Most people who find themselves going to court are not aware of the rules and laws about process service. As such, it can be difficult to know the best way to get your papers served. While you can choose to have the sheriff serve the papers, this is not always the most timely way to have it done. You can also hire a private process server, but some companies are actually paper brokers. These companies are not easily identified by the layperson, so it is important to know what to look for.
What is a Paper Broker?
A paper broker is a company that takes on papers to be served, then farms them out to independent contractors. Because the person actually serving your papers is not an employee of the company, there is very little oversight. Independent contractors may not be fully trained and educated in the law. They may also engage in gutter serves (throwing papers away and saying they were delivered), and other illegal activity.
The best way to know if you are working with a paper broker or not is to ask who will be actually serving your papers. Ask if it is an employee or independent contractor. Ask about how much training the process servers receive in their company. If you ask these questions and the company is honest, you should be able to tell if you are dealing with a paper broker.
Why You Should Avoid Them
There are a lot of reasons to avoid paper brokers. Because they do not directly supervise delivery of papers, there is no guarantee that your papers are actually being served to the individual that is required. Not having your papers served accurately or at all can greatly hinder your court case and have devastating implications.
If you have papers that need to be served and you are looking for a reliable process server, contact us today for more information or to get started.
