marketing and outreach, you'll need to earn customers yourself — marketing and contacting law firms directly is a great way to start. Researching companies in your area and offering your services is another good way to gain experience.
Process server forums, groups, and job postings online are another good option for finding work.
Apply to join ServeNow and see how our suite of options can help grow your business.
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