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Personal Service of Process Will Remain Relevant, According to Recent Article

2012-02-21T00:00:00-07:00

As technology develops and continues to change the way process servers store their files, many professionals might be concerned about the future of the industry. Though electronic service is a hot topic that garners lots of controversy, a recent article published in The National Law Review reassures that technology advancements will likely never replace personal service of process.

The article, titled “The Continuing Relevance of Personal Service of Process,” was written by Steven W. Teppler with support from the National Association of Professional Process Servers (NAPPS). Through examples of laws in states that utilize electronic filing, the article discusses different patents and proposals surrounding electronic systems while providing evidence of why it will not replace personal service of process.

Although most documents in service of process are electronically generated and stored, they are printed off for the sole purpose of personal service by a professional process server. Systems that allow data to be electronically stored generally prohibit electronic service, and Federal and State systems do not allow electronic service, with few exceptions. A small number of state courts have adopted programs that allow electronic service of process, but they are utilized in limited circumstances. South Carolina, for example, only allows electronic service on corporations and partners using a certifying authority, but not on individuals. Nearly all instances where electronic service is allowed require consent and advanced notice from the person who will be receiving the papers, and can only be utilized when personal and substituted service are not options.

Even companies that are developing technology and proposals for electronic service acknowledge that personalized service is the best way to ensure papers are served in accordance with all Rules of Civil Procedure. The Whois Subcommittee of the International Committee of the International Trademark Association (INTA) has published their proposal for electronic service of process, and still acknowledge the importance of personalized service of process. Their proposal, which recommends utilizing a hypothetical website for electronic service of process through publication, stresses that it would only be recommended as a solution when traditional and substituted service would prove to be impossible. In short, even the people who are working to create technology for electronic service of process recognize the importance of due process and personal service.

Though electronic service is still not utilized, the electronic postmark, a software-based inked imprint that establishes that a specific document was created at a specific time, is sometimes used for dating documents. With recent developments, particularly in New York, that outline how electronic records must be maintained, it would seem that electronic service is close, but that is not the case. Though New York City requires hard copies to be made electronic and stored for five years following the expiration of appeals, the city has made no steps toward adopting an electronic service program.

The article points out a number of issues associated with electronic service, including the growing frequency of online identity theft, data breaches, scams and computer outages. Since current technology continues to struggle to keep up with a number of security issues and threats, it would be difficult to ensure that electronic service is effectuated successfully without violating any due process.

Steven Teppler makes an unwavering case for personal service as not only a vital component of due process, but a necessary one -- the significance of which can easily be overlooked in today’s increasingly digitized world.
Larry Yellon, NAPPS President

In the article, Teppler provides the opinion that, “the underlying reason for the continuing and near universal preference for personal service is that while electronic filing offers significant post-litigation commencement benefits, it fails to address issues uniquely inherent to initial service of process.” Teppler continues to state that although technology will continue to advance in the coming years, “it is highly unlikely that any such advancement, standing alone, will satisfy the constitutional due process requirements in initiating a lawsuit.” In short, Teppler believes that even though technology will continue to advance, personal service will remain the most dependable way to ensure that service is effectuated legally.

NAPPS President Larry Yellon says the organization was not surprised by the findings presented in the article. “We believe that the recently published article in The National Law Review is the definitive piece on personal process service,” he says. “In it, attorney Steven Teppler makes an unwavering case for personal service as not only a vital component of due process, but a necessary one -- the significance of which can easily be overlooked in today’s increasingly digitized world.”

Yellon concludes, “Mr. Teppler argues that personal, physical service of process remains the best way of guaranteeing actual notice to a defendant -- a belief we at NAPPS wholeheartedly share.”

For more information and to read the original article, click here.

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Get More Clients With Process Server Introduction Letters

2012-02-20T00:00:00-07:00

Process servers looking to enhance their marketing strategy or those who have recently entered the field might not know what to do to get their company name out there. Consider marketing your process serving firm directly to paralegals and legal assistants through introduction letters. Introductory letters are a great opportunity to present yourself and your services to potential clients, and legal assistants and paralegals can be a great source of repeat business.

How you construct your letter can influence how successful it will be. It's important that your letter is organized, properly formatted, well written and specific.

The following is a short guide for writing an introduction letter:

The greeting

Though you may be tempted to send your letter to a legal company or attorney's office, it may not be successful when addressed to a company name. It's a good idea to send letters to specific attorneys, but you may want to consider targeting paralegals and legal assistants for a better chance at success. Since attorneys usually hire individuals to handle tasks including relaying papers to process servers, your best bet is to target specific paralegals and legal assistants. Once you've chosen a person to write to, start your letter with a professional salutation, and make sure you include the person's credentials.

Example:
Dear Mr. Johnson, CP:

The first paragraph

The first paragraph is considered the most important section of the entire letter. This paragraph should contain the bulk of your information and qualifications, and everything you write in this paragraph should encourage the recipient to keep reading.

This paragraph should always include:

Your name
The name of your process serving firm
Years of experiences
Areas of related expertise
Where your company is based
Location your firm services

Example:
My name is Jane Smith, and I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce myself and XYZ Process Service. I am a licensed process server and have been in the industry for X numbers of years. Our company offers regular, rush and priority service of process, court filings, private investigation and discounts for bulk serves. We are located in Chicago and serve within the city and many surrounding suburbs.

The second and third paragraph

In the second paragraph you should explain why you've chosen to write the individual. Acknowledge the person's professional background and, if possible, reference how your services will be helpful.

In the third paragraph, list the services your company provides. They should directly pertain to services that the paralegal or legal assistant will utilize. Remember to always include private investigation, if you offer it, in your list.

Example:
I’ve reached out to you because with ten years of experience, your company should rely on a process server without having to worry whether documents are being filed correctly or whether deadlines are being met. Our firm employs reliable process servers with extensive experience in many areas, concentrating on the following:

Service of Process Pick Ups and Deliveries
Skip Tracing Regular, Rush and Priority Service
Discounted Bulk Serves Court Filings (including eFilings)
Research Private Investigation Services

The fourth paragraph

The fourth and final paragraph should support the information you have provided and conclude the letter. Include association memberships to help establish legitimacy, and close with a statement that encourages the individual to take action.

Example:
Additionally, our firm goes above and beyond to ensure we are meeting our clients' needs. For a regular serve we guarantee a first attempt within three days, and we are always willing to accommodate additional requests and last-minute serves. As an active member of the Illinois Association of Professional Process Servers (ILAPPS) and the National Association of Professional Process Servers (NAPPS), I'm always involved with legislation changes and ensuring that I have the most up-to-date information on rules and regulations regarding service of process in our state. I will be calling your office next week to set up a phone call or meeting to better understand the needs and challenges of your firm and how XYZ process can help. I look forward to speaking with you soon.

Your signature

Make sure you close the letter with a respectful and positive note. Consider using Sincerely or Kind Regards before your full signature block, as they are more professional than a simple thank you. Make sure you include your name, company name, and an accurate phone number and email address.

Example:
Sincerely,

Jane P. Smith
XYZ Process Service
Phone: 555-555-5555
Email: jsmith@xyzprocessservice.com
Website: www.xyzprocessservice.com

Here’s what your completed letter might look like:

Dear Mr. Johnson, CP:

My name is Jane Smith, and I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce myself and XYZ Process Service. I am a licensed process server and have been in the industry for X numbers of years. Our company offers regular, rush and priority service of process, court filings, private investigation and discounts for bulk serves. We are located in Chicago and serve within the city and many surrounding suburbs.

I’ve reached out to you because with ten years of experience, your company should rely on a process server without having to worry whether documents are being filed correctly or whether deadlines are being met. Our firm employs reliable process servers with extensive experience in many areas, concentrating on the following:

Service of Process Pick Ups and Deliveries
Skip Tracing Regular, Rush and Priority Service
Discounted Bulk Serves Court Filings (including eFilings)
Research Private Investigation Services

Additionally, our firm goes above and beyond to ensure we are meeting our clients' needs. For a regular serve we guarantee a first attempt within three days, and we are always willing to accommodate additional requests and last-minute serves. As an active member of the Illinois Association of Professional Process Servers (ILAPPS) and the National Association of Professional Process Servers (NAPPS), I'm always involved with legislation changes and ensuring that I have the most up-to-date information on rules and regulations regarding service of process in our state. I will be calling your office next week to set up a phone call or meeting to better understand the needs and challenges of your firm and how XYZ process can help. I look forward to speaking with you soon.

Sincerely,

Jane P. Smith
XYZ Process Service
Phone: 555-555-5555
Email: jsmith@xyzprocessservice.com
Website: www.xyzprocessservice.com

Conclusion

A letter that showcases relevant experience will generally get the best results, so make sure you write each letter individually and are being completely honest about your qualifications. It's a good idea to have someone proofread for errors before you send or deliver your letter. Omitting information that is irrelevant or unnecessary will help keep your introduction letter concise and to the point. If you are new to the profession, don't be afraid to say that you are looking to expand your services.

It is unlikely that you will use the exact same letter for any two individuals, but once you have a template you can easily adapt it. Hopefully, this guide has been helpful, and with your letters in the hands of potential clients you’ll bring in more repeat business.

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Interesting Information on Infidelity Investigations

2012-02-20T00:00:00-07:00

Signs of a cheating spouse infographic

Recently, PInow surveyed their network of trusted infidelity investigators to find out what their experience has revealed to be the most common signs of a cheating spouse. The results were displayed in an infographic, titled "Signs of a Cheating Spouse." Process servers who offer investigative services may find the data compelling.

What is an infographic?

An infographic is a visual representation of statistics and data through charts, diagrams, images and other visual comparisons. Information that is presented in a visually dynamic way is easier to comprehend than when in written format.

6 common signs of a cheating spouse

1. Changes in intimacy and affection
2. Suspicious phone habits
3. Changes in appearance
4. Suspicious Internet and computer use
5. Changes in work routine
6. Changes in bathing habits

Other signs included concealing credit card statements, having bills mailed to a P.O. box, finding strange receipts, running errands or going out for long periods of time without the spouse, flirting with friends of the opposite sex and a change in overall attitude.

Notable statistics

Statistics regarding infidelity investigations were gathered from the survey. Additional marriage statistics were provided by The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, Indiana University, Business Week, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.

The average infidelity investigation costs $2,377
(Prices were listed from $500 - $5,500)
Infidelity investigations can last anywhere from 4 hours to 6 months
Most investigators say that infidelity is confirmed in over 75% of investigations
30-60% of married people will cheat
(A range is provided because study participants sometimes choose not to admit infidelity even in blind studies)
When infidelity occurs in a marriage, 55% of the time the husband does the cheating, while 45% of the time it’s the wife
74% of husbands and 68% of wives would have an affair if they knew they wouldn’t get caught
Wives who suspect their husbands are cheating are correct 85% of the time, while husbands who suspect their wives are cheating are correct 50% of the time.

Share this!

To share the full-sized post or for embedding options, check out the full article on PInow. We encourage you to post this to your investigations blog or include it in your association newsletter. If you need a different size for your website, blog or newsletter, need an accompanying article, have different printing requirements, or have any other requests regarding this piece, send us an email.

Quote and Lead Management Now Simplified for Process Servers

2012-02-06T00:00:00-07:00

Quick Quotes and request a quote are used often by people who search for process servers on ServeNow. In the past, quote requests would be sent to your email and you would reply with pricing and contact information. Now there is a simpler way to manage requests, deliver quotes, and communicate with your clients.

