The Lawyers’ “Golden Rule” for Sheriffs’, and Private, Process Servers

Personal injury, family law, and civil dispute lawyers often have to file lawsuits and serve papers on opposing parties.

Here is a simple rule every lawyer should remember:

Provide to the person serving the paper, the critical information he or she needs:

1. A valid physical address;
2. Directions to the residence;
3. Information about the person’s employment;
4. Home, cell, and work phone numbers;
5. Tips as to when that person may be available, work schedule, and personal habits (the local pub, etc.).
6. A WARNING if that person has a history of violence.

In short, do unto that process server as you would have him/her do unto you if you had that job. You will certainly earn the respect of the person serving those papers.

Finally, if you are serving a non-violent spouse or partner, with whom you are going to have to work in mediation or settlement negotiations, perhaps a simple heads up call so the person can call the sheriff and come to the office to pick up the paper him/her/self would be the way to go. Isn’t that what you would want if you were getting sued?

This “golden” rule can save even a self represented party lots of grief.

jbh.

This post was written by Burton Hunter