Frequently Asked Questions

A process server is a professional who delivers legal documents such as summons, complaints, subpoenas, and other court papers to individuals involved in legal proceedings. In Tennessee, process servers must be at least 18 years old and cannot be a party to the case. Proper service of process ensures that defendants receive notice of legal actions against them, which is a constitutional right under the Due Process Clause.

In Tennessee, process serving follows the Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 4. After a lawsuit is filed, the plaintiff must have the defendant served with a copy of the summons and complaint. Service can be made by personal delivery to the defendant, by leaving documents with a suitable person at the defendant's residence, or by other methods approved by the court. Our process servers document each attempt and provide a court-admissible Affidavit of Service upon completion.

Most routine service attempts are made within 24-48 hours of receiving your documents. The time to complete service depends on several factors including the location of the person being served, whether they are avoiding service, and the type of documents. Rush and same-day service is available for urgent matters at an additional fee. Our average first-attempt service time is under 24 hours.

We serve all types of legal documents including summons and complaints, subpoenas (ad testificandum and duces tecum), divorce papers, child custody documents, eviction notices and detainer warrants, restraining orders, orders of protection, garnishment notices, writs of execution, and any other court-ordered documents requiring formal service.

We provide process serving throughout all 95 Tennessee counties, from Memphis in Shelby County to Bristol in Sullivan County. Our network of local process servers covers every city and rural area in the state. Whether you need service in Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Memphis, Clarksville, Murfreesboro, or any other Tennessee community, we have agents ready to serve.

If initial service attempts are unsuccessful, we conduct skip tracing to locate the individual using professional databases, public records, and investigative techniques. If the person still cannot be found after diligent efforts, we provide a detailed Due Diligence Affidavit documenting all attempts and search efforts. This affidavit can support a motion for alternative service methods such as service by publication, which a Tennessee court may authorize.

Standard process serving in Tennessee starts at $75 per serve for routine documents within our standard service area. Rush and same-day service, skip tracing, and other specialized services are available at additional rates. Visit our Fees page for a complete breakdown of our pricing, or call us at (615) 346-8271 for a custom quote based on your specific needs.

An Affidavit of Service (also called a Return of Service or Proof of Service) is a sworn legal document signed by the process server that details how, when, and where legal documents were served. It includes the date and time of service, the location, a description of the person served, and the method of service. Our affidavits also include GPS coordinates for verification. This document is filed with the court as proof that proper service was made.

Yes, we can serve legal documents at a person's place of employment. Tennessee law allows personal service at any location where the individual can be found. Our process servers use discretion when serving at workplaces to minimize embarrassment and avoid disruption. We typically request the individual by name without revealing the nature of the visit.

In Tennessee, a person does not need to physically accept the documents for service to be valid. Under the 'drop and go' or 'dump and run' method, if the person is identified and acknowledges who they are but refuses to take the papers, the process server can inform them of the nature of the documents and leave them in their immediate vicinity. This constitutes valid personal service under Tennessee law.

Our regular business hours are Monday through Saturday, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM Central Time. We can arrange weekend and after-hours service attempts for an additional fee, as many individuals are more likely to be found at home during evenings and weekends. Contact us to discuss your specific timing needs.

You can submit documents to us in several ways: email them as PDF attachments, upload them through our secure online portal, fax them to our office, or bring physical copies to our Nashville office at 100 Main Street. Once we receive your documents and service instructions, we will confirm receipt and provide an estimated timeline for completion.

While our primary service area is Tennessee, we have a network of affiliated process servers in neighboring states and throughout the United States. If you need service in another state, we can coordinate with local process servers in that jurisdiction. Contact us for out-of-state service requests and we will provide a quote based on the location.

Skip tracing is the process of locating a person who has 'skipped' or moved from a known address. Our skip tracing services use professional-grade databases, public records searches, DMV records, utility records, voter registration, social media analysis, and field investigation to find individuals. We have a skip tracing success rate exceeding 90%. Fees for skip tracing are in addition to standard service fees.

Tennessee does not require state licensure for process servers. However, all of our process servers are experienced professionals who carry identification, maintain liability insurance, and have been trained in proper service techniques and Tennessee civil procedure rules. Many of our servers are members of professional process server associations and participate in ongoing education.