Five Helpful Tips for Process Servers

Service of legal process can be a difficult, and sometimes, dangerous job. Recipients will often know ahead of time that a process server is looking to deliver garnishments, divorce papers, child custody modifications, and other depressing news to their home or workplace.  These five tips can make the job a little easier for the process server.

1. Get pictures. Photographs of the recipient (and if possible, the vehicle they drive) will make your job easier. Ask for, or search for, a Facebook profile and get the recipient's picture if your client doesn't have one handy. You'll be ready when they say, "That's not me."
2. Scout the location in advance. It can make a world of difference if you can scout the area before you make the serve. Look for easy places to park that are close by. What vehicles are in the driveway? Blinds or curtains open? Lights on in the house? A quick drive-by can tell you if there's a good chance your target is home. I also will use Google Maps Street View to check out the area before I leave.
3. Don't park right in front of the house. You are in your recipient's home territory. They know what cars belong and what cars don't. I prefer to park at least a block away and walk to the door. That way, the recipient, or their family (or co-workers) won't associate me with my vehicle. If I don't serve the first time around, and I need to stake out the house (or work), I can park a little closer if necessary.
4. Remember who and what you are serving. Nothing can be more embarrassing than getting to the door and asking for the wrong person (unless you are using that as a tactic to get the person at the door to tell you who they are - but that's another story.) You also don't want to serve the wrong papers to the wrong person. That won't make you or your client happy.
5. Be polite and professional. My motto is to "kill em' with kindness." Recipients are often faced with bad news when a process server shows up. I try to remember this, even when the recipient is mad. I don't want to escalate the situation. I'll even sympathize. I also try to remember to not smile "too big" as some recipients will take it as I'm enjoying my work a little too much. It's a fine line, but working to keep things quiet will often pay off.