Results 1 to 7 of 7

Thread: State Laws Licensing Process Servers

  1. #1
    Carmen Acai's Avatar
    Carmen Acai is offline *** Certified

    Sr. Moderator
    Certified Distinguished Member
    Private Investigators Forums
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    New Jersey
    Posts
    8,003

    State Laws Licensing Process Servers

    According to the National Association of Professional Process Servers, Alan Crowe, Administrator, the state laws licensing process servers appear in the Statues of the individual states, and with the exception of Arizona, do not appear in the state's Rules of Civil Procedure.

    What follows is a summary of the statutes, which is intended only as a guide to point readers in the direction of the relevant law. Those states in which authorization to serve is granted by special order, standing order, appointment of elisor, or some other form of judicial appointment are not included.
    STATES WITH STATEWIDE LICENSING LAWS


    ALASKA
    Process servers are licensed by the Commissioner of Public Safety. A $15,000 surety bond is required to be posted by each process server. The bond applies primarily to theft that may arise out of levies and executions. Applicants must pass a written examination.
    [Alaska Administrative Code, Title 13, section 067.5 thru 067.100]

    ARIZONA
    Arizona has statewide registration of process servers in compliance with procedures set forth by the Arizona Supreme Court. Applicants must be 21 and a bona fide resident for one year immediately preceding application. Applicants must pass a written examination. No bonding or insurance required.
    [Arizona Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 4(e)]

    CALIFORNIA
    Persons who serve more than 10 papers a year are required to be registered in the county in which they operate. Registration is valid statewide. Applicants must be a resident for one year immediately preceding filing. Each applicant is required to post a $2,000 bond or cash deposit. No testing or education required. Licensed private investigators, although exempt from the registration requirement, would probably not be empowered to serve bank levies and similar documents without being registered in view of the statutory language requiring that a registered process server serve those documents.
    [California Business and Professions Code §22350 and §22353]

    ILLINOIS
    There is no statewide licensing law in Illinois; however, a person licensed in Illinois as a “private detective” may serve original process in all counties except for Cook County without special appointment. In order for PIs to serve in Cook County, the court upon motion and in its discretion, may appoint a “private detective agency” as a special process server in lieu of an individual.
    [Illinois Compiled Statutes §5/2-202]

    MONTANA
    Any person who makes more than 10 services of process in any 1 calendar year must be registered. The registration certificate also empowers the process server to act as a levying officer and requires process servers to have a “surety bond” of $10,000 per individual or $100,000 per firm. Process servers cannot levy on an amount in excess of their bond. Applicants must pass a written examination based on the Handbook for Process Servers, which is published by the Montana Department of Commerce.
    [Montana Code Annotated §25-1-1101 and §25-1-1111]

    NEVADA
    All persons who engage in business as a process server must be licensed. Applicants must be 21 or over, have 2 years experience as a process server, and have insurance for protection against liability to third persons with limits of not less than $200,000. No bonding is required. Applicants must deposit $750 at time of application to pay for a background investigation, the cost of which must be paid for by applicant up to a maximum of $1500. Applicants must pass a written application and may be required to pass an oral examination. Licenses are issued by the Nevada Private Investigator’s Licensing Board. The most expensive state in the nation in which to get licensed.
    [Nevada Revised Statutes §648.110 and §648.135]

    OKLAHOMA
    Process servers are required to be licensed, and all licensees must execute a bond “running to the State of Oklahoma in the amount of $5,000 for faithful performance of his or her duties...” Applicants may pay a fee of $35 and be licensed to serve process in the county in which the license is issued, or applicant may pay a fee of $150 and be licensed statewide. The license states that process servers are officers of the court only for the service of process. No testing or education required.
    [Oklahoma Statutes Annotated §12-158.1]

    WASHINGTON
    A person who serves legal process for a fee in the State of Washington is required to register with the auditor of the county in which the process server resides or operates his or her principal place of business and pay a $10 fee. No testing and no requirement for insurance or bonding. Easiest and most inexpensive state in which to get a license.
    [Revised Code of Washington §18.180.010]


    STATES WITH LOCAL LICENSING LAWS


    FLORIDA
    Sheriffs in certain counties (currently about seven) will appoint individuals as a special process server. Applicants must be at least 18, be a permanent resident of the state, submit to an examination and execute a $5,000 bond.
    [Florida Statutes § 48.021]

    The chief judge of each judicial circuit is empowered to certify process servers to serve process, and currently judges in approximately 30 counties grant such certifications. The requirements for becoming certified are essentially the same as the requirements for being appointed a special process server by the sheriff.
    [Florida Statutes § 48.27 – 48.29]

    MISSOURI
    City of St. Louis (22nd Judicial District) (pop. 400,000) requires that all persons who want to become process servers must take and pass a training course (5 nights of classroom instruction with written examination) administered by the Sheriff of the City of St. Louis. Applicants must be 21 years of age, have a high school diploma or GED and no criminal record. All process servers are required to have E&O coverage with limits of at least $100,000.

