A professional process server is responsible for making sure that your divorce papers are served directly to your spouse. Each state has their own set of laws and regulations that dictate how and when you should serve legal papers, including divorce papers. For this reason, it may be wise to hire a professional process server that will guide you through the process outlined in your particular state. Hiring the right professional processor is important because any mistakes can delay your divorce case. Luckily, there are a few tips that you can use when hiring a process server.
Look for a Process Server that is Near Your Spouse's Location
If your spouse lives in a different state from you, then it would be a good idea to hire a process server in the same county as your spouse. A process server in that state will be more familiar with the rules and laws concerning the divorce serving process. The rules for serving divorce papers vary from one state to the next. For example, in New York you cannot serve legal papers on Sunday. If your spouse lives in New York and is served on a Sunday, then the service will be considered invalid.
Make Sure They Provide Everything in Writing
While working with your process server, you should make sure that you get everything in writing. Avoid settling on a verbal agreement as this can become a "he-said, she-said" scenario if anything goes wrong. In addition, you should make sure that your process server keeps an attempt log. This log should show how many times they tried to serve your spouse and when. Keeping all important details written down will allow you to look back at these notes and documents if there are any issues.
Track Down Your Spouse Before Hiring a Process Server
If you have difficulty locating your spouse, then a process server is not someone you would hire to locate them. A process server locates your spouse based on the information that you have given them. The serving process is a lot easier if you already know where your spouse is before you hire a process server. If you feel as though you have exhausted all methods of locating your spouse, then you may consider substituting service. This service allows you to serve the papers to someone else at your spouse's residence or work. This method is often reserved as a last resort.
Hiring a process server is an important part of the divorce proceedings. If your spouse is never served or is improperly served, then this can cause complications. Therefore, use these tips to ensure that you hire the right process server for your divorce case.
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