When someone selects Quick Quotes for an area you serve or from your firm, you will see it logged as a new quote request in your Lawgical account center dashboard. An alert will also be sent to your email, which you can respond to if you are mobile. From the dashboard you will be able to review multiple requests, send quotes and communicate with clients.

What you can do:

Manage quotes, leads and jobs
Communicate with your clients
Favorite and recommend other companies
Log quote, acceptance and job closing dates (automatic)

What you cannot do:

Upload a file, document or affidavit

Within each quote you can communicate with potential clients through a comment thread. The quote number, job details and important dates including request date, quote acceptance date and job closing date are automatically recorded.

From the dashboard you can view all jobs and quotes and their individual statuses for ServeNow and PInow. As an additional tool, if you defer or forward work to other process servers you can select them as favorites or recommend them to other members.

For a quick walkthrough, check out this video:

ServeNow members now have a dashboard that presents a clean and organized interface for quote and lead management. The comment thread provides a professional-looking communication format. This development was made to simplify the quote request and lead management process. If you have further questions, visit our frequently asked questions page.

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Top Process Server Events to Attend in 2012

2012-02-06T00:00:00-07:00

Regardless of where you are in your process serving career there are many benefits in being an active association member. Those who are new to the profession can utilize meetings to get business tips, learn more about legislation and start creating a professional network. Industry veterans use meetings as an opportunity to stay informed and share experience. These events also give process servers a chance to swap stories, get to know peers, and have some fun.

With national association meetings, “super-conferences” and state association meetings there are many networking opportunities in 2012. If you’ve been considering joining your association and are not a member, check out this article on the importance of joining process server associations.

Make sure you mark your calendars with these 2012 process server events to attend (in chronological order):

New York State Professional Process Server Association (NYSPPSA) Board Meeting
January 15, 2012: White Plains, NY (66 Hale Avenue) - expired

The 2011 annual meeting focused on rule changes the association has been fighting in New York City. For information on what last year’s annual conference included, click here.

To visit the association, click here

Arkansas Professional Process Servers Association (ARPPSA) 1st Annual Meeting
January 21st, 2012: Conway, AR (Comfort Suites) - expired

The first annual meeting will involve election of new officers and board members as well as an educational seminar on Arkansas laws of service of process and what it takes to get industry laws changed and improved. There will also be opportunities to network with peers.

The newly formed association’s goals are to propose and support legislation that benefits professional process service, combat rule changes that may be detrimental to the industry, and improve relations between process servers and the legal community, courts, and general public. They are also working to support and establish process server education and training programs.

To visit the association, click here

Process Server Association of Colorado (PSACO) January Meeting
January 26, 2012: Denver, CO (The Pinnacle Condominium) - expired

The January meeting will include committee reports, rule changes and a discussion about a presentation to the Rules Committee. The association will also be outlining their goals for 2012.

To visit the association, click here

Georgia Association of Professional Process Servers (GAPPS) Annual Conference
February 18th & 19th, 2012: Atlanta, Georgia (Holiday Inn) - expired

The meeting will include the 12 hours of continuing education that is required for certification. The rules issued by the Judicial Council of Georgia will also be presented during the conference. House Judiciary Chariman Wendell Willard is the tentatively scheduled guest speaker. Willard will discuss the future of the Certification Program including improvement efforts from a legislative standpoint.

To visit the association, click here

Florida Association of Professional Process Servers (FAPPS) 21st Annual Convention
March 9 - 11, 2012: Orlando, Florida (Rosen Plaza)

The theme for this year’s FAPPS convention is Pirates and features motivational speaker Charles Marshall. Events include a poker tournament and mini golf at Pirate’s Cove.

To visit the association, click here

Michigan Court Officer, Deputy Sheriff, and Process Server Association (MCODSA)
April 12th and 13th, 2012: Bay City, Michigan
Spring 2012 Seminar

MCODSA holds seasonal training seminars and includes certification material for state process servers.

To visit the association, click here

National Association of Professional Process Servers (NAPPS) Annual Meeting
April 26 - 28, 2012: Boston, MA (The Boston Park Plaza Hotel and Towers)

Thursday will consist of bag stuffing, golf, softball, exhibitor set up, and a state association welcome reception at MJ O’Conner’s Irish Pub. Friday kicks off with general registration and the annual meeting, including nomination of officers and directors. The evening closes with a reception and cocktail party as well as a poker tournament. Saturday will feature a variety of educational seminars. Speakers and topics will be announced. The meeting ends with an awards banquet.
-More details to come-

To visit the association, click here

2012 West Coast Super Conference - Private Investigators
Presented by PI Magazine and hosted by California Association of Licensed Investigators (CALI)
June 28 - July 1, 2012: San Diego, CA (Westin San Diego)

Thursday begins with seminars and a free Newly Licensed Investigator Training and Enrichment (NLITE) course. Morning seminars are with Michele Stuart and PI Magazine’s Jimmie Mesis. The afternoon includes an exhibitor showcase and welcome reception with an evening poker tournament.

Friday starts with the annual business meeting, and the exhibitor showcase will be open from 7:30am - 5:00pm. Diane Dimond will be the opening keynote speaker followed by Michele Stuart and an awards luncheon. Afternoon session will take place from 3:00pm - 4:00pm, and the day ends with an evening at the USS Midway.

Sessions:
Mining Value from Recorded Evidence
Cellular Forensics: People, Rumors, and the Actual Facts
Physical Matching . . . Tool Marks and Related Topics . . . Ideal vs. Reality
How to Know When Your Client is Lying, and Get Them to Tell You the Truth

On Saturday, the exhibitor showcase will be open from 7:30am - 4:00pm. The morning includes “Assessing the Accuracy of Eyewitness” and “Computer Forensics: A Criminal Defense Perspective. Afternoon sessions take place from 12:30pm - 2:00pm and 2:30pm - 4:00 pm.

Sessions:
Fundamental Attribution Error: A Human Tendency to Label and Presume
Trademark Infringement and Piracy
Physical Matching . . . Tool Marks and Related Topics . . . Ideal vs. Reality”

Business Protocol and Etiquette for the Personal Protection Specialist
How to make a Killing as a Bodyguard (and Why Handling a Fork is More Important Than Handling a Gun in Corporate America)
AOE/COE: From the Investigation to the Final Report
New Issues in Substance Abuse for Attorneys and Private Investigators

For more information and to visit CALI, click here

Oregon Association of Process Servers (OAPS)
September 21-23, 2012: Location TBD
-More details to come-

To visit the association, click here

Washington State Process Servers Association (WSPSA)
September: Location and date TBD
-More details to come-

To visit the association, click here

Arizona Process Servers Association (APSA)
Late September: Phoenix, AZ (Crowne Plaza Hotel)
Events will include the Arizona Certified Process Servers Course and great networking opportunities.
-More details to come-

To visit the association, click here

California Association of Legal Support Professionals (CALSPRO) 44th Annual Meeting
October 5 - 7, 2012: Anaheim, CA (Disneyland)
-More details to come-
For more information on last year’s meeting and what attending process servers learned, check out this letter from president Chad Barger.

To visit the association, click here

East Coast Super Conference - Private Investigators
Presented by PI Magazine, Hosted by New Jersey Licensed Private Investigators Association (NJLPIA)
October 10 - 12, 2012: Atlantic City, NJ (Tropicana Hotel & Casino)
-More details to come-

To visit the association, click here

North Carolina Association of Professional Process Server (NCAPPS)
The North Carolina Association is newly formed and does not have any events scheduled at this time.
-More details to come-

Don’t feel limited to attending national meetings and those only within your state or the process serving industry. Getting involved in your clients’ associations will help you garner new business; and attending out-of-state meetings can help you expand your network and support other and newly-formed associations. It can also help you identify improvement opportunities within your own association.

Joining associations is one of the best ways to fight and support laws, stay informed, and build your professional network, so mark your calendars with these events to attend. If you have a favorite part of being an association member or a fond memory of an annual conference, share your story below!

If your association would like to include their monthly or annual meetings, board meetings or any other event, please send an email to marketing@serve-now.com with your association name, event dates, description, and meeting itinerary.

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Process Server Employment Statistics

2012-02-05T00:00:00-07:00

Why You Should List Your Process Serving Agency in Multiple Directories

2012-01-23T00:00:00-07:00

With terms like hyperlocalization and local search optimization flying around it can be hard to understand what is the best online marketing strategy for your process serving firm. Local search optimization is important for all companies that offer location-based services. What does this mean? If people search for your company by service type and location, you need to be showing up in local search results. With so much going into local search optimization, it can be difficult to understand exactly what you need to do and why. To help you get more familiar with local search, here is a summary of directory listings and why you need to submit to them.

Benefits of Directories

There are three main reasons to submit your company to or pay for listings on directories:

Targeted Leads
Vertical directories tend to rank well for the keywords in your profession, like "process server", "service of process", and "get papers served." Larger directories like Yelp and Online Yellow Pages generate a lot of traffic. It may take some marketing effectiveness or diving into your analytics to determine the return on paid directories.
Relevant Links
Any good SEO strategy focuses on links. Listing your business on directories that allow "follow" links to your web site will help you rank for the industry-specific keywords you are targeting.
Citations
Many SEO's believe that citations are the new link when it comes to ranking. This is especially true for localized business - a process server in Los Angeles, for example. Several citations of your business name, address and phone on directories are going to help with your local ranking. See my post on local citations, as well as 50 must-have citations for local businesses. (p.s. - Before you start submitting by hand, contact us. We can save you time and money.)

Types of Directories

Not all directories are created equal. You should prioritize the directories you are submitting to or spending money on by value. It's also important to have your process serving firm listed in a good mix of places.

Vertical Directories

There are online directories for every profession, including process serving. Directories in your specific field are a great way to to get inexpensive, relevant traffic and links. ServeNow.com, ProcessServers.com, and PInow.com are all examples of vertical directories.

Associations

Like vertical directories, process serving associations and associations for your clients, like paralegals and legal attorneys are also a good source of targeted traffic and leads. Not only are associations often seen as authority domains on a topic, but most association membership dues are reasonable and members tend to source business to other members. As a process server, it makes sense to identify relevant associations in your state and join as a vendor member or sponsor.

Local Web Sites, BBB's and Chambers of Commerce

Do a Google search for your city + businesses directory (i.e. denver business directory). Typical results will be chambers of commerce, local business directories and other business groups. These are great citations and links for your business to help rank for local keywords. Better Business Bureaus will also offer the same benefits.

Online YP's and Localized Directories

Online Yellow Page sites and localized directories (like Manta, 411.com, Brownbook, Merchantcirlce, etc) are good places to get citations. These are also sites you will occasionally see ranking for your localized searches. There are dozens of these sites though, and submitting them by hand is not efficient. Your best bet here is to find a local optimization company who can submit you to the datafeeds that seed these directories.

Include your NAP Data

NAP stands for Name, Address and Phone. For a directory, or any site for that matter, to give you a citation your NAP data needs to be present. In addition to that, your NAP data needs to match exactly to your Google Places profile.

How to Tell if a Directory Provides Ranking Value

While you aren't guaranteed a citation or SEO value just because you list your company on a directory, there are ways to determine when a directory will offer you no value. I see this most frequently on sites where the URL for directory results are not unique and is probably best explained by the video below.

A quick way to tell if the page you will be listed on is indexed by a search engine is to go to google and put "site:" in front of the URL in question. So, if you want to see if Google is indexing the Colorado page on the National Board of Collection Attorneys site, you would type in:

"site:http://www.nationalboardofcollectionattorneys.com/colorado_collection_attorneys.htm"

If the URL shows up in the search results, it means the page is indexed.

