How do I Become a County Process Server?

There are few requirements for a person who wants to become a county process server in the United States. Generally, a person need only be a U.S. citizen, a legal adult and have a high school or General Educational Development (GED) diploma to secure a position. Some jurisdictions also require process servers to be bonded and fingerprinted, however. A person who wants to become a county process server may also have to submit to a background check before beginning this job.

Process servers deliver important legal documents, such as subpoenas and legal complaints, for sheriff offices, law firms, and courts. Some process servers even find work with private investigators. An individual with this job has the task of finding people who are involved in some type of legal proceeding and serving them with documents pertinent to the case. In many places, the law requires personal service, meaning some documents can not be sent though the mail or slipped under the recipient's door. In fact, some cases may be postponed or even dismissed if legal documents are not delivered in accordance with the jurisdiction’s laws.

It is critical for a person who wants to become a county process server to contact his county clerk’s office for information, as the requirements for the job vary from place to place. The county clerk’s office can provide details about the unique requirements the jurisdiction has set. Usually, this consists of, at minimum, an application and registration fee.

While there are some places that only require a process server to be 18 years old, others may make bonding mandatory. In such a case, a person who wants to become a process server has to secure bonding through a surety company before getting started. Some people may use an insurance company for bonding instead.

Sometimes background checks and fingerprinting are required for those who want to become process servers. The background investigation may include job and personal references as well as checks to ensure that the aspiring process server doesn’t have a criminal record. An individual trying to secure this job may also have to place a recent photograph of himself on file with the local court.

Once the candidate has completed the process required to become a county process server, his jurisdiction may issue a license for him to begin work. He may find a job by inquiring with the court, local laws firms and investigation companies. Some may also find jobs by joining process server organizations as well.