Process Service Glossary
We try to keep the legal speak to a minimum, but if you don’t know the definition of a term, you’ll probably find it below.? If not, let us know so and we’ll answer you personally and add it to the glossary.
A
Abscond
Abscond is to avoid detection or arrest and avoid being served with legal papers.
Abstract of Judgment
Abstract of Judgments are written summaries of a court judgment which states how much money the losing defendant owes to the person who won the lawsuit.
Abuse of Process
Abuse of Process is bringing and following through with a civil or criminal action by illegal or malicious means, or filing a false declaration of service.
Accept
Accept is to receive payment which is late or not complete or the ?service? (delivery) of legal papers.
Acceptance of Service
Acceptance of Service can be performed by a process server or by an attorney, but must be in writing. Typically, a Receipt and Acknowledgment of Acceptance of Service form is required.
Actual Eviction
Actual Eviction is when a tenant is wrongfully removed from their premises and a landlord wrongfully deprives them of access to their possessions.
Affidavit of Service
Affidavits of Service are written documents in which the signer swears under oath before a notary public or someone authorized to take oaths that the statements in the document are true.
Agent for Acceptance of Service
Agents for Acceptance of Service are individuals who accept a complaint or other petition without having the sheriff or process server present.? A Receipt and Acknowledgment of Acceptance of Service is usually required.
Application and Order for Appearance and Examination
Applications and Orders for Appearance and Examination are orders requiring a debtor to appear in court to furnish information about their assets.
Asset Searches
Assets are items or property with monetary value and are shown in balance sheets, inventories, and probate estates and in divorces. Types of assets include accounts receivable, fixed assets, basic equipment, structures and intangibles.
B
Background Investigation
Background investigations and background checks are performed to find relevant information about individuals or businesses that lead to successful service of process.
Bank levies are court orders allowing creditors to take money from an individuals bank account to satisfy a debt.
Bench Warrant
Bench warrants are orders issued by a judge for the arrest of an individual.
C
Civil Process Server
Civil Process Servers are used to file Civil Lawsuits or Divorces in a court of law on behalf of law firms, attorneys and corporations and notify defendants when a case has been filed against them. Civil Process Servers also serve Subpoenas, Summons, Complaints and other legal and sensitive documents.
Complaint
Complaints are the first documents filed with the County Clerk by a person or entity claiming legal rights against an individual, or company.? The party filing the complaint is the plaintiff and the party they are filing the claim against is called the defendant(s).
Constructive
Constructive is treating a situation as if it were legally true, even without evidence.
Constructive Eviction
Constructive Eviction is when a landlord forgoes legal eviction and takes steps on their own to keep a tenant from entering or living in their unit.? Some tactics include changing locks, turning off the water, blocking the driveway and even nailing doors and windows shut.
Constructive Notice
Constructive Notices are when individuals receive a false notice even though it was personally delivered to them.
Contempt of Court
Defying a court authority or dignity can place you in Contempt of Court. If you curse at a judge, or exercise violence against an officer of the court, or do not adhere to a Court Order, you can be in Contempt of Court and be charged with a fine, or a short stay (overnight) in jail.
Court Filing
Court filing is the act of submitting documents to the clerk or court for the court’s immediate consideration.
Court Order
A Court order is a decision made by a judge, court referee, commissioner or magistrate that demands or directs something, or someone to do.
Court Costs
Court costs are all the costs associated with filing forms and bringing a case to court.
Court Services
There are several Courts in the United States, Family Court, Criminal Court, Appellate Court, Court of Appeals, Supreme Court, etc. Each Court is governed by state and local laws and hears cases respectively.
D
Defendant
Defendant(s) is/are the parties being sued in a civil lawsuit or the individual being charged with a crime in a criminal prosecution. In a divorce, a defendant is referred to as a respondent.
Diligence
Diligence is a satisfactory amount of attention in a matter. It is a fair attempt. An example of diligence is a process server?s due diligence in locating and serving someone legal papers.
Dissolution of Marriage
See: Divorce
Divorce
The termination of a marriage by legal action, requiring a petition or complaint for divorce (or dissolution in some states, including California) by one party. Some states still require at least a minimal showing of fault, but no-fault divorce is now the rule in which ?incompatibility? is sufficient to grant a divorce. The substantive issues in divorces are division of property, child custody and support, alimony (spousal support), child visitation and attorney?s fees. Only state courts have jurisdiction over divorces, so the petitioning or complaining party can only file in the state in which he/she is and has been a resident for a period of time (as little as six weeks in Nevada). In most states the period from original filing for divorce, serving the petition on the other party and final judgment (or decree) takes several months to allow for a chance to reconcile.