List of Freebies to Get You Started...

Even if you are working with an SEO or Local Optimization firm, you should constantly be looking for new places to submit your process serving firm. Below are a couple of freebies that you should take a moment to submit to. Remember to keep your NAP data consistent.

Almost free...

CollectionAssociation.org ($9.95 per year)

And, Here's the Pitch...

LAWgical has a product called LAWgical Local. The goal with this product is to help you rank better in Google Places and other local platforms. Whether you are working with us on your local optimization or another company, it's something that you need to be paying attention to. In addition, we'd love to talk to you about getting you listed on ServeNow.com and ProcessServers.com.
Get Local Today

About Trent Carlyle
Trent Carlyle is the CTO and co-founder of Lawgical, the parent company of ServeNow. Trent works alongside the technology and marketing teams at Lawgical, developing products that help our clients grow their business and operate more efficiently. He has a passion for SEM (search engine marketing) and is very involved in the local search community in Denver.
Read More from Trent

Grow Your Process Serving Business in 2012

2012-01-22T00:00:00-07:00

With 2011 behind you, it’s time to take advantage of opportunities to grow your process serving business in 2012. If you’ve already set business resolutions or targeted a specific area for improvement, you’re off to a great start; but it’s important to make sure you’re not missing other opportunities to expand your business.

Here are 13 ways to grow your process serving business in 2012:

1. Focus on local search marketing
This aspect of your Internet presence is crucial for growing your business in 2012. Local search marketing is becoming a very large part of a successful online strategy. As a business offering location-specific services, it’s important to adapt to the way people search. Make sure that you claim your local listing, submit your company to multiple directories and networks, and utilize available tools to help your business show up in local search results. Not sure you need to show up in local search? Check out this article for 10 reasons you need local search.

This month, we're discussing local search on the ServeNow Facebook Fanpage, and will be releasing articles, tips, and other information about local search.

2. Get directory and trusted network listings
Submitting to multiple directory and network listings will support your local search marketing. Think of each listing as a recommendation for your services. If ten of your friends recommended the same hairstylist, you would probably try his or her services first. Directory listings tie into local search the same way. If your friends didn’t know a hairstylist in your area, just as people search for St. Louis Process Server you would search for your city and hairstylist. Though it’s an Internet search, people approach the situation with the same mentality. If the same company is listed three separate times, that’s usually the first person they call. Multiple directory listings will get you leads, but make sure you’re included in trusted networks to help turn those leads into clients.

3. Join state and national associations
Joining a national or state association will never hinder your business growth. The main role of associations is to preserve the industry and make sure all process servers have the best opportunities to generate income. Association meetings are a great place connect with out-of-state professionals and get business tips from experienced, successful professionals. Consider joining out-of-state associations to expand your network. The Process Servers Association of Colorado (PSACO), for example, offers associate memberships.

4. Network with other process servers
Networking with process servers across the country can help you generate a referral network. With nation-wide contacts, you can refer serves that are out of your area and hopefully take on clients from process servers in other states. If you prove to be a reliable and diligent contact, your network can become a great source of income for your business.

5. Utilize free resources
A resource can be anything from an industry group to an article you’ve found helpful or even a smartphone app or computer program. Use whatever you can to get connected with your clients and job opportunities, and always have an eye out for programs and services you might find helpful. Sharing your resources with your colleagues will also help you get established as a leading industry professional.

Social media is an excellent source for free marketing and networking, so make sure you set up a Facebook page and Twitter account for your business. Utilize social media to join industry groups, network with other professionals, and share related information and news. ServeNow hosts the Process Servers LinkedIn group and ServeNow Process Servers on Yahoo. Each groups allows members to share tips and refer jobs, and ServeNow posts Request For Proposal (RFP) notifications in the Yahoo groups.

Join the conversation on Facebook
Join the conversation on Yahoo
Join the conversation on LinkedIn

6. Build a website or revamp your existing site
Without a website, or even with a dated website, you might be stunting your growth potential. Even with referrals, trusted network listings, and a spot in local search results your potential clients will likely check your website before contacting you. Music, animation, and broken links may lead them to continue searching, so clean up your existing site and decide if it’s time for a new one. Remember, your website can affect some of your search result rankings, so if it’s time for a complete renovation make sure you explore your options. There are many alternatives to building a search engine optimized professional-looking process server website on your own.

7. Expand your services
One sure-fire way to experience business growth is to expand your services. Whether it’s becoming a certified notary, a private investigator or offering more advanced skip tracing services there are always opportunities to provide additional services. Make sure you find creative ways to let your clients know you’ve expanded, and give them the opportunity to utilize your new services.

8. Target major clients with creative marketing
A crucial step in growing your business is to get your name out there. Take it one step further by targeting major clients with the potential for consistent work. Brainstorm creative ways to target these clients, like hosting a wine and cheese party at a local law office or bringing treats to paralegals and legal assistants. Just make sure you include your business information!

9. Do the unexpected for your clients
Before you expand, check in with your repeat clients. Be sure to thank them for their business, and contact them to find out if there’s anything you can do to improve service. Ask specific questions, like what more you can do to help and what problems you can help them solve. It’s also a good idea to have your calls forwarded to your cell phone when you’re out of the office. Repeat clients might leave a message, but most new clients will work with the first person who answers the phone.

10. Do your job to the best of your ability
One of the key tools for doing your job well is communication, especially when there is an issue. Clear communication is one of the best ways to build trust and lets your clients know they can count on you. Make sure you are handling complaints, staying organized, and keeping your turn-around times reasonable. If you continually exceed expectations you are more likely to get repeat business and referrals.

11. Reinforce your brand
Display your company contact information, including your logo, prominently on all correspondence - envelopes, letterhead, faxes, affidavits, and the signature file of your email.

This is a simple and inexpensive way to repeatedly expose your business to clients and colleagues. Include your company name, toll free number, fax, web address, email, etc. Reinforce your services, and include a tagline specific to the services you offer – “Statewide Process Serving throughout New York" or “For all your Process Serving and Investigative Needs”.

12. Invest in effective business tools
Growing your business is not exclusive to expanding your services and getting more clients. Look for opportunities for improvement within your business. Invest in tools, technology and marketing that will help streamline operations, enhance business-client relationships, and help get you in front of your clients. Remember, it takes money to make money, so make sure you invest in effective marketing that will generate a return.

13. Set Reasonable Business Goals
All successful companies have annual, monthly and sometimes even weekly and daily goals. Write down your goals and share them with your staff and anyone who will hold you accountable. Studies have shown that by writing your goals down and sharing them with other people you are more likely to achieve them. It's also important that your goals are clear, measurable and realistic as well as ambitious.

Growing your process serving business takes time, but with persistence and the right tools you should find yourself with more business by the end of 2012. If you adapt to changes in marketing and advertising and constantly look for opportunities for improvement, you will likely experience significant business growth and become a leader in your industry.

Market your business in 2012

To help kickstart your 2012 marketing plan, contact your ServeNow marketing consultant at (877) 737-8366.

Contact ServeNow Today

5 Things We Learned About Process Serving in 2011

2012-01-10T08:00:00-07:00

The past year has been filled with news items that have taught us a few things about the state of the process serving industry. Some of the news has been good, some bad, and some simply interesting. With changes in technology and legislation constantly swirling around, it’s clear that 2012 will be a time of great change for process servers. After a solid year of monitoring process serving news, we’ve compiled this list of five things to to keep an eye on in the process server world.

Process servers are getting the Celebrity treatment
Film, television, and even added media coverage of service of process has created a much different perception of process servers than we know to be true. But there's been added focus on service of process. There's been a media frenzy around many serves, including the notoriety gained by Tom Cabral, who served a Red Sox pitcher while wearing a Yankees shirt. Videos of congressmen, photos of celebrities, and endless comments on whether it was done properly and in good taste have cycled through the web. Beyond the true reality of service of process, reality television and the film industry has taken it a little bit further.

Television continues to further the film industry’s portrayal of process servers with “reality” shows such as “All Worked Up” on TruTV. In a similar vein to Duane “Dog” Chapman becoming the face of bounty hunters everywhere, TruTV has tagged Byran McElderry to be a representative of process servers. The show features McElderry as he gets in heated confrontations with the people he is attempting to serve. People who are familiar with process serving will be able to take much of the show with a grain of salt because they know that servers are able to avoid confrontation by not taking big risks and by defusing bad situations. But from an average TV-watcher’s perspective, McElderry’s sometimes over-the-top tactics are what a process server does on a daily basis.
Joining associations is crucial
Process servers across the country are recognizing that in order to protect their rights and change local laws to help them work more effectively, it helps to band together. As new associations have formed over the past year, others are planning their first meetings for 2012. Some process servers are forming associations in their states in response to specific threats, while others simply want to be proactive about strengthening their presence.

Many of these associations have a head-start because their members have a firm grasp on technology -- such as websites and social media -- which gives them more ways to get their message out nationwide. As Steven Glenn, president of the Process Servers Association of Colorado, often says, associations have the power to protect the businesses of all process servers from harsh penalties brought on when unscrupulous or untrained process servers bring unwanted attention upon the industry. In addition, our interview with Larry Yellon on New York process serving laws revealed that an active association can fight harsh restrictions and help members acclimate to changes in legislation.
Social media is slowly shaping service of process
Countries worldwide are relaxing their policies regarding service of process by social media, which is something that has been on process servers’ radars for a while. Recently, Great Britain and Australia allowed people to serve foreclosure notices via Facebook messages. The United States remains hesitant to jump on board the social media wagon when it comes to service of process, but with social media having already infiltrated almost every corner of the world, it seems like only a matter of time. The potential impact that these developments could have on the process serving industry remains to be seen, but the legal industry will no doubt be keeping a close eye on the news.
Process server safety is still paramount
Despite all efforts by associations and other groups to help process servers work more safely, the news still carries the occasional story about process servers being shot at or chased with baseball bats. Potential violence is an unfortunate part of the job, but experienced process servers are often full of useful tricks to mitigate the risk. If you have a state association, it would be beneficial for you to attend a meeting or become a member, as you can receive many helpful tips about safety, business and more from your peers. Even if you don’t have a state association, it wouldn’t hurt to contact other local process servers and discuss the industry. Some states are taking steps to help keep professionals safe, and as of August of last year it is now a felony to attack a process server in Illinois.
Education is necessary to protect the process serving industry
Though the process serving industry today is light years ahead of where it was 20 years ago in terms of education, there’s still a ways to go. After finding news items about sewer service, trespassing, harassment, faulty affidavits and more over the past year, it’s clear that there is still a divide between the experienced, knowledgeable process servers and those who are only in the industry to make a quick buck.

The shame of it is that these fly-by-night process servers aren’t thinking twice about the negative consequences they are causing to process servers who have built up their businesses over the years and have gained success the hard way. Every big news story that comes out detailing the harmful actions of an unprofessional server damages process servers’ reputations in the eyes of law enforcement, government and clients. The good news is that, as evidenced by the number of associations springing up nationwide, the process servers who want to protect the industry are taking notice and doing something about the situation.

Conclusion
One interesting aspect of the process serving world is that usually negative stories are the only ones that make it to mainstream media. When everything goes right, process servers are generally absent from the news. Those in the industry know that these negative stories are based on the actions of a few and don’t represent the majority of hard-working process servers who take the business seriously. So the next time you see an interesting news story about process servers, feel free to analyze it and assess its potential impact. The few minutes you spend ruminating on the subject could lead to a better way of doing things for process servers locally or nationwide.

