Service of process informs all parties in a legal action or lawsuit of the proceedings. This gives everyone the chance to respond to the legal action and have their time in court. Process service also provides solid evidence that the defendant or witness in a legal action has been given a chance to respond in court.

In Maryland and Virginia, process service can be carried out by anyone 18 years of age or older and who is not a party to the case. It is important to hire a local process server who can deliver your legal documents in a timely manner and within all local, state, and federal rules and regulations. If you need a process server in Washington DC, Virginia, or Maryland it is crucial to hire one who has the time to dedicate to your case. All of our process servers are professional, reliable, and diligent in everything they do. As a part of your service, we deliver status updates, prompt proof of service, and offer 24/7 availability.

We have years of experience working with a broad range of clients and industries. We are experienced in civil process serving, family law process serving, process serving for pro-se individuals, and process serving for law firms throughout Maryland, Virginia, and Washington DC. Our team serves all types of legal documents including summons, subpoenas, divorce documents, writs, complaints, garnishments, eviction notices, foreign subpoenas, and much more.

Yes, you can serve process with non-original documents in Maryland, Washington D.C., and Virginia. These jurisdictions allow for the use of accurate and complete copies instead of requiring original documents. This practice enhances efficiency, reduces costs, and improves accessibility. For detailed information on the specific laws and benefits, read our comprehensive article here.

Our fees for process serving in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC are affordable whether you need one paper served or hundreds. All fees include the necessary due diligence, affidavits of service, status updates, GPS and time-stamped attempt reports, and much more. We also offer skip tracing services to locate individuals in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC.

If you need a process server in Maryland, Virginia, or beyond, Freestate Investigations is the best choice. Our local servers cover busy cities such as Baltimore, Arlington, and Washington DC, as well as rural and less frequented areas such as St Mary’s, LaPlata, and the suburbs of Annapