What Are Process Servers Allowed to Do?
Process servers are tasked with keeping the legal system running smoothly by ensuring that people know when they are required to be in court. Process servers have to be creative and use the resources around them to locate the recipients of the paperwork they deliver. Some situations require more creativity than others, but there is a limit on what process servers can do while attempting to serve process to a recipient.
Process Servers Can Contact Your Family, Friends, and Even Employer
No matter how hard you try to hide the fact that you have legal troubles, if you avoid a process server, you can expect them to start contacting anyone associated with you. That could be your parents, siblings, spouse, extended family, children, friends, or even your employer. When everyone in your life starts getting calls or emails from a process server trying to find you, you’ll have a lot of explaining to do. You’re better off not trying to avoid the process server so you can keep your personal matters personal.
Process Servers Can Stalk Your Social Media Accounts
Social media is public (for the most part), so anything you post there is fair game for a process server trying to find you. While servers are discouraged from being dishonest online about their identities when trying to locate someone, they can simply follow your posts and use some reasoning skills to find out where you hang out or frequent. Then it’s just a matter of time before they find you.
Process Servers Cannot Commit a Crime to Serve You
No matter how much a process server wants to locate you, they are not allowed to commit any crime while attempting service. This includes:
- Breaking and entering
- Trespassing
- Communicating threats
- Assault and battery
- Criminal mischief
If a process server commits a crime while attempting to serve you process in a legal case, contact the police to report it immediately.
Process Servers Cannot Show Up At Your Work Unannounced
While a process server can contact your employer to learn about your whereabouts, they can’t just pop in on you while you’re at work. Servers must go through the employer to contact you while at work in order to protect your privacy. Note that this does not apply to business owners, who can be served at their place of business without prior warning.
Process Servers Cannot (Usually) Serve You on Sunday
It is against the law to serve process on Sunday except in very rare circumstances.
Quality Process Servers in Dallas
If you need a reputable, quality process service agency in the Dallas area, trust the experts at Accurate Serve® to handle your case process quickly, efficiently, and professionally. Call us at (469) 518-9581 or send us service requests online to get started, and take the burden of lawful service of process off your shoulders today!