    NEW YORK
    City of New York (pop. 8 million) requires all persons who serve process within its 5 boroughs (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Staten Island, Queens) to be licensed through the NYC Department of Consumer Affairs. There is no requirement for insurance or bonding and no educational requirement or testing.
    [Rules of the City of New York, subchapter W, §2.231, et seq and §20-403, et seq.]

    County of Suffolk (pop. 1.4 million) has adopted a local law requiring all process servers who serve process in Suffolk County to be licensed. The law is to take effect on July 1, 2002. Applicants must carry E&O coverage with limits of $250,000, must have one day of schooling on process serving laws, and must pass a written examination.
    [Resolution No. 1191 of the Suffolk County Legislature, adopting local law No. 2000

    OREGON
    Although any person over the age of 18 and not a party may serve process in Oregon, there is a state law which requires that any person who serves a Writ of Garnishment must have E&O coverage with minimum limits of $100,000.
    [Oregon Revised Statutes § 29.165]
    Carmen Acai
    Sr Moderator

    START WITH TRUST
    When you see the Better Business Bureau Seal, it means the
    International Private Investigators Union (IPIU) has agreed to:

    TELL THE TRUTH, KEEP ITS PROMISES, BE RESPONSIVE
    www.ipiu.org | IPIU Web Store
    Official BBB Accreditation Link | Contact IPIU
    Founded in 1989 - Celebrating our 32nd Year Serving 48,373 Members

    CONTACT LINK HERE TO JOIN IPIU

  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    Oklahoma
    Posts
    225

    Lightbulb Great job

    I read thru all your hard work- good job on all this information.
    It helps some.

    Cheryl Bliton

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    136
    Peace! I had not given much thought to process serving but after reading the information you provided I can see it as an additional income stream for myself. Thanks.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Arizona
    Posts
    40

    Re: State Laws Licensing Process Servers

    wandering if anyone knows what kinda of insurance and bonds their are for the state of arizona,and if their is a website to get insurance thanks..
    CRAIG S ROWE

  5. #5
    William Brassfield's Avatar
    William Brassfield is offline Moderator::
    (On Leave of Absence)

    Sr. Distinguished Member:
    Member since 2002
    Join Date
    Jan 2002
    Location
    Oklahoma
    Posts
    2,126

    Re: State Laws Licensing Process Servers

    Quote Originally Posted by Craig Rowe View Post
    wandering if anyone knows what kinda of insurance and bonds their are for the state of arizona,and if their is a website to get insurance thanks..
    Hey Craig;
    Here's a site that insures process servers, PI's, and several other related occupations they cover 39 states including AZ:
    http://www.eldoradoinsurance.com/security/services.htm

  6. #6
    Kenny Powell--'s Avatar
    Kenny Powell-- is offline PI Agency Corporation Owner
    Private Investigator Forum Member

    Professional Member of:
    International Private Investigators Union (IPIU)
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    New York
    Posts
    36

    Re: State Laws Licensing Process Servers

    hello carmen thats good for nyc but what about the rest of the state am i to assume we dont have to have a lic

  7. #7
    Jack Campbell's Avatar
    Jack Campbell is offline Sr. Moderator (On Leave of Absence)

    Sr. Distinguished Member:
    Private Investigators Forum
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Illinois
    Posts
    2,116

    Re: State Laws Licensing Process Servers

    Quote Originally Posted by Kenny Powell View Post
    hello carmen thats good for nyc but what about the rest of the state am i to assume we dont have to have a lic
    The easy route is to call your local County and see what the laws are that govern Process Serving in your area. I would suggest you do so, to be on the safe side. The laws posted above only cater to the five cities listed above, for NY.

    In the mean time you can try a google search for "NY STATE PROCESS SERVER LAWS" what this should do is bring up various websites with information about the State of NY process serving laws. But each county and city may have their own. So it is very wise to use the advice I gave above.
    Last edited by Jack Campbell; 08-04-2008 at 03:32 PM.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •