Process serving
Legal documents delivered, and an account of what happened
Service is the step where a case either moves forward or stalls. L & J takes the documents you provide, works the address you supply, and keeps you informed at every stage.
What it is
Getting the documents there is only half of it
Process serving is the delivery of legal documents to a named person, done in a way that can be accounted for afterwards. The delivery matters. So does being able to say, afterwards, exactly what was done and when.
That is why the record of each attempt is kept as carefully as the delivery itself. If an address turns out to be wrong, or a person is avoiding service, the notes of what was tried and when become the useful thing — and they are only useful if somebody was actually writing them down at the time.
L & J works for attorneys and law firms, for businesses handling their own matters, and for individuals who have been told they need something served and are not sure where to start. The process is the same for all three; the amount of explaining varies.
Documents handled
What L & J serves
These are the document types confirmed for this service. If what you have is not on the list, describe it and it will be confirmed before anything is collected.
- Summons
- Tells a person a case has been filed against them and that a response is required within a set period. Usually served together with the complaint.
- Complaint
- The document that sets out what the case is about. It is what the recipient reads to understand the claim being made.
- Subpoena
- Requires a person to give testimony, produce documents or appear. Often directed at a witness or a records custodian rather than a party.
- Other legal documents
- Notices, motions, orders and similar paperwork. Describe what you have when you get in touch and it will be confirmed before collection.
How it works
From your first call to the paperwork coming back
Send the details
The documents, the name of the person to be served, the address or addresses you have, and any deadline you are working to.The job is confirmed
L & J confirms the area is covered, what the job involves and what paperwork comes back to you. Nothing starts before you have that confirmation.Documents are collected
Documents are handed over in person or arranged directly with you. They are not uploaded through this website.Attempts are made
The address is worked at times that make sense for that address. Each attempt is recorded — what time it was, what happened, what was observed.You are told what happened
Whether the service was completed or the address is not producing a result, you hear about it rather than having to chase for an update.
What to have ready
- The full name of the person to be served, spelled as it appears on the documents
- Every address you have for them, including a workplace if service there is appropriate
- Any deadline that applies, and what it is tied to
- A description or anything else that helps confirm identity at the door
- The name and contact details of the attorney or firm, if you are not that person
When an address is not working
Some jobs go smoothly. Some do not, and how those are handled says more about a process server than the easy ones ever will.
An address that produces nothing on the first attempt is not a failed job. It is information. Different times of day get tried, what is observed at the address gets noted, and the pattern usually starts to say something.
What you will not get is silence followed by an invoice. If an address looks wrong, if the person appears to have moved, or if attempts are clearly not going to succeed, you hear that early — while there is still time to do something about it.
No process server can promise a successful service, and anyone who does is telling you something they cannot know. What can be promised is genuine effort and an honest account of it.
Questions
Process serving, answered plainly
More general questions are covered on the FAQ page.
What do you need from me to get started?
The documents themselves, the name of the person to be served, every address you have, and any deadline you are working to. If you have a description of the person or details about when they are usually home, that helps too.
What happens if the person is not at the address?
The address gets worked at different times rather than written off after one visit. You are told what is happening as it goes. If the address is genuinely not producing a result, you will hear that clearly so you can decide what to do next, rather than being left waiting.
Can you tell me whether my documents need to be served?
No. L & J delivers documents; it does not advise on whether service is required, what method applies to your case or what your deadline is. Those are questions for your attorney or the clerk of the court handling the matter.
Do you serve documents outside Gulfport?
Yes. L & J serves Harrison, Hancock, Jackson, Stone, Pearl River, George, Forrest, Lamar, Perry, Marion and Jones counties, subject to availability. An address just outside those is still worth asking about.
How much does process serving cost?
Fees depend on the job — where the address is, how many attempts it is likely to take and how quickly it needs to happen. Call or send the details and you will get a figure for your specific job rather than a rate card that may not apply.
Can I email the documents over?
Documents are handed over directly rather than uploaded through this website. There is no document upload here on purpose — legal paperwork contains information that should not sit in a web form. Get in touch and the handover is arranged.
Ready to send a job over?
Give L & J the name, the address and the deadline. You will get a straight answer on whether it can be done and what is involved.