Process servers have the vital role of ensuring the smooth functioning of the legal system. Here at Accurate Serve® of Dallas, our process servers work diligently to serve legal documents promptly and efficiently, making sure that individuals are properly notified of court and other legal proceedings that involve them. There are many challenges in this line of work, requiring adaptability and expertise. In this post, we’ll discuss some of the common challenges that process servers in Texas face and how we find ways to resolve them.
Elusive Recipients
The most frequent challenge we see here in Dallas, and all over Texas, is having to serve an individual who is actively avoiding service. People will try almost anything to get a process server off their tail, from giving false info to moving around frequently to falling completely off the map. By using advanced investigative skills, collaboration with our network of professionals, and a bit of intuition, we can track down almost anyone in Texas. If our standard process service efforts don’t locate the process recipient, we can also use skip tracing and diligent search techniques to pull up more info on the person and their associates.
Strict Deadlines
Just like any other state, Texas’ legal system is bound by strict deadlines. Not meeting these tight turnaround times can derail an entire case. Dealing with evasive process recipients or other service challenges can make meeting these deadlines difficult, but working with a reliable process server can increase the likelihood that the documents will be served on time.
Confrontational Situations
Some people are so upset by receiving legal documents that they lash out, usually at the process server delivering the documents. From yelling to pushing and shoving to full-blown assault, process servers have to deal with these situations calmly and professionally. By using de-escalation techniques, these tense situations can usually be diffused. Unfortunately, there are isolated incidents where aggression toward a process server has turned fatal.
Adapting to Evolving Technology
The advancement of technology is probably the most recent challenge to hit the process service industry. Social media and electronic records provide an easy and convenient repository of information about almost anyone, but for the official delivery of legal documents, there are some significant concerns. Verifying a person’s identity via online platforms is difficult and can run the risk of not meeting lawful standards. However, just because online service of process isn’t yet on the table doesn’t mean that other technological advancements can’t be leveraged. For example, at Accurate Serve, we use an online customer portal to store data and communicate the status of service with our clients, keeping them in the know 24/7. Other technology that has proven to be useful in process serving includes body cams and GPS trackers.
Unfamiliar Environments
Texas presents a unique combination of sprawling urban cities dotted among vast stretches of rural land. Each of these environments presents its own challenges. It’s easy to lose someone in highly-populated areas, where there’s people coming and going at all hours of the day and night. It’s also easy to overlook someone out in no man’s land, where you may drive miles and miles without seeing a single home. A process server that can adapt to these unfamiliar environments and still locate their target is essential.
Work with Accurate Serve® of Dallas
At Accurate Serve of Dallas, we understand and overcome these common challenges for Texas process servers. Don’t risk the outcome of your case on an inexperienced server…contact us today to start working with Dallas’ premier process service agency. We also offer document retrieval, skip tracing, and diligent search services as additional support for your legal case. Call us today at 469-225-0451 or send us a work request online.
