Process servers are a crucial element in the legal and business system many clients rely upon for day-to-day operations. From a top legal firm working on a significant case to an independent business needing clearly signed and documented paperwork, process servers save you time and money trying to track down the critical targets of your operations.

When you are considering hiring a process server, you should ask some fundamental questions to ensure they will be a good match for your specific means. It does not matter if you are working with process servers in Harris, Montgomery, or Fort Bend County, Texas. The team you hire should be professional, reputable, and reliable. Here is a quick list of the more important questions you may wish to ask:

 

What are your credentials?

Process servers receive different credentials based on the state they operate. For example, Houston Process Servers of Houston, Texas does not need a license. Instead, we are certified by JBCC (Judicial Branch Certification Commission). It is important to make this differentiation because, in the case of JBCC, this is not a baseline certification but a nod of approval from the same body that oversees court interpreters, guardianship programs, court reporters, and other essential auxiliary services for a court of law.

 

Do you go through training or join associations?

Training can be done in-house by the process server firm. The more important question is about memberships. In order to join organizations like the Texas Process Servers Association or the National Association of Professional Process Servers, you must meet requirements that verify your ethics, experience, and practice. You also need to be recommended by fellow members. For example, the National organization requires two people (lawyers, process servers, and judges) to recommend your membership, and you must pass a background check.

 

Have many years of experience does your team have? 

Hiring a process server with experience will help ensure the documents are served correctly, which is essential for your case to move forward smoothly. That means they will be able to handle any situation that comes their way efficiently and effectively, including knowing which people and conditions could lead to papers not being served. Experience directly relates to what allows them to anticipate potential problems before they arise.

 

What kinds of organizations and individuals do you work with?

Different process server firms will target their business towards various client segments. In our case, we primarily work with courts, law firms, law enforcement, government agencies, and other professionals.

 

What other services do you offer? 

Many process server firms offer services like notaries and skip tracing because those are so well aligned with the primary objective of serving legal documents to people that are hard to locate. You can often measure the experience and expertise of a process server firm by the types of auxiliary services they provide to legal entities and courts.

 

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions

It’s essential to ask about a process server’s background for your legal needs. You should be looking for someone who is licensed and insured, has experience in serving papers, and is reliable and affordable. A licensed process server can help you serve court documents in person or by mail (as allowed by law). They will also have practiced in their field long enough that they can identify whether there are any potential problems with serving documents on a business or legal representative.

The final thing to keep in mind is that hiring a process server should be pleasant and professional. After all, this is a crucial part of your legal journey, and you deserve to work with someone you can trust. The questions we’ve asked here are designed to help you find just that—a trustworthy process server who will take care of your needs efficiently and effectively.

We at Houston Process Servers encourage our clients to ask any questions they may need about our services and background. We have years of experience working with all kinds of entities around the greater Houston area and pride ourselves on our reputation with law enforcement, courts, legal firms, businesses, and other organizations. Feel free to use your intake form to begin your process server journey and let our professional team help you with your needs.