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ServeNow Featured on the Paralegal Voice

2012-01-10T07:45:00-07:00

Last week ServeNow was featured on Legal Talk Network's The Paralegal Voice. CEO Adam Camras sat down with Vicki Voisin, one of the show’s co-hosts, to provide some insight on what paralegals should look for when hiring a process server. Legal Talk Network receives an average of 130,000 monthly downloads, and The Paralegal Voice’s monthly podcast is downloaded by approximately 6,000 professionals each month. The featured podcast, titled Paralegals & Process Servers, focuses on interviewing and hiring process servers, and what to look for in a professional.

The podcast discusses:

Locating a trusted professional
Questions to ask before hiring
Bulk serves
Fee structure
Process serving software
Electronic service
Red Flags paralegals should look for

Because paralegals handle service for law firms, they represent a tremendous opportunity for process servers to gain repeat business. Listen to the podcast for an idea of what qualifications you should highlight when marketing your services to a paralegal, attorney, or legal assistant. You should also prepare answers to the common questions a paralegal may ask, take note of available software and expectations for updates.

The Paralegal Voice: Paralegals & Process Servers

For the discussed study on service by sheriffs and private professionals, check out the Process Server vs. Sheriff Infographic.

In the interview, Camras recommends that paralegals find trusted process servers. Even if a process server is referred from another paralegal or colleague from another firm, he stresses the importance of checking their website, completing an Internet search for the company and “complaints”, and verifying their license among other things. The key point he stresses is that paralegals should turn to trusted networks that have a person other than the server who can be consulted for complaints or problems with service.

The interview encourages paralegals to get a better understanding of what the fees, the communication, and the details of the serve will include upfront. Fee structure, number of attempts, how updates will be provided, deadlines, and the affidavit of service were all highlighted as important by Camras, and he encourages professionals to finalize the details in email.

For more on what ServeNow suggests looking for in a process server, check out the Hiring a Process Server Checklist.

The Paralegal Voice is a monthly podcast co-hosted by Lynne DeVenny and Vicki Voisin, paralegals with a combined twenty years of experience. The podcast focuses on paralegal and legal assistant trends and issues. Vicki Voisin is a NALA Advanced Certified Paralegal whose weekly e-zine, Paralegal Strategies, reaches thousands of readers. Lynne DeVenny runs the Practical Paralegalism blog and is a North Carolina State Bar Certified Paralegal who works for a civil rights firm.

To visit The Paralegal Voice: click here

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Serving Papers on Holidays

2011-12-27T10:00:00-07:00

With the holiday season coming to a close there's been a lot of chatter about process servers working on holidays, particularly on Christmas and Christmas Eve. News of altercations resulting from Christmas Eve serves has brought many professionals to social media sites in an effort to share their opinions. We've gathered information from various channels and summarized what we've read to share what your colleagues think. Do you have an opinion on serving papers on holidays? Share your thoughts in our poll at the end of the article.

General thoughts on working on Christmas and Christmas Eve

The feeling shared by most process servers is that the holidays are a time for process servers to relax, be happy and spend time with their families. Some have told their peers that life is to short to not spend this time with loved ones, while others have described holiday serves as unkind.

Some process servers have encountered attorneys and individuals that specifically request to have papers served on Christmas and Christmas Eve. Most professionals find requests like these unreasonable, and in return ask for advanced payment at a premium rate. Requests like these generally result in a change of heart by the attorney or client.

Overall, most professionals said they prefer not to serve on holidays, partially to avoid a potential emotional conflict with the recipient of the papers.

Exceptions

Most process servers will only serve on a holiday if there is a child is in an abusive situation, will be affected by a restraining order, or is somehow in danger.

According to one process server, courts in his area shy away from serving until after the first of the year when the situation can have a negative effect on a child.

Of course, many process servers acknowledged that they need the work and will make the serve, sometimes at a higher rate. Some professionals specifically plan their serves on or near holidays as skips and evasive individuals will likely be with their families.

For many, serving on holidays is a gray area, but others have no problem working through the holidays.

Service on Sundays and religious holidays

Because Christmas fell on a Sunday this year some individuals weren't able to serve. Some states don't allow service on Sundays, and others go a step further to prohibit service on religious holidays. Many professionals simply said they wouldn't serve due to these laws, but most of them acknowledged that even if Christmas was on another day or if service was allowed they would still choose not to serve.

What people are saying on Facebook

Many process servers shared their thoughts on the many pages and walls of Facebook, including the Official ServeNow Facebook Fanpage. Here's what they had to say:

"I am strongly against serving around x-mas, I won't serve up to 2 or 3 days before and 2 or 3 days after, unless its an urgent subpoena or something going to a company. Serving people at such an emotional time does exacerbate problems or reactions that otherwise may not have happened" - Agls Process Michigan

"Normally, no serving on holidays. However, if someone is avoiding me or impossible to get on other days, I'm going to get them when I can." - Sandra Kozero

"I don't think so. It's one day out of the year that families are actually able to spend time together and are generally happy. I say no." - Jesse Acosta

"We can serve here. We don't unless there is some kind of restraining order or where the child will be spending Christmas will be affected. There has to be a really good reason. Otherwise, I agree. I prefer not to." - Julie Edgar Gliem

"We can serve on Sunday, but even if it was on a different day I would keep Christmas Christmas." - Amy Moffet

"No problem for me. I need the work" - Dennis Chevy Chevalier

"I had a client who wanted 24 30 Day Notices to Quit served on Christmas Eve. I told him that I would be the only Janney employee asked to work on Christmas Eve and it would cost $500.00 a notice, payment in advance. Funny, suddenly the 26th was ok. I believe I am as professional and client-oriented as anyone, but certain services cost more." - Steve Janney

Share your opinion

Answer our poll to share your opinion on holiday service:

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Most Popular Process Server News of 2011

2011-12-27T09:00:00-07:00

Editor's Note: This list was compiled based on ServeNow's social media and website. Stories were chosen based on clicks, views, shares, and comments, and reflect popular process server news within ServeNow's community.

It’s been year full of scandals and surprises for process servers, and with so many popular news stories we decided to put together the Most Popular Process Server News of 2011. We researched what Facebook posts and tweets ServeNow fans and followers interacted with most, and as an added bonus we've compiled our most frequently read articles from the ServeNow Server Center as featured in The Serve Report.

Top Tweets of 2011

According to the top five tweets, process servers were excited about process server apps for their smartphones. Safety was a definite concern after hearing about the Arizona process server who was shot in the back after serving a civil summons. The top tweet, however, dealt with a different kind of controversy, as Red Sox pitcher Erik Bedard was served by a Yankess fan before a game.

1. Red Sox pitcher served by a Yankees fan

Hours before a game against the Orioles, Boston process server Tom Cabral served Red Sox starting pitcher Erik Bedard with child support papers. Cabral said the Red Sox organization was cooperative, and the controversy was blown up by the media only after it was discovered that Cabral, a life-long fan of the New York Yankees, wore a Yankees jersey during the serve.

We talked to Tom Cabral: #Yankees fan that served the #RedSox player. Check out the article for his side of the story! bit.ly/qBpAUJ
— Process Servers(@processservers) October 7, 2011

2. Arizona process server shot by the person he served

After four unsuccessful attempts at a serve, process server Bob Palmer had been cleared by the court to post papers to the man's gate and mail a copy. Palmer was walking back to his car when the man came out of the house and shot Palmer in the back with a handgun. Shot once in the right portion of his abdomen, Palmer reached the vehicle and called 911.

This process server was shot after his fifth attempt at serving a civil summons.Be careful out there! fb.me/1h7FwPIQh
— Process Servers(@processservers) September 28, 2011

3. Wisconson turns to private process servers instead of sworn officers

This article was a great feature on why Wisconson county chose to use private process servers rather than sworn sheriffs. Unfortunately it has been recently removed from the site. For information on using process servers or sheriffs, check out this Process Server vs. Sheriff infographic.

Great article on why #Wisconson county chose private process servers instead of sworn officers via @fdlreporter bit.ly/nwcIdQ
— Process Servers(@processservers) September 28, 2011

4. A former New York process server creates an app

Plughunter, an app that shows users the nearest locations with access to an outlet, allows owners of hand-held devices to find the nearest place to charge low batteries.

Add this one to your #ProcessServerAPP list!(it was created by a former #NYC process server) bit.ly/su8892 via @silivedotcom
— Process Servers(@processservers) November 2, 2011

5. Top smartphone apps for process servers

ServeNow put together a comprehensive list of apps specifically for process servers. The four apps from this tweet received a lot of attention from our followers. For the full list of smartphone apps, click here

Final batch of helpful #apps for #processservers - @dropbox@alexpach @square @breezy Read the full article: bit.ly/nCD4Kw
— Process Servers(@processservers) October 4, 2011

Top Facebook Story of 2011

The Official ServeNow Facebook Fanpage was booming with activity this year. With Servetober, Recipes for Success, 12 Days of Process Serving, and plenty of questions, news posts, and interaction among fans there was a lot to keep up with. This year, the most popular Facebook story of 2011 was the release of ServeNow's first infographic: Process Server vs. Sheriff. The infographic was created based on a survey of 100 paralegals, legal administrators, and legal assistants who have papers served on a regular basis. Both professionals were ranked in the categories of speed of service, customer service, knowledge of laws, success rate, average cost and overall preferred provider. It was no surprise that the process server was the clear winner. To check out the infographic, click here

ServeNow Staff Choice - Top News Story of 2011

In two words: Erik Bedard. In late September, Boston process server Tom Cabral presented child support papers to the Red Sox starting pitcher. A media frenzy followed after it was discovered that Cabral completed the serve while wearing a Yankees jersey. Process servers, baseball fans, and other professionals had plenty of comments. Some called it unprofessional while others pointed out that it's not abnormal for a New York fan to wear a Yankees shirt on any given day. Even Cabral said it was nothing out of the ordinary for a man who "always wears a Yankees shirt." Our Twitter followers and Facebook fans weren't the only ones fascinated by the Red Sox pitcher's legal matters. The ServeNow team got caught up in the historic rivalry of the two baseball organizations, and even had the opportunity to interview Cabral and get his side of the story. Check out what Cabral had to say: click here

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A Case Study on Process Server Marketing

2011-12-12T09:00:00-07:00

According to Forbes Magazine, 70% of consumers turn to online search to find local businesses. This means that most people are finding businesses through location-specific searches like "Las Vegas Process Servers."If you're not showing up when someone searches your city and "process servers", your business name is only reaching 30% of potential clients, and that's if you're doing everything else right. But for those who are busy serving and don't have time for the lengthy and ongoing process of submitting to local search, Lawgical Local is a great

option.

What is hyper-localization?

Hyper-localization is the combined use of Lawgical Local, Lawgical Sites, and listing on the ServeNow Network. This strategy helps ServeNow clients achieve a higher rank in Google Places and organic search results. Over the past year, Google results have shifted to put a major emphasis on Google Places. Places profiles are denoted by lettered markers in the search results. Lawgical Local, a core part of hyper-localization, aims to help ServeNow clients achieve better marketing results in their local areas of service.

To give you a better example of how hyper-localization can help boost rankings, we talked to Stu Perlmutter of Professional Process Service about his experience working with ServeNow and the changes he's seen in his business since optimizing his local search. Stu is a 25 year veteran of the process serving industry who is active with NAPPS and state several state associations. His company covers the state of Connecticut.

