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Procedure library
Each article is prepared with input from On-Call Legal’s operations team and reviewed by a California attorney for procedural accuracy, legal clarity, and alignment with current California rules.
125 articles Reviewed by David Mike Azema, Esq., California State Bar #223950
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Process Servers Can a Subpoena be Served by Mail? Obligations & Guidelines Typically, the answer is no. A California subpoena generally must be personally served, so you cannot drop it in the mail to a witness or records custodian and call the job done.… Attorney-reviewed -
Process Servers Can Someone Else Accept Served Papers in California? Yes, someone else can accept served papers in California, but only when the rules for substituted service are met. Under California Code of Civil Procedure §415.20, a competent… Attorney-reviewed -
Process Servers Can an Attorney Accept Service for a Client? Yes, a California attorney can accept service of the summons and complaint for a client, but only if the client has actually authorized the attorney to receive it or the attorney… Attorney-reviewed -
Process Servers Do Legal Couriers Call Before Serving? No law requires a legal courier or process server to call before serving legal documents. Most legitimate process servers do not call ahead, because advance notice lets people… Attorney-reviewed -
Process Servers When Can a Process Server Legally Serve You in California? Service of process is a legal procedure in which legal documents are delivered to a party to a case to notify them of a lawsuit or legal action against them. For this process to be… Attorney-reviewed -
Process Servers How Many Attempts Does a Process Server Make? Most process servers make at least three attempts to serve someone, at different times of day and on different days, before a court will consider other options. There is no single… Attorney-reviewed -
Process Servers Do Process Servers Call You? What You Need to Know Yes, a process server can call you, but usually only to confirm your identity or arrange a time to deliver documents in person. A phone call by itself is not a legal service, and a… Attorney-reviewed -
Process Servers How Do I Know if a Process Server Is Legitimate? The simplest way to know if a process server is legitimate is to ask for state-issued credentials, confirm the case number with the court clerk’s office, and verify with the law… Attorney-reviewed -
Process Servers How Much Does A Process Server Cost in California? The cost of hiring a process server in California for legal document services typically ranges from about $40 to $200 per service, with most standard services falling between $50… Attorney-reviewed -
Process Servers How to Subpoena Medical Records in California To subpoena medical records in California, you need a valid subpoena duces tecum, written notice to the patient under Code of Civil Procedure § 1985.3, compliance with the HIPAA… Attorney-reviewed -
Process Servers What Is a Waiver of Service of Process? When a defendant signs a waiver of service of process, they are agreeing to waive formal service of legal documents and receive notice of the lawsuit. Instead of employing a… Attorney-reviewed -
Process Servers Out-of-State Subpoena in California A subpoena issued by a court in another state cannot simply be served in California. It has to be domesticated first: the out-of-state subpoena is presented to the California… Attorney-reviewed -
Process Servers Can I Ignore an Out-Of-State Subpoena? No, you cannot ignore a subpoena from another state, because doing so can lead to serious legal consequences, including contempt of court, fines, or even arrest warrants. Once an… Attorney-reviewed -
Process Servers Process Server Tricks of the Trade Process server tricks are legal, strategic techniques used by a process server to deliver court documents efficiently, verify the correct person served, and ensure the legal… Attorney-reviewed -
Process Servers California Subpoena Service Rules California subpoena service rules outline how a subpoena must be prepared, delivered, and documented to be legally valid in a civil action or court proceeding. These rules govern… Attorney-reviewed -
Process Servers Court Papers Served Incorrectly | What to Do Next Court papers served incorrectly can delay your case, weaken your legal position, or even lead to dismissal if not addressed quickly. When legal documents are not delivered… Attorney-reviewed -
Process Servers How Much Does a Private Investigator Cost? In most cases, private investigators charge between $50 and $200 per hour, while total investigation costs can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand, depending on… Attorney-reviewed -
Process Servers Improper Service of Process Improper service of process occurs when court papers or legal documents are not delivered in accordance with the rules set by law, which can invalidate the service and affect the… Attorney-reviewed -
Process Servers How Much Does It Cost to Subpoena Someone? On average, the cost to subpoena someone in the United States ranges from $50 to $300. It depends on some factors such as the method of service, travel distance, and witness fees.… Attorney-reviewed -
Private Investigators How Much Does a Private Investigator Cost Private investigators in the United States generally charge between $75 and $200 an hour, with the most experienced charging above that and some work quoted as a flat fee instead.… Attorney-reviewed