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Hiring A Process Server

The fast, professional and reliable service of process from trained process servers is vital to the smooth operation of the legal system. The employment of process servers groomed in proper courthouse protocol and in the rules of service of process guarantees that there will be no undue procedural errors that could result in costly delays for attorneys and their clients.
When a law firm or litigant is seeking to employ an independent process server or serving firm with several servers, there are some factors that should be considered. The first consideration is to find a server who can provide quality and timely service. This means that the server has the latest technology in order to maintain the highest quality of service while, at the same time, keeping costs down. Because of the rising cost of gasoline, many servers are utilizing advanced technology in order to maintain reasonable prices. Some of these suggested technologies are the GPS navigation systems, mobile Internet, fax to email capabilities, cell phones, national databases for skip tracing, and online tracking of documents. The Internet has created the “Age of Instantaneous Communication,” and it is imperative that the consumer in need of service of process utilize those servers who can not only deliver the requested legal documentation, but who can also provide the required proof of such service in a timely manner.
It is important that an attorney or litigant secure the services of a trained server who has experience in court house procedural matters such as court filings, research and document retrieval. An untrained or inexperienced server could create additional problems and undue delays in service which will, inevitably, cost the client time and money and impede the progress of the case.
The service of process firm must also be knowledgeable in the area of skip tracing and in locating hard to find defendants/missing persons. Process serving firms use electronic databases to track down individuals who have “skipped’ out, but also must be knowledgeable of in the field investigative techniques. Sometimes the electronic databases work and sometimes the old “shoe leather” must be utilized for those really difficult defendants. While the remarkable development of the Internet, and the many public databases now available, has propelled this field into an “electronic age”, the old ”gumshoe” approach is still a feasible method of locating people who, for one reason or another, can not be located or do not want to be located. A process server that uses just one of these techniques does not give their client the quality of service needed in today's fast paced world Thus, a server needs to be computer literate and able to access the modern technologies that are available and be trained in investigative techniques.
This article was prepared in part, by Colin Keogh of Salus Services, Inc.