Understanding Service of Process
November 5, 2024 • Support Team
In the legal landscape, Service of Process is a fundamental procedure that ensures fairness and transparency in legal proceedings. This process involves delivering legal documents, such as summonses, complaints, or subpoenas, to individuals or entities involved in a case, guaranteeing their right to be informed and to respond appropriately. The validity of this process is crucial as it upholds the due process rights of all parties. Typically, a neutral third party—often a professional process server—carries out the service to ensure impartiality.
How Does Service of Process Work?
Attorneys and their staff can request process serving via any case initiation or request it as a standalone service. Here’s how it works:
- Order Submission
Orders are submitted to our fulfillment team, One Legal, which processes incoming jobs by prioritizing them based on service level and time requirements. - Dispatching
The prioritized orders are assigned to a nationwide network of professional process servers. - Customer Support
Our Escalations Team handles customer inquiries, monitors job statuses, and expedites tasks as necessary. They also relay contractor communications to the customer. - Completion and Review
After the service is completed, a Contractor Success Team reviews the job ratings to ensure customer satisfaction and ongoing quality.
Please visit our Service of Process page for a list of estimated fees.
Service Attempts
To maximize the success rate of document delivery, professional process servers typically make between four and six attempts at different times and days.
- A minimum of four attempts is generally required by jurisdiction or client specifications.
- Servers are required to provide photo verification to document their diligence.
Accountability and Quality Assurance
Maintaining high standards in process serving is achieved through several measures:
- Customized App Usage
Many of our servers use a customized app that provides our fulfillment team with real-time updates, proofs of service, and geolocation data, ensuring transparency and accountability. - Photographic Evidence
Servers take photos at each attempt to eliminate ambiguity and confirm the accuracy of the service location. - Data Monitoring
All serve data, including timestamps and geolocation, is monitored and assessed daily by our fulfillment team to improve service quality continually.
Advanced Messaging and Communication
Direct and efficient communication is facilitated through:
- Instant Messaging
Clients can message the Service of Process Team directly from a filing for items such as order updates, cancellation requests, and issue resolutions. - Categorized Messaging
Messages are categorized for better handling, and critical updates are directly communicated to the process server in charge. - Email Notifications
Notifications ensure clients stay informed and can respond promptly, streamlining the process.
Performance Monitoring
Continuous performance monitoring of our team and contractors ensures high standards are met:
- Daily KPI Reporting
Key performance indicators are tracked daily to assess job performance. - Rush Jobs
Special attention is given to rush jobs to meet stringent service level agreements and turnaround expectations. - Escalations and Updates
The fulfillment team actively monitors and updates job orders, ensuring timely service completion.
Conclusion
Service of process is a critical component of the legal system, ensuring that all parties are properly notified and can participate in the legal proceedings. Through a structured approach involving professional servers, advanced technology, and rigorous monitoring, organizations like One Legal provide reliable and efficient service of process. This dedication to accuracy, transparency, and customer satisfaction helps uphold the integrity of the legal process.