Document Filing and Retrieval
Document Filing and Retrieving is the Preparation and filing of legal documents. Commonly filed and retrieved documents are, corporate documentation, certificates of Good Standing, Foreign and Domestic Certificates, Certificates Evidencing Filing, Certificates Evidencing Dissolution, certified copies, corporate verification, assumed business names, and franchise tax searches.
Due Process of law
Due Process is the principle of fairness in all legal matters. Legal procedures set statutes and court practice, including notice of rights, which must be adhered to so that no prejudice occurs. Due Process safeguards private and public rights against unfairness.
Due process
Due Process is fundamental procedural legal safeguards that every citizen has an absolute right to when a court alleges to make a decision that could affect the right of that individual. Under Due Process is the right to be given notice and to be heard.
E
Eviction
When someone is evicted, they are lawfully removed as a tenant from occupancy of property. Eviction is also called Actual Eviction and Constructive Eviction.
Expert witness
A witness with specific knowledge, a specialist called to testify and corroborate or debunk facts surrounding a legal case in question.
F
Fee Waiver
Fee waivers defer payment for process service and other legal services.
Fictitious Business Name
Fictitious business names are the name under which a corporation conducts business that is not the legal name of the corporation as shown in its articles of incorporation.
G
Guardian Ad Litem
Guardian ad litem is the legal guardian who has the legal authority to care for the personal and property interests of another person.
Guarantor
Guarantors are people, organizations, or things that guarantee something.
I
Insurances Fraud Investigation
Insurance fraud is deceiving an insurance company, or agent to collect money, which the party is not entitled to. Insurers and Agents can also defraud consumers. Often Insurance fraud is when an individual stages an accident, injury, theft, arson or other loss to collect money illegally from insurance companies.
J
Judgment Creditor
Judgment creditors are creditors who have a money judgment entered against a debtor.
Judgment Debtor
Judgment debtors are debtors who have a money judgment entered against them by a creditor.
M
Mediation
Mediation is a negotiation to resolve differences between parties that is conducted by some impartial party.
O
Order to Show Cause
A court order that requires a person to appear in court on a specific date and time. If failure to appear occurs, the court will take action. Action can include, being punished for being in Contempt of Court, or ordering a Bench Warrant for that individual?s immediate arrest.
P
Personal Service
Personal service is being handed a copy of legal papers by a Process Server.
Petition
A petition is a formal request for something in writing directed at an individual.
Petition for Divorce
A request for legal termination of a marriage requires a petition or complaint for divorce, also referred to as dissolution in some states by an individual. Jurisdiction is defined by each state. Some states require a minimal showing of fault. There are also no-fault states, in which incompatibility is enough evidence to grant a divorce. The primary issues in divorces are division of property, child custody and support and spousal support.
Plaintiff
A plaintiff is when someone initiates a lawsuit by filing a complaint with the clerk of the court against the defendant(s) demanding reparations.
Priority service
Priority Service is when the initial attempt to Process Serve the party is made upon requesting Legal Process Service. Traditionally, there are a minimum amount of attempts included within Regular Service. This varies from 2-4 times. Charges can increase if the party being served requires more attempts.
Private Investigation Service
A Private Investigator is hired by a Law Firm, Lawyer, corporation, or individual to obtain court records, government agency filings, vital statistics, property ownerships, vehicle and vessel records, photographs, witness statements and much more. Many Legal Investigators specialize in various court cases and are typically employed by law firms or lawyers. Private Investigators prepare criminal defenses, locate witnesses, serve legal documents, interview police and prospective witnesses, and gather and review evidence.
Private Process Server
A Private Process Server is referred to as an Officer or a Sheriff. A Private Process Server enters a public area of business to serve process in compliance with local and state laws and into a private place of business where there is an expectation of privacy to serve process. Any individual or individuals who try to resist the Process of Service, or obstruct Justice can be charged with a misdemeanor.
Process Server and Process Server Agent
A Legal Process Server delivers Judicial Paperwork and, or files Legal Paperwork with a Court on behalf of Law Firms, Individuals, Corporations and Organization in accordance with the Law. Typical Process Serving, Process Service and Service of Process requests also include unlimited attempts to serve the party and Notarized Proof of Service upon completing the Legal Process of Service. The types of documents served are Subpoenas, Summons and Evictions,
Proof of Service
A form filed with the court proving a date that legal documents were formally served to a party regarding a court action.