To illustrate the effect hyper-localization can have on results, we've provided an image showing Google search results for 'New Haven Process Servers.' Perlmutter ranks first in local search, and comes up as seven of the ten organic search results. All of these rankings have been boosted with Stu's hyper-localization package.

Questions with Stu Perlmutter

What was your goal in using Lawgical Local?
I was looking for more work and I wasn't happy with my ranking. Most of my work comes from out of state and I needed the exposure.

What have been the results of your hyper-localization?

My out of state phone calls are up 30-40%. Nothing was working for me in a real consistent way until I started working with ServeNow.

How long did it take to see results?
It took well over 2 months for Google to pick us up. The amount of work coming from out-of-state process servers has gone through the roof.

How much do you invest in marketing?
7% of my revenue is spent on marketing. The bulk of it is going to ServeNow. If I want to invest $200 per month in marketing, 6 extra serves makes up for it, which is manageable considering my work increase.

Why did you choose to use ServeNow's hyper-localization strategy?

ServeNow has been totally knowledgeable from the get-go. They know more about what’s going on in my business than I do. I don't care how [my clients] found me, it's just important that they found me, and the people at ServeNow make that happen.

More about Stu's case

An additional result of Stu's hyper-localization strategy is the effect it had on his primary website's organic rankings. Local optimization does not target organic search engine optimization (SEO), but it can have an impact on those results. Lawgical Local paired with localized Lawgical websites resulted in Stu's main website ranking higher for related search keywords that he did not rank for in the past. You don't need a website to submit to local search, but it is an important part of a successful marketing strategy. Stu uses a combination of ServeNow products as part of his marketing plan.

Submitting to local search is an incredibly lengthy process, and using Lawgical Local can help save you the dozens of hours it would take to do this on your own. We submit your information to all major directories and local data feeds that have a critical effect on local ranking factors. There is no way to guarantee rankings as so many factors go in to determining rank. For example, it can take longer to boost rank in metropolitan areas where there is a higher concentration of process servers than in more rural areas.

Want to hyper-localize your marketing plan?

If you're interesting in boosting your local rankings, or have questions about your overall marketing strategy, join ServeNow today or call (877)-737-8366 and ask about Lawgical Local.

12 Days of Process Serving and Other Facebook Holiday Fun

2011-12-12T00:00:00-07:00

If you enjoyed Servetober, then get ready for more process server activities and fun! This holiday season we decided to celebrate a little early and kicked off 12 Days of Process Serving, our December contest with plenty of activities and prizes. There's always something happening on the official ServeNow Facebook Fanpage, so be sure to like us to participate in contests and activities, and to stay up to date on the latest process server news.

Just in case it's been a while since your last visit, we thought we'd give you a quick recap of what you've missed in the past few months. We also want to give you an idea of what you can expect to see from us the rest of the year. Before we started celebrating 12 Days of Process Serving we gave you Recipes for Process Serving Success, and earlier this month we released our Process Server vs. Sheriff infographic.

Recipes for Success

The week of Thanksgiving we asked fans for the biggest roadblocks in their process serving careers and how they overcame them. For the largest problems we decided to create our very own recipes for process serving success. We offered some helpful tips for developing a marketing strategy, going digital, getting those first clients, and complying with new laws.

Here are two of our tastiest recipes:

There are more recipes on the official ServeNow Facebook Fanpage, so be sure to check them out.

The Process Server vs. Sheriff Infographic

Earlier this month, we released our Process Server vs. Sheriff Infographic, and shared statistics comparing the use of sheriffs and process servers for service of process. The data was collected from a survey of 100 paralegals, legal administrators, and legal assistants who have papers served on a regular basis. We appreciate all of the shares and positive feedback that the infographic received. For the full article and infographic, click here.

12 Days of Process Serving

Last Friday we kicked off 12 Days of Process Serving with the first in a series of activities and give aways. To start things off, we asked our fans for their favorite holiday songs, and randomly selected a winner to receive a $10 iTunes gift card. Congratulations to Aimee Hancock, the winner of the iTunes gift card and one of those fans who made Little Drummer Boy the fan favorite. And to help you get into the holiday spirit here are three fan favorites:

What's next?

We’re feeling very generous this year, and we're just getting into 12 Days of Process Serving. There will be activities, giveaways, and some great prizes too, including a process server website with services for one year, an iPod Shuffle, an Amazon gift card for holiday shopping, and a $50 donation to a charity of the winner's choice! We might ask you a few questions, get some insight to your holiday traditions, or even ask you to post a photo of your holiday decorations.

For more details, head to the ServeNow Facebook Fanpage, and keep checking back for more fun! New Year's Eve is just around the corner and we'll have plenty of activities for the rest of the year! Click here to connect on Facebook

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Process Server vs. Sheriff: Infographic

2011-12-12T00:00:00-07:00

Who should I hire: process server or sheriff?

When you need to have legal papers served, the choice between a process server and sheriff can be a difficult one. To help you decide, ServeNow created a graphic representation, or infographic, of data gathered from 100 paralegals, legal assistants, and legal administrators who have papers served regularly. The results were based on speed of service, customer service, knowledge of laws, success rate, and average cost.

And the winner is ...

Process server. Whether you rely on statistics or direct advice from industry professionals, the process server is the preferred choice. The process server prevailed in the important areas of customer satisfaction, rules of civil procedure, speed of service, and success rate. A difference in cost of less than $15, an average that drops significantly for high-volume serves, can get your papers served quickly, legally, and with customer service in mind.

Share and Embed this!

If you found any of this information helpful, share the link with anyone who might benefit or find it interesting. At ServeNow, we're dedicated to providing valuable industry content, and created this infographic as a resource for process servers. We encourage you to post this to your legal blog or include it in your association newsletter. If you need a different size for your website, blog, or newsletter, need an accompanying article, have different printing requirements, or have any other requests regarding this piece, send us an email.

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Process Server vs. Sheriff Video

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<div style="width:425px" id="__ss_10619513"> <strong style="display:block;margin:12px 0 4px"><a href="http://www.serve-now.com/articles/841/process-server-vs-sheriff-infographic" title="Process Server vs Sheriff" target="_blank">Process Server vs Sheriff</a></strong> <iframe src="https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/10619513" width="425" height="355" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe><div style="padding:5px 0 12px:>

NYSPPSA President Larry Yellon on New York Process Server Laws

2011-11-29T08:00:00-07:00

Larry Yellon is the President of the New York State Professional Process Server Association (NYSPPSA) and the National Association of Professional Process Servers (NAPPS). He is the owner of Intercounty Judicial Services, and is a 32 year veteran of the process serving industry. Having served as NYSPPSA President for over 2 years, Yellon has been intimately involved in the regulation changes New York process servers have faced.

It’s been a long year for New York process servers as new regulations have changed the way they will do business next year. The New York State Professional Process Server Association (NYSPPSA) was instrumental in fighting difficult legislation changes. As the terms have changed and new regulations have taken effect, ServeNow reached out to NYSPPSA President Larry Yellon for more details.

The latest regulation, which went into effect on November 12th, requires those who serve in New York to comply with tracking rules through the use of Global Positioning Systems (GPS), but there have been problems getting a signal in some areas. Yellon, who is also the President of the National Association of Professional Process Servers (NAPPS), says the jury is still out on whether GPS will be receptive in Manhattan.

“We’ve already had a few reports that the iPhone has not had good signals,” he said, “and the city has allowed us to work around that. That’s one of the issues NYSPPSA and NAPPS fought for: a right to continue to serve whether [GPS] works or not.” The next major change comes in February, when licenses will be up for renewal and both individual process servers and agencies will have to meet separate bond requirements. The new regulations are causing ripples in the community, but the original rules, which Yellon describes as “impossible to comply with,” were open-ended and objectionable. NYSPPSA took litigation to the Supreme Court of New York, which resulted in the rules being changed to what the association had proposed last December. “That was a victory,” Yellon says, “It was a very successful litigation."But the new rules have still caused major changes to process serving industry in New York, and has received a fair amount of complaints about adjusting to the laws.

Yellon reminds that compliance is all about breaking old habits and gaining new ones, and points out that having the regulations remain what they were five years ago isn't realistic. “People, in general, are opposed to change,” he says, “And in this profession specifically the change is drastic compared to what [the laws were] for many years.” And Yellon does believe that “With diligence, people will be able to [comply], and have been so far.”

But Yellon is quick to acknowledge the negative effects on the industry. “I see an impact already,” Yellon says, “and not only in process servers but agencies.” The changes, which have brought new costs and a larger overhead, have resulted in many choosing to leave the profession.

In a time of major change Yellon stresses the importance of joining associations. “It’s now critical and crucial, if ever there was a time, to join associations,” he says. “Any process server who is [serving process] today should join NYSPPSA and NAPPS.” Yellon explains that communication is translated directly through members, and with new events and changes occurring on a daily basis, non-members aren't getting that information.

With a major fight behind them, Yellon says that the NYSPPSA will now shift their focus to other major issues, including process server safety. “We’d like to get the assault and trespass laws changed in New York mimicking the legislation that passed in Illinois,” he says. The Illinois law, which will take effect in January, makes it a felony to assault a process server and is the first of its kind. Illinois also decided to make process servers exempt from trespassing, and Yellon hopes to get both laws passed in his state.

As far as whether or not Yellon is happy with the outcome of the litigation, and the end of a long battle, he sums it up in a few words. “I’m satisfied that we did the best we could do, under the circumstances, to advocate rules that are acceptable and possible to comply with. I’m not happy, but I’m satisfied. ”

For more information about these changes, visit ServeNow's New York Rules of Civil Procedure section of our website.

8 Phone Etiquette Mistakes Process Servers Should Avoid

2011-11-28T00:00:00-07:00

Answering and making calls is an important element of business, and every process serving firm should know that they are judged by their phone etiquette. It may seem basic, but it is absolutely crucial that you put your best efforts into making clients feel like they were helped. How you treat a client during a phone call can determine whether they will stick with you or take their business elsewhere.

Here are 8 common phone etiquette mistakes that could hurt your business:

Not answering the phone. With caller ID, telemarketers, and restricted numbers many people choose to ignore calls from numbers they don’t recognize. Unfortunately, in the world of process serving, it's usually the first professional to answer that gets the serve.
Not having a business line. Having your work calls come in on your personal line may seem like no big deal, but a future client will likely hang up if they hear a ringback tone or even a voicemail that isn’t specific to your business.
Not forwarding your calls. It’s important to have your office calls forwarded to your cell phone when you aren't in. This way you aren’t missing out on any potential clients, and can be reached if there is an emergency or sudden change.
Not answering professionally. Most businesses answer with their business name, so a “Hello” can make the client confused about who they are talking to and if it's a business. A good example would be to say, “XYZ Process Service, this is John. How may I help you?” This establishes professionalism from the beginning, and immediately tells the client who your company is, what you do, who they are speaking with, and most importantly that you are ready to help them.
Being unfriendly or rude. If the client thinks you were rude and not very helpful, they will expect the same care when you serve their papers and likely take their business elsewhere.
Not taking notes. From the moment you answer the phone you should be taking notes on the call. It’s important to write down the person’s name, what they are calling about, and the details of what papers they need served.
Leaving people on hold. Ideally, you would never have to put a potential client on hold, but sometimes it’s necessary. When you put someone on hold, try to get back to them as soon as possible. If it will take you more than a minute or two, ask to take a message and let them know you will call them back as soon as you can.
Not returning calls. If a potential client has left you a voicemail, it’s important to get back to them as soon as possible. Not returning calls can make your business look disorganized and unprofessional. However, it is important to be mindful of when you are calling, and make sure it’s not too early or too late.

