Next day process serving

The middle speed

Next day process serving is $175. We make the first attempt by the next day, then continue until the person is served or four attempts are done. Same day is $195 when the first knock has to be today. Standard is $150 when the first attempt can fall within 1–3 days. The attempt count on this price is four. A witness fee is the check written to that person. The order adds 8% or $4.00, whichever is greater.

You send one address. We do not rotate through old addresses for $175. If the only address you have is stale, order a skip trace before the serve. A search that returns no results is refunded in full. A search that returns out-of-date addresses is not refunded, and there is no guarantee a current residence exists.

What next day means on the calendar

Next day means the next day the office is open. Office hours are Mon–Fri, 7am–5pm PST. Place the order during those hours and the first attempt is by the next business day. Place it after closing and we process it the next business day. The attempt clock starts when we process the file, not when the website took the card.

Service attempts are also made outside of these office hours.

A Thursday order is attempted by Friday. A Friday order is attempted by Monday. We do not count Saturday. Call 619-399-3278 if a hearing date makes that gap a problem. We will tell you whether same day still fits the calendar. We will not tell you what the court requires.

Proof of service/declaration mailed for self-represented people

Self-represented people get the proof of service/declaration mailed to San Diego County courts. That mailing is included in the $175. You also receive a copy. The mailing is for San Diego County courts. A court outside the county gets the proof sent back to you, and you file it.

Each attempt is written down: the day, the time, and what happened at the door. If all four attempts are used and service did not happen, you receive a declaration of due diligence. The declaration is a record of the trips. It is not legal advice about the next filing, and it is not a promise the court will grant anything.

Add-ons that change the invoice

An extra person at the same address is $40. A second street address is a second serve, not a $40 add-on. Printing after the first 40 pages is $.30 a page. A specific date and time is $30 when you need the attempt inside a window. If the window means sitting and watching, add a stakeout instead. Stakeout time has to be confirmed by the office.

Rural outlying towns add $45 and use three attempts instead of four. The list is Jamul, Alpine, Ramona, Fallbrook, Lakeside, Valley Center, and Bonsall. Extra-rural back country adds $100 and includes two attempts. Do not submit an extra-rural address until you have called the office. An additional case on the same job is $30.

Bases and people in custody

An address on a San Diego County military base needs the military base add-on, which is $65. We attempt the serve only if the base approves the visit. Fees are refunded when that approval does not come through. Send the base name and any unit or building detail you have with the order.

A person in custody is not a next-day door serve and not a base add-on. Incarceration service has a first attempt within 1–3 days and four attempts. It is not on the order form. Notarization of a proof, if you want it, is $40 per signature.