Proper Venue
Proper venues are the places in which cases are heard, most usually a district or county court.
Public Records Search
Public Records Research allows an Individual or Private Investigator to access public record databases on the Internet or offline. Common public records research includes, finding business information, corporate filings, property records, unclaimed property, professional licenses, offenders, inmates, criminal and civil court filings.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages is monetary compensation awarded to an injured party that goes beyond that necessary to compensate the individual for losses intended to punish the defendant for their actions.
R
Real Property
Real property is property that includes land, buildings and anything affixed to the land.
Registered and Bonded Process Servers
Registered and bonded process servers are process servers who are licensed and bonded in their respective states.? Many states, including California, require process servers to be registered.
Regular Service
Regular Process Service is when the initial attempt to Process Serve the party is made within 48 to 72 hours. Traditionally, there are a minimum amount of attempts included within Regular Service. This varies from 2-4 times. Charges can increase if the party being served requires more attempts.
Request for Dismissal
Requests for dismissal are methods for a judge to dismiss a legally inadequate indictment, prior to verdict, finding, or plea, in the “interests of public justice”.
Return of Service
written confirmation under oath by a process server declaring that there was service of legal documents (such as a summons and complaint). See also: service, service of process
Rush Service
Rush Process Service is when the initial attempt to Process Serve the party is made within 24 hours. Traditionally, there are a minimum amount of attempts included within Regular Service. This varies from 2-4 times. Charges can increase if the party being served requires more attempts.
S
Same Day Service
Same-Day Service is when the documents to be Process Served are picked up and delivered that same day. Traditionally, there are a minimum amount of attempts included within Regular Service. This varies from 2-4 times. Charges can increase if the party being served requires more attempts.
Service by Fax
Delivery of legal documents served via Fax followed by a mailing of an original copy to the individual, or their attorney. Service by Fax is recognized by the courts.
Service by Mail
Service by Mail is mailing legal papers to the opposing party, or their attorney and filing the original with the clerk of the court with a declaration stating the legal papers were mailed and to the individual they were mailed to.
Service by Publication
Service by publication is to serve legal documents on a defendant by publishing the document in an advertisement in a newspaper of general circulation.
Service of Process
The Service of process is a legal term used by a Court of Law to exercise its jurisdiction involved in legal proceedings, or actions brought against them. Each jurisdiction is governed by its own local and state rules regarding the Service of Process.
Skip Trace and Skip Tracing
Skip Tracing is digging up information about someone. Common Skip Traces are Debts, Legal Matters, Repossessions, Locating Witnesses, Missing Persons and Heirs, Life Insurance Beneficiaries, Locating People and Property. Skip Tracing is also commonly used to locate Friends, Relatives, or Loved ones. Skip Tracing is very useful in Divorce, Past Due Child Support, Bail Jumpers, or finding Convicted Criminals.
Statute of Limitations
Statutes if limitations are court orders or laws prescribing a period of limitation for the bringing of certain kinds of legal action.
Stipulation
Stipulations are agreements or concessions made by parties in a judicial proceeding relating to the business before the court.
Subpoena
A subpoena is an order of the court for a witness to appear and testify, or produce documents. Failure to appear is punished by Contempt of Court.
Substituted Service
Substituted Service is serving legal documents with an adult resident of the home of the individual being served, or a management level employee of a business.
Summons
A document issued by the court when a lawsuit is filed stating the name of the plaintiff and defendant, the title of the case, the file number and the contact information of each party, or their attorneys.
Surveillance
Surveillance is the continual observation of a person or group and verification of that person or groups activity. Surveillance is used to investigate criminal activities, domestic disputes, adultery and much more. In most instances, it is important to hire an investigator so that the evidence collected resulting from the surveillance can be used in a court of law.
T
Temporary Judge/Pro Tem Judge
Temporary judges, also called pro tem judges, are not regular judges, but someone (usually a lawyer) who is brought in to serve temporarily as a judge with the consent of all parties.
W
Wage Garnishment
Wage garnishments are legal proceeding where money or property due a debtor but in the possession of another is applied to the payment of the debt owed to the plaintiff.
Witness
Witnesses are those who see an event, typically a crime or accident, occur.
Writ of Execution
Writ of executions are routine court orders that attempt to enforce the judgment that has been granted to a plaintiff by authorizing a sheriff to carry it out.
Y
Your Honor
Proper way to address the judge in court