Given the choice, customers will usually turn to the company that provides better customer service, so you should consider phone calls your most basic form of marketing. Remember, if you are friendly, helpful, and meet your client's needs, they might refer someone to you in the future.

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6 Ways to Boost Your Process Serving Efficiency

2011-11-13T09:00:00-07:00

At a time when gas prices are high and everyone is looking to cut costs, running your process serving or investigation firm efficiently is a must. This can mean anything from cutting costs to planning ahead, and being business-savvy can help you make the most of your time, effort and money. Add a little more efficiency to your business with these handy tips:

Plan your route. Though GPS has virtually eliminated the need for traditional maps, even the optimal or quickest route may not be the best way to complete your serves. When planning your route, be mindful of traffic, check the weather, and avoid construction zones. If you don’t plan to pack a lunch, have an idea of what will be nearby when lunch time hits.
Go paperless. Going paperless may have started as a trend, but eliminating paper and stamps can cut costs and preserve filing space. There are many free online file archive managers, which can eliminate the hassle and buildup of physical paperwork, and the best part may be that with a smartphone your files can always be in your back pocket.
Convert to digital. Having a smartphone can streamline your paperwork, but with various smartphone apps you can also accept mobile payments, translate for clients who don’t speak English, and even find cheap gas and food. Having everything you need just a touch away can empower you to take care of things in the moment, a key ability in the efficiency of running a mobile business.
Multitask. When stopping for lunch or getting started with surveillance you can complete simple tasks like logging hours, sending emails, and updating clients. Taking a few minutes between serves to handle paperwork can save you hours of compiling information later.
Keep your clients updated. Taking a quick moment to send a client an email update can save you from having to take a phone call while attempting to serve. Even if there is little to update them on, your client will appreciate regular check-ins and excellent customer service.
Refer long-distance serves. For serves or investigations that are far away, turn to your network of professional associates. Unless you have several serves in one area, driving hours or even minutes out of your way can decrease your efficiency. Turning to a trusted professional can ensure that the job gets done properly, and also saves you the cost of gas and valuable time that could be spent completing other serves. And referring a serve to an associate can instill trust in your client, perhaps creating a repeat customer. In the future, that server may return the favor and push new clients your way.

You don't need to completely restructure your business, but a few basic tweaks and some updated technology may be all that you need to boost your process serving efficiency. It's all about getting the most for your efforts, and saving time and money wherever you can. With your company running resourcefully, you can breathe easier knowing that you are doing everything you can to guarantee that your business will still be thriving as we head into the new year.

If you have additional ideas to run your business more efficiently, share them with your colleagues in the ServeNow.com Yahoo! or LinkedIn Groups.

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Process Server Blogs: Get Started in 5 Easy Steps

2011-11-13T00:00:00-07:00

In our previous article about blogging, we gave you 8 reasons to start a process server blog. Starting a blog can be intimidating, but following these steps can help you breeze through the process.

Step 1: Choose a Blogging Platform
There are several free or inexpensive, easy-to-use blog platforms with features process servers can use for simplified blogging. Some popular sites include:

Blogger: Blogger is a platform with an ease of use comparable to sending email. Linked to Gmail accounts and offering posting options through Microsoft Word, Blogger targets users with limited technological experience. Layouts, posting, and adding media and links are done through straightforward commands. As a traditional blogging platform, Blogger is easy to set up and maintain.
WordPress: Though it caters to a more experienced blogger, WordPress is another option for traditional blogging. Like Blogger, WordPress has many layouts and features, but it also offers more customizable functions and the ability to alter HTML. Though it showcases advanced options, WordPress is a great option for the inexperienced blogger.
Tumblr: Tumblr is a great site for microblogging, and the platform of choice for bloggers looking to post shorter, less formal, and media-centric entries. Somewhat similar to a Twitter feed, Tumblr is the best option for bloggers looking for quick posting. The ability to completely alter the HTML makes it the platform of choice for the technologically savvy, and with apps for various gadgets, Tumblr makes blogging quick and easy.

With many more options for blogging platforms it is important to do some research and decide what will work best for you. Once you have made your selection you will need to set up your blog.

Step 2: Set Up Your Blog
Setup can take a few minutes or a few days, depending on the platform and your appearance preferences. Regardless of which site you host on, you will need to take the time to set up a few things:

The title: Perhaps the most important step is choosing a title. Choose a name that relates to your company, communicates what you will be writing about, and is easy to remember. If possible, make your blog name and URL identical. Most blogging platforms allow you to add your blog to your website's domain (e.g., www.xyzprocessserver.com/blog), and though sometimes it requires an additional monthly fee it is considered a good promotional practice.
About me: As a great place for showcasing your credentials, listing your name, company, and how long you have been a part of the industry will help establish you as a qualified contributor to the process server blogging community.
Layout: All platforms offer a variety of formatting options. It is best to select fonts, color combinations, and layouts that make your blog easy to read and navigate.

Your settings are not permanent, so if you want to make changes, you can.

Step 3: Choose Topics You Can Blog About:
There is a constant surplus of news within the process server community. Your blog can be a place for you to:

Share your opinions. Whether it's legislation changes, breaking news, strategies, or ethics, your blog can be a place to share your point of view.
Connect with clients. You can explain common terminology, explain what happens during a serve, and walk clients through service of process.
Reflect on your experience. A blog can be a great place for sharing tips, step-by-step advice, and specific experiences with clients and colleagues.
Be informative. Your blog posts can inform readers about special events and company news, or be a place to discuss conferences you have attended and new laws or practices related to your industry.

It is important to give your unique point of view, but be mindful of the fact that other industry professionals and potential clients will be reading, and always present your opinion in a respectful way.

Step 4: Create your first posts
Rather than launching your blog with one post it is best to publish 3-5 posts to establish variety and gain interest from early readers. These initial posts are a great place to introduce yourself and your company, discuss your experience, provide some information on your industry, and add some media or links to news articles.

Step 5: Maintain your blog
You may settle into regular blogging with ease, but there are a few things you should keep in mind.

Post regularly. If you are concerned about your ability to post consistently, set aside a specific time devoted to blogging regularly, or create a schedule with time for brainstorming, research, and writing. Keep in mind that if you post too often you may lose followers, and if you do not post often enough, you might not be promoting your firm.
Vary your content. It is important to keep your posts up to date. Photos, videos, and audio clips can add interest to your blog, but make sure that you are not violating any copyright terms.
Don't be overly promotional. Your blog is a great tool for marketing your business, but posting promotional material too frequently can deter customers and decrease your following.
Stay professional. Remember, you are creating a blog to promote your services. Speaking negatively about other companies, using improper language, or including personal or unrelated content can hinder your blog's credibility.
Keep up with routine maintenance. Set aside a specific day once every few months for updating your blog. This can be an opportunity to check for broken links, change your layout, and reorganize folders and archives.
Link your media. To increase traffic to your blog and website, link your blog to your process server website and social media accounts.

With numerous advantages to starting your blog, you have every reason to join the process server blogging community. If you enjoy sharing your thoughts, opinions, and news while promoting your business at no cost, start blogging today.

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Dallas Process Servers Ready to Pick Up Constables' Slack

2011-11-13T00:00:00-07:00

An issue that has long been simmering in Dallas, Texas, is now threatening to boil over, and it could lead to more business for Dallas process servers. In late October, Dallas constables dumped the civil papers they had been assigned to serve, leaving the county scrambling to deliver many time-sensitive documents. This came after county commissioners voted to put serving court papers in the hands of sheriffs instead of constables.

Process servers in Dallas have been paying close attention to the issue, as it provides a golden opportunity to show that they are more cost-effective for taxpayers than constables, and provide the county with more timely, effective service of process.

ServeNow asked members of the process server groups on LinkedIn and Yahoo for their opinions on the situation, and here’s what some members had to say.

Lee H. Russell, Dallas, TX
“Right now it is a political hot potato. The County Commissioners shut us down when we pointed out that having the Constables (let alone the Sheriffs) was costing the county a bunch of money and the information came from their bookkeepers. We are doing all we can to bring pressure to bear to have all this turned over to private hands, but the political "good ole boy" system is going to have a hard time letting all these elected officials go down the tubes without a fight. My hunch is we will have to get the media involved with numbers and reports out of their own accounting department to show that tax payers are getting hosed by these elected officials.”

Jessica Jester, San Antonio, TX
“I think the President of the TPSA is doing a great job in utilizing this situation to best work to our advantage. She has presented to the County Commissioners, has been in contact with the Sheriff's Department in Dallas County (who is essentially being told that it's going to be their responsibility to pick up the slack for these constables) and offered the association's experience and expertise in hopes that the Sheriffs will help encourage the county to use private process servers for these services in the future.”

“The Process Servers up in Dallas are fighting a good fight at convincing Dallas County that using private process servers can save the whole county money in the long run and get the job done correctly the first time! If they are successful, I think this will trickle into other larger counties and eventually we will all certainly obtain more services.”

“In the meantime, the TPSA has been working on presentations to the Paralegals Associations informing them that we can handle these services for them directly and they can bypass all of the chaos with the sheriffs and constables if they choose to do so, by contacting local process servers directly who will pick up their services directly from the courts and file the returns back with ease.”

“With the recent passing of our legislative bill to fund the Process Server's Certification Program in the State of Texas and the extensive efforts pushed toward providing a standardized training program for all State Certified Process Servers to have completed, I think that process servers in Texas are on the right track to gaining more professional respect from the courts and will, in turn, gain more business. Hopefully this business in Dallas County will only further prove what we've known all along; we can, will, and want to do the job better :)”

Ron Fee, Tampa, FL
“Here in Florida some of the Sheriffs have just come out and said that they will no longer serve non-enforceable papers. This has resulted in a sizable increase in my business. I am receiving at least three calls a week with private citizens enquiring about service of their papers. I think that it is saving the Sheriff's quite a bit of money in their budget. I don't know how many Process Servers the Sheriff here in Pasco Co. was using, but even if it were just two or three think of the saving in paying personnel, cost of running a vehicle six (no serving papers in Florida on Sunday) days a week. Anyway, it has helped me out a lot.”

Tony Snesko, Washington, D.C.
“This is a prime example of why private industry can do most things (other than law enforcement and the military) better than government. This is why the process serving business came to be.”

Want to share your opinion on this subject? Join in the conversation in the LinkedIn and Yahoo process server groups today.

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7 Holiday Marketing Ideas for Process Servers

2011-11-01T08:00:00-06:00

The holiday season presents a great opportunity for process servers to connect with their clients on a different level than other times of the year. The holidays are generally a period where goodwill and expressions of thanks are abundant, and any gestures you make are likely to be received in good spirits.

To help you market your process serving firm this holiday season and set the stage for increased business in 2012, ServeNow put together this list of easy and cheap (or free) holiday marketing ideas.

1. Give away gift cards
Gift cards are great because they make things easy for the gift giver and the recipient. You can distribute gift cards as holiday presents for current clients or as incentives for potential clients, and it allows them to either treat themselves or to use the cards as gifts for loved ones.

2. Send holiday greetings
This is a perfect time to remind your clients that you are thinking of them and appreciate their business. You can send out holiday e-mails, postcards, e-cards or other messages, but just remember that you might not want to mention specific holidays if you don’t know which ones your clients celebrate.

3. Use social media
Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn are all highly useful social media platforms for holiday greetings. Using any of these sites, you can send out quick but friendly messages to your professional network.

