Serving legal documents is a critical step in many judicial proceedings. Whether it’s a lawsuit, a subpoena, a divorce petition, or an eviction notice, service of process ensures the recipient is formally and legally informed. This step gives them the opportunity to respond and protects their legal rights.
But what happens when the recipient can’t be found—or worse, is actively avoiding being served?
This is where process servers come in. These professionals are highly trained to locate people and serve documents accurately and legally. From surveillance to social media sleuthing, process servers use a wide range of methods to ensure delivery.
What Information Does a Process Server Need?
Before a process server sets out to deliver documents, they need accurate, detailed information about the person being served. The more data available, the better the chances of locating the recipient quickly and successfully.
Process servers typically ask for the following:
Full legal name
Last known residential and work addresses
Phone numbers (home, mobile, work)
Email addresses
Date of birth or age range
Social media profiles or usernames
Photos or physical descriptions
Names of relatives, roommates, or known associates
Employer details
Vehicle make, model, and license plate
Common hangout spots (gyms, cafes, clubs, etc.)
All of this helps the server narrow down where to begin their search and how to identify the correct person.
Who Uses Process Servers?
You might be surprised at how many industries and individuals rely on process servers. Their work touches many different corners of the legal and business world.
1. Law Firms
Attorneys are among the biggest users of process servers. Whether they’re representing a client in a lawsuit or sending out subpoenas, law firms rely on process servers to deliver legal paperwork quickly, legally, and with proof of delivery.
2. Courts and Government Agencies
Courts often need to notify people of hearings, judgments, or legal actions. In such cases, a neutral third-party process server is essential to avoid conflicts of interest and ensure due process.
3. Businesses and Corporations
Companies may need to serve employees, vendors, or customers with legal documents related to breach of contract, non-payment, or corporate lawsuits. Process servers provide an efficient and reliable way to handle sensitive communications.
4. Landlords and Property Managers
Evictions, lease violations, or notice of intent to enter all require proper legal notification. Property managers rely on process servers to follow legal procedures and avoid disputes.
5. Private Individuals
Sometimes, people represent themselves in civil matters (a practice called “pro se” litigation). In divorce, child custody, or small claims cases, individuals hire process servers to ensure the other party is legally notified.
How Process Servers Find People
Some people are easy to serve—they live at a known address, work regular hours, and accept documents without issue. Others? Not so much.
When someone is evasive or hard to find, process servers use investigative tactics to track them down. These tactics are always conducted within legal and ethical boundaries.
1. Public Records Search
Process servers begin with publicly available records such as:
Property records
Voter registrations
Business licenses
Court filings
DMV data (where legally accessible)
This information helps verify current addresses, ownership, and contact points.
2. Database Tools
Licensed process servers often have access to professional databases that compile credit headers, utility records, employment data, and skip-tracing leads. These tools go beyond simple Google searches and offer real-time updates.
3. Social Media & Online Activity
Social media is one of the most powerful tools for locating someone. People often tag their location, post photos from home, or list their workplace. A server might find out where someone lives or works just from a Facebook check-in or Instagram photo.
4. Surveillance
In cases where a subject is known to be actively avoiding service, process servers may perform legal surveillance:
Observing known locations (home, work, gym)
Tracking vehicle movement
Monitoring arrival/departure times
Taking notes on patterns and behavior
This information helps determine the best time and place to attempt service.
5. Canvassing and Interviews
Process servers may talk to neighbors, security guards, building managers, or even delivery drivers to gather clues. Questions are casual and respectful, such as “Have you seen Mr. Smith lately?” or “Do you know when she usually gets home?”
How Process Servers Confirm Identity
Mistaken identity can void a service and waste time and money. Process servers take care to confirm they are handing documents to the correct person.
They may:
Ask for ID
Verify appearance with a photograph
Ask verification questions
Rely on surveillance observations
Confirm identity with a third party on site
Even if the individual refuses to accept the documents, once identity is confirmed, the server can still leave the documents at their feet or in their presence—it’s still considered valid service in most jurisdictions.
Methods of Serving Legal Documents
There are several acceptable methods for serving legal documents. Which one is used depends on local laws, the type of case, and how cooperative the recipient is.
1. Personal (In-Hand) Service
This is the gold standard. The server hands the papers directly to the individual. Even if the person refuses to take them, leaving them nearby after identifying the individual is usually considered legal service.
2. Substituted Service
If personal service fails after multiple attempts, the server may be allowed to:
Leave the documents with someone over 18 at the person’s residence
Serve a co-worker or office manager
Affix the documents to the front door and mail a copy (nail-and-mail method)
Deliver by certified mail
Serve via email or social media (only with court approval)
3. Service by Publication
As a last resort, courts may allow service by publication—placing a notice in a newspaper or legal publication for a certain period of time. This is usually allowed only after all other reasonable efforts to find the person have failed.
Advanced Surveillance Techniques
When a subject is elusive, process servers may use more advanced tools to complete the job:
Vehicle Tracking (observational, not GPS): Watching a known vehicle helps predict patterns and locations.
Pretexting (non-deceptive): Making casual conversation to learn if someone is home without revealing the intent to serve.
Stakeouts: Waiting near the home or workplace for the right moment.
Photographic Evidence: Some process servers document the moment of service for proof, if legally permitted.
Surveillance isn’t about spying or deception—it’s about making informed decisions that increase the chance of a successful serve while staying within legal boundaries.
What Happens After Service?
Once the documents have been successfully served, the process server must complete and sign a Proof of Service (also known as an Affidavit of Service). This document includes:
The recipient’s name
Date, time, and location of service
Description of the recipient
Method of service
Details about how identity was verified
Signature and sometimes notarization
This affidavit is filed with the court and becomes official evidence that proper service occurred.
What Happens When a Process Server Can't Find You?
Sometimes, despite best efforts, a process server is unable to locate or serve the individual. That doesn’t mean the case is over. The legal system has alternatives in place for just such scenarios.
1. Due Diligence
Process servers document every attempt they made—dates, times, addresses visited, people interviewed, and results. This creates a record of “due diligence,” showing the court that genuine efforts were made.
2. Court Petition for Alternate Service
With proof of attempted service, the attorney can request permission from the court to serve by alternate means. Common options include:
Mailing to the last known address
Posting the notice at the address
Emailing the documents
Serving a close relative or roommate
Publishing in a local newspaper
The court must approve any of these methods, and each one has its own timeline and follow-up requirements.
3. Default Judgment
If a person fails to appear in court after being served (or after being notified via alternate service), the case may proceed without them. The court can issue a default judgment, meaning the plaintiff wins automatically due to the defendant’s failure to respond.
Avoiding a process server does not make the legal problem go away—it only limits a person’s chance to defend themselves.
In Essence...
Process servers are a vital part of the justice system. Their work ensures that legal proceedings move forward fairly and legally. From tracking down elusive individuals to verifying identities and documenting delivery, process servers bridge the gap between the courtroom and the real world.
They’re not just messengers—they are investigators, witnesses, and legal professionals who play a key role in upholding due process.
Whether you’re a law firm, a landlord, a government agency, or a private citizen, working with a professional process server ensures your documents are delivered with accuracy, legality, and integrity.
Need Reliable Process Serving?
Whether you need to serve legal papers locally or internationally, our team of experienced process servers is here to help. We combine traditional techniques with modern tools to ensure efficient and lawful delivery—every time.
📞 Call +1 (213) 786 1161 today to learn more about our services or Click Here to Get Started with a Serve.
