What Are Process Servers, and Why Are They Essential for Law Firms?
The U.S. is home to about 450,000 law firms. Many of them can’t serve their clients without process servers. So, what are process servers, and why is it so important for law firms to work closely with them?
Many Americans have seen process servers serving documents to those involved in legal cases, either in real life or on TV shows and in movies.
However, people don’t always understand the vital role of process servers in the legal process.
Learn more about process servers, the court documents they serve, and their importance in every court proceeding in the country.
What Are Process Servers?
First things first: What are process servers? Simply put, they’re professionals responsible for performing what is called service of process. This act involves delivering subpoenas, summonses, and other court documents to individuals subject to legal proceedings.
In some cases, process servers can easily track down those they need to serve legal documents to by visiting them at home or work. In other instances, process servers must exercise creativity to locate and serve those actively trying to avoid the documents coming their way.
Because of this, not everyone can work as a process server. It explains why there are only between 8,000 and 9,000 process servers working throughout the U.S. as of 2024.
Why Are Process Servers Essential for Law Firms?
Law firms must establish close working relationships with trustworthy process servers who can serve legal documents like court summonses, restraining orders, eviction notices, and more. Why? First, it’s because law firms aren’t legally allowed to serve these documents.
Instead, the law requires law firms to bring process servers on board to serve as impartial third parties when delivering legal documents to those involved in court cases. It also calls for them to follow a series of strict legal requirements when serving documents:
- They must accurately verify a person’s identity before serving them with legal documents.
- They must document every aspect of the legal document delivery process and provide law firms with proof showing documents were served properly.
- They must deliver documents within certain timeframes.
- They must keep the information included in legal documents confidential.
- They must abide by the specific service of process rules and regulations in the jurisdiction in which they serve legal documents.
Process servers must also routinely deal with everything from difficult defendants who don’t want to receive legal documents to safety hazards, like dangerous neighborhoods, that can potentially put them in harm’s way.
Where Can Law Firms Find Process Servers?
Since there still aren’t that many process servers in the U.S. despite their importance to the country’s legal system, law firms might struggle to locate process servers in some cases. Thankfully, reputable companies like Professional Process Servers & Investigators, Inc. exist to provide law firms with the process servers they need.
When hiring a company to provide your law firm with process servers, ensure they have more than enough experience withthe service of process. Check to see that they’re familiar with finding individuals in your area, too. It’ll allow your law firm to take full advantage of the process servers who work for this company.
Need Process Servers for Your Law Firm? Give Us a Call
Now that you know the answer to the question, “What are process servers?” would you like to begin working with experienced process servers who can deliver legal documents for your law firm fast? Professional Process Servers & Investigators, Inc. is here to help. Contact us at
(844) 348-3111 for more information about this crucial legal service.