4. Write holiday blog posts
If you haven’t started a process server blog yet, now is a good time to start. You can create holiday-themed blog posts and let everyone know what your process serving firm is up to during the season. Feel free to include photos of you and your co-workers at the annual ugly sweater party.

5. Volunteer
Volunteering for a food drive, homeless shelter, or other organization helps your community and gets your firm’s name out there. Volunteering is also great material for a blog post.

6. Donate to charity
You can run a holiday-season promotion where you let clients know that a certain portion of their fees will go toward a charity. This gesture gives clients a heartwarming feeling and helps the charity of your choice in the process. You can also run a community food or toy drive, which is a great way to give back to the community.

7. Decorate your company with a new website
Our final holiday marketing tip involves you giving a gift to your process serving firm: a new website. A cornerstone of your marketing campaign throughout the year should be a strong website that attracts new clients. Visit our selection of process server websites to find the one that will have people flocking to use your services.

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Process Server LinkedIn Tip: How to Add a Video to Your Profile

2011-11-01T07:00:00-06:00

Process servers can liven up their LinkedIn profiles by adding a video that showcases their process serving firm. A video gives prospective clients a more visually stimulating description of your services than they would get from a typical text-heavy profile. To add this element to your LinkedIn profile, just follow the simple steps below.

1. Create a video for your process serving firm that highlights your services and company culture, and that lends personality to your company. You can even include a testimonial in the video, as well as a call to action at the end encouraging people to contact you. The video doesn't have to be long, and it is actually better if it is three minutes or less.

2. Upload the video to YouTube. After the video is on YouTube, you will get a link (URL) to the video that you will use in the following steps.

3. Log in to your company profile on LinkedIn (or create a company page if you haven't already). Once logged in, head to the "Products & Services" tab.

4. You will see a box labeled "Add a product or service." Click on this box.

5. Scroll down the page until you see "Step 10. Add a YouTube video about this product or service." Add a title for your video here, which you can optimize for search engines by including keywords such as "Los Angeles process server."

6. Below that area is "Step 11. Add your YouTube video URL." This is where you will paste the URL from the YouTube video you created earlier. You also have the opportunity to optimize the description of the video by using keywords.

So there you have it! In just a few easy steps, you can give your LinkedIn profile an extra boost that may catch the eyes of potential clients.

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Servetober Wrapup - Prize Winners & Process Server Playlist

2011-11-01T00:00:00-06:00

Process servers who participated in Servetober - a monthlong series of contests sponsored by ServeNow - had a great time and shared some hilarious stories with everyone on ServeNow’s Facebook Fan Page. Thanks to everyone who joined in the fun and made it a month to remember.

Midway through the contest we gave you a Servetober Week 1 update, and shared memorable process server stories and innovative skip tracing methods, and now it’s time to wrap things up and let you know who the prize winners were.

Grand Prize Winner
Laura Mager Null, of Virginia, was the winner of a brand-new process server website from ServeNow. Null was chosen randomly from all the participants who entered the contest in November. Her new professionally designed website will give her another way to market and grow her business. The image at right is just one of the many designs she can choose from when she claims her prize, and we'll be posting a link to her site once it's live.

Gift Card Winners
Several other contest participants won Starbucks or iTunes gift cards for sharing funny process serving stories, entering photo caption contests, and helping to create a process server playlist (more on that below). Here are the gift card winners from weeks 2-4 of Servetober:

Sandra Kozero
Jeanne Menge Kosta
Deborah Colleen Rose
Betsy Burroughs
Segovia Assoc.
Process Plus Legal Services, LLC
Keith David
Annette Arriera
Owen Youngblood
Bob Perry

Process Server Playlist
In the third week of Servetober, and with $5 iTunes gift cards to give away, we asked process servers on Facebook to help us create a process server playlist, and our fans definitely have eclectic taste. Whether your anthem is The Police singing, "Every breath you take, every move you make, I'll be watching you," or you think Magnum P.I. stole your theme song, or even if you, like the Baha Men, wonder "Who let the dogs out?" there's something on the list for everyone. Here’s our top 20 of what our fans recommend, followed by a YouTube compilation video with all of the songs:

Gotta Serve Somebody - Bob Dylan
One Way or Another - Blondie
You’ve Got Another Thing Coming - Judas Priest
Can’t You Hear Me Knocking - Rolling Stones
Who Let the Dogs Out - Baha Men
On the Road Again - Canned Heat
Every Breath You Take - The Police
You’re the One that I Want - Olivia Newton-John & John Travolta
Runnin’ Down a Dream - Tom Petty
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap - AC/DC
Wanted Dead or Alive - Bon Jovi
Just a Job to Do - Genesis
Gonna Fly Now - Bill Conti
Bad Company - Five Finger Death Punch
Another One Bites the Dust - Queen
I Hear You Knocking (But You Can’t Come In) - Dave Edmunds
Ridin’ Dirty - Chamillionaire
Thug Story - Taylor Swift
Seek and Destroy - Metallica
Magnum P.I. Theme Song

Note: Click on the small, rectangular icon that pops up at the bottom of the video to navigate through the songs.

Do you have a particular song that gets you pumped up for process serving, or that simply reminds you of the profession? You can still post your suggestion, or even the full music video on the ServeNow.com Facebook Fanpage.

Caption Contest
In the fourth and final week of Servetober, we posted photos of the ServeNow staff at their best, with the addition of some thought bubbles. We had some great responses, and one fan may have even developed a little crush on one of the members of our tech team. Check out some of our favorite captions, although with all the great entries it was hard to choose just one.

Keep the Fun Going
The ServeNow Facebook Fan Page is always alive with fun and informative posts. If you enjoyed Servetober, then let us know what you would like to see on our Facebook page next. Join in the conversation today and be sure to Like the ServeNow page!

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Considerations for Process Servers When Serving Papers in Apartment Buildings

2011-10-18T09:00:00-06:00

Editor’s note: Laws vary between states, so be sure to know your local laws that affect service of process. This article is intended to offer general information about serving papers in apartment buildings, and highlight some specific situations that require a tactful approach.

At some point, every process server has encountered the dreaded apartment building in which he or she must attempt to serve papers. These trepidation-inducing dwellings can be guarded or not, can be gated or not, and can be inhabited by “I don’t want to get involved” neighbors who are less than willing to help. These neighbors are often uncooperative regardless of the overt anonymity bestowed upon them when requested to confirm whether the defendant resides in the building, or to simply push a button and grant the server entrance into their self-proclaimed fortress of solitude which is not to be breached by any stranger regardless of whether proper ID is shown or not.

Compounding the problem is that there is much variance among jurisdictions that dictate whether certain tactics are appropriate and allowable. Therefore, it is critical to examine a particular jurisdiction’s statutes and rules of law to determine the liberties that can be taken by a process server in effecting service in complicated matters such as in an apartment building.

What do the laws say?
Service of process must achieve the goal of apprising interested parties that a lawsuit is pending and that they are defendants in the action. The service itself functions to give said parties an opportunity to be heard. Accordingly, service must be reasonable with respect to the totality of circumstances. For example, in Greene v. Lindsey, 456 U.S. 444 (1982), the Court held that service left on the front door of an apartment building wherein a number of children reside is insufficient because of the increased possibility that a child may remove the papers, thus removing the required notice for the service to be legal. Therefore, where posting the papers on a door may suffice in some situations, it is the totality of circumstances that must be considered.

Personal service is understood as delivering the court documents directly to the intended party. However, in some circumstances and pursuant to certain state laws, personal service can also be achieved via speaking through a closed door or covered window as well as via a speaker phone in an apartment building. Again, it is important to ensure that such forms of quasi-personal service are statutorily acceptable. In some jurisdictions it is legal to enter a secure apartment building if permission is given by someone who resides within. Therefore, simply asking a leaving resident or buzzing another resident’s apartment to gain entry into the building may be quite effective. As mentioned, though, far too often these “neighbors” aren’t so neighborly. Nevertheless, it is always worth a shot. Press the buttons and hope someone doesn’t care enough to ask who it is or hope that a simple “I’m a process server who needs to serve a resident in this building” will suffice. It probably wouldn’t hurt to add a “… and it’s not you, so don’t worry” if this is the case. Of course, if the intended party responds to the buzzer and asks who is being served, hopefully a nicely stated “none of your business” will do.

Service on an apartment building doorman varies depending upon jurisdiction as well. In California, in Bein v. Brechtel-Jochim Group, Inc., 6 Cal. App.4th 1387 (1992), the court held that the doorman must be “considered a competent member of the household” and apparently in charge (Fn. 4). Because the doorman is authorized to control access to the building to both residents and visitors, the court assumed a valid relationship between the parties who rendered service of process upon the doorman legal. Similarly, in Bossuk v. Steinberg, 88 A.D.2d 358 (1982), while defendants may control whether doormen may accept mail or packages they may not negate legal service of process.

California and Washington are the only states that offer limited exemptions or affirmative defenses against trespassing. In other words, in areas that are access-controlled, process servers in these jurisdictions are permitted to enter private property for a reasonable period of time to attempt service. Further, a doorman is required to grant access to a server, although there is nothing in the law that forbids forewarning the resident of the impending service. If access is refused, then asking the doorman whether he would rather be served himself rather than granting access can motivate him to grant the server access.

A little more clarity is given in DuPont et al. v. Chen, 41 N.Y.2d 794 (1977), in which the court set forth specific criteria as to when service on a doorman is legal if visitors are not permitted without permission from a building resident. The court stated that in order to determine the effectiveness of service in this situation it is necessary to look at whether the server determined with the doorman that the defendant actually lives in the building, whether the server attempted to leave notes for the defendant to contact him or her, and whether the doorman notified the server that the defendant picked up these notes. If these conditions are satisfied—thus demonstrating that the server made good-faith efforts to determine that the defendant resided in the building and enlisted the doorman’s help in contacting the defendant—then leaving the papers with the doorman was held to be valid (in New York).

In addition to examining various jurisdictions’ laws it is also highly recommended to research case law as well for more direction.

More tips for serving papers in an apartment building
Other process servers provide a wealth of information on dealing with difficult service in apartment buildings. Some tips include:

Asking the mailman for entry after verifying that the defendant is receiving mail at the address.
Asking the leasing office, caretaker, janitor, or manager for access.
Locating the defendant’s vehicle (if known) and waiting for him/her to leave.
If the defendant is home but refuses to answer the door, it may be permissible to inform him/her that the papers have been left at the door. Taking a picture for corroboration is a good idea as well.

In summary, it is critical to understand state laws, research case law, and enlist the aid of other process servers for tips and tricks.

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Servetober Week 1 Highlights: Served a Dead Man, Slapped by Sharon Osbourne

2011-10-18T00:00:00-06:00

Week one of Servetober has come to a close and congratulations are in order for our first set of winners: Kyle Jones, Michael Wehmeyer, Shirley R. Stevens, Jesse Acosta, and Central Legal Service, who will each receive a $5 gift card to Starbucks.

Servetober is our monthlong contest taking place on the official ServeNow.com Facebook Fanpage. We still have three weeks and 20 more $5 gifts cards plus a grand prize valued at over $600 to give away, so be sure to Like our fanpage and participate in the contest!

This week we asked you a few questions, and we have to admit, there were some interesting responses.

What’s the best or worst advice you’ve ever been given as a process server?
“Get off my land or I’ll kill you! Good advice as I’m still here!” received 4 votes, as did, “You can’t serve me at work. It’s against the law and it’s harassment.” But there are plenty of laughs to go around with other responses like, “It doesn’t count because you didn’t say ‘you’ve been served,’” “I’m his twin brother,” and our personal favorite, “You can’t serve me, you need a search warrant.”

What’s the weirdest way you’ve ever traced someone down?
Fourteen votes made Facebook the clear winner of this question, but we had some other innovative methods. Responses included “Gave the grandma a facial--she blabbed,” “Pretended to be Student at a college who needed help with a project,” and “Staked out in the x-wife’s house to serve the husband.” One man even used genealogy to find the relatives of someone who had not seen his mother in almost 50 years!

What’s the craziest thing that’s happened to you on a serve?
There was no shortage of crazy stories from serves. Movie directors, senators, and rock stars were served, and one process server even got slapped in the face by Sharon Osbourne and pushed by Ozzy himself! There’s been some service of the unconscious, including a man in a coma and even one in a coffin. One server had a live chicken thrown at his head, another had a lobster flung at him by the waiter he served at the Red Lobster, and another was asked on a date by the woman he was serving divorce papers to. There’s also a great story about a process server who saved a man’s house from a fire, then shook his hand and served him papers. With so many great stories we just can’t pick a favorite!

We were only halfway through the first week of Servetober when we hit 500 fans, so a special thanks to all of our new fans! And don’t forget about that grand prize, the free Lawgical website with services included for one year. The grand prize winner will choose a templated website with many color and image options to showcase their skills, services, and experience. The website will include an about us section, services page, contact page, payments, and more. Learn more about Lawgical process server websites.

The contest is still running, don’t forget to head to the ServeNow.com Facebook Fanpage and enter for your chance to win!

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5 Reasons You Should Want to Win a Process Server Website

2011-10-17T06:00:00-06:00

There’s been a lot of buzz about the Servetober grand prize, but why should you be excited about it? The grand prize winner of Servetober, our monthlong Facebook contest, will receive a free Lawgical website with services included for one year. So what exactly is the excitement all about?

1. The cost
Our grand prize winner will receive a free, professionally designed website valued at over $600. Whether you’ve been thinking about updating your existing website, expanding, or are ready to set up your first one, it’s the most cost-effective way to get a new website up and running. And, of course, there’s the added thrill of winning!

2. The style
With a variety of templated sites to choose from, Lawgical websites not only look professional but also offer many color and image options to help you personalize your site in order to showcase your company’s professional style. To view the existing designs you can choose from, check out our process server websites.

3. Professionally designed websites have their advantages
Having your website designed by a professional not only alleviates the headache of designing your own but it also ensures that your site is designed with efficiency in mind. Aiming to satisfy both visual and technical needs, Lawgical websites are designed to ensure that people who are searching for process servers in your area have the best chance at finding your website.

4. Features
Lawgical websites include many features and multiple pages. The about us section will allow you to provide information about your company and experiences, while your services page can be a place to showcase your areas of expertise and what types of services you provide. You can link to your social media pages, provide contact information, and even offer payment options. For more details about features, read our article on Lawgical Sites.

5. Entering to win is easy and fun
All you have to do to enter is participate in the weekly contests and interact with other process servers. Not only are you entering to win a grand prize, but you will also be entered to win multiple weekly prizes. And it’s a great opportunity to connect with other process servers and share your craziest stories and experiences and even your favorite process server theme song.

By participating in Servetober, you’ll get a chance to meet other industry professionals and maybe even remind yourself why you love being a process server, all while entering to win multiple weekly prizes and that Lawgical website grand prize. So don’t forget to Like the ServeNow.com Facebook Fanpage and participate for your chance to win!

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Process Servers Can Win a New Website During Servetober

2011-10-06T08:30:00-06:00

ServeNow is hosting Servetober, a contest on our Facebook Fanpage for the entire month of October! There will be weekly drawings, and at the end of the month a grand prize winner will be selected, but mostly it will be a lot of fun.

What is the contest?

Every Monday we will release the week’s contest, and all you have to do to enter is participate. We’ll be asking questions, looking for submissions, and asking you to share some of your experiences. So conjure up some of your best serve memories, dust off your camera lenses, and pay close attention to what’s in your CD player, because you never know what will come in handy.

Prizes

Each week, five randomly selected winners will receive a $5 gift card to Starbucks, except for a surprise week when we’ll be giving away iTunes gift cards for the same amount. On the final day of the contest, five more winners will receive gift cards and we will select a grand prize winner. Did we mention the grand prize is a free process server website for one year? That’s a value of over $600.

How do I enter?

To enter the contest, visit the ServeNow.com Facebook Fanpage and participate in the weekly contests. Every time you comment, like a post, participate in a question or post a submission you will be entered into that week’s drawing as well as the grand prize drawing. There is no limit to the amount of times you can enter, and if you participate in the Grand Prize Day contest your name will be entered twice for each submission you make. If you win, we’ll get in touch with you and get you your prize. Winners must respond within 72 business hours or a new winner will be selected.

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Boston Process Server Tom Cabral Angers Red Sox Fans, Gets the Job Done

2011-10-06T07:00:00-06:00

When Boston process server Tom Cabral received an assignment from a client in Kentucky, he never guessed that within 24 hours he’d be a sworn enemy to thousands of Red Sox fans. His assignment was to serve child support papers to Red Sox player Erik Bedard, who just happened to be the starting pitcher in the Yankees-Orioles game the following night.

Cabral said when he opened the documents he was supposed to serve, he was momentarily surprised.

“When I saw Erik Bedard’s name and the address at Fenway Park, I was a little shocked because he was the starting pitcher. But a job is a job,” Cabral said.

And it was just a job until things got a little weird. We’ll give you the play-by-play below.

The Serve
The Red Sox requested that Cabral wait until after the game to serve Bedard, but there was a need for urgency that couldn’t be ignored. Bedard is a Canadian citizen, and Cabral’s client was concerned that Bedard would head back to Canada after the game. This, added to the fact that Bedard’s ex-flame had been unsuccessfully trying to serve him for quite a while because he resides in Canada, meant that there wasn’t time to waste.

The serve went smoothly before the game, and the Red Sox organization even helped him do his job by contacting Bedard and arranging for a meeting at Fenway Park’s player parking garage. According to Cabral, Bedard was very pleasant while being served, and Cabral told him, “I’m not trying to bust your chops. I’m a Yankees fan but just trying to do my job.” Bedard signed the papers, thanked Cabral and that was it. Mission accomplished.

It was the media’s onslaught right after he completed the serve that caught Cabral off-guard.

The Media Frenzy
Reporters began to crowd Cabral and ask him about serving papers to Bedard, and then they noticed his Yankees shirt. That’s when the backlash from the media and Red Sox fans began to snowball.

“They asked, ‘You’re wearing a Yankees shirt?’” Cabral said. “I said I always wear a Yankees shirt. One report said I walked in with an entire Yankees uniform. They (Red Sox fans) were incensed by that,” Cabral said.

Bedard struggled in his appearance on the mound that night, leading some Boston fans to blame Cabral for distracting the pitcher before the game. Sports bloggers picked up where the newspapers had left off, and the story grew even larger when someone allegedly hacked Cabral’s Facebook page and saw that he had shared messages that people perceived as “bragging” about the serve.

Cabral said he once served a New England Patriots player while wearing a New York Giants jersey, but the player thought it was funny and it garnered no media attention. Not so in this case, where a simple process serving assignment was now national news.

The Reactions
According to Cabral, the reactions from people about the situation have varied quite a bit - some good and some on the mean side.

“To be honest with you, I get a lot of nasty emails from Red Sox fans. A Yankees site named me fan of the year. I’ve had three or four attorneys call and say they’d be sending me papers to serve,” Cabral said.

He said his fellow process servers have empathized with him, and many people in the process serving community have given him pats on the back for getting the job done. Despite the support from his process serving peers, Cabral said he is well aware that he hasn’t made any friends within the Boston sports community.

“The people on the outside who don’t understand and Red Sox fans - I’m not getting any Christmas cards from them this year,” he said.

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Illinois Process Servers Set to Hold Inaugural Conference

2011-10-06T06:30:00-06:00

Process servers are usually not naturally inclined to open up to each other and talk business. Daniel Schroeder, president of the Illinois Association of Professional Process Servers (ILAPPS), thinks it's because they fear giving up secrets or losing clients. Now that he has helped to start the fledgling ILAPPS organization, Schroeder said it is time to change that line of thinking for the state's process servers.

The association's first chance to attempt to unite llinois process servers comes on Oct. 15, when ILAPPS will hold its inaugural conference. Schroeder said he aims to have the conference act as a place to build trust and unity.

"It's hard to get people to agree on anything, especially in this profession," Schroeder said. "What I've been wanting to do is get folks to have a civil debate and agree that we can do some good for our profession."

In addition to promoting cooperation between servers, Schroeder hopes the conference will eventually lead to every process server in the state joining ILAPPS. It's a lofty goal considering he estimates there are at least 3,000 servers in the state, but it's one that he feels strongly about.

Conference details

During the day at the conference, members will take care of association business. The evening's activities are when members will have the chance to let loose and do some real networking, Schroeder said.

An early cocktail hour will precede a gourmet dinner where keynote speaker John Perez - who was instrumental in helping ILAPPS get off the ground - will address the crowd. And finally, the association will hold its elections to decide who sits on the board.

One important topic of discussion throughout the event will be the crucial legislation recently passed in Illlinois to protect process servers from trespassing charges and increase penalties for assault or battery on a process server.

While Schroeder doesn't yet know what his future holds for board elections, he said this conference has been well worth the wait.

"There were times I didn't think we'd ever get to this point. It's been a long road," he said. "It's a great feeling win, lose or draw as far as the election goes - it's been a very satisfying thing to do."

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CALSPro Shows Off New Website During Conference

2011-10-06T06:18:00-06:00

CALSPro debuted its new website during the association’s 43rd annual conference held at the end of September in Reno, Nevada. According to CALSPro president Chad Barger, the positive feedback he has received so far indicates that the project is a major success.

“I think everyone at the conference was extremely impressed with the website and how it works,” Barger said. “The way that the content and resources are laid out on the page makes it very user-friendly so anyone can find what they're looking for.”

The new CALSPro website, built by ServeNow through close collaboration with CALSPro, gives the association a highly improved platform to grow and become more visible within the legal community. It was designed to be search engine-friendly and user-friendly, and it was customized to fill CALSPro's specific needs. Barger listed some of the ways that the website will help to further the association’s goals:

Revenue
“Through the new sponsorship opportunities on the website we have created a new revenue stream for CALSPro. Soon we will get an e-commerce section set up so people can pay over the internet.”

Member marketing
“I'm expecting it to draw the legal community to our site in order to find or use our members. It’s a powerful tool to connect the legal community with our members.”

Communication within the association
“We expect to make communication much faster and effective with our members through the website. The events section and blog allow us to share regular updates about current events.”

Education for the process serving industry
“The new site is a great resource for the legal support profession in terms of education and legislation.”

Working with ServeNow provided CALSPro with its ideal website in time for the big unveiling at its conference, and Barger said the entire experience has paid big dividends already.

“The experience of working with ServeNow has been excellent. They were able to provide us with more than what we had even imagined,” Barger said.

Become a ServeNow partner

ServeNow has been helping process servers get more clients and increase revenue for years, and our knowledge and resources are readily available to associations. For another example of our partnership with an association, check out the Process Servers Association of Colorado website that ServeNow created for the association.

If your process server association could use a new website or marketing advice, contact us at info@servenow.com or (877) 737-8366 to discuss how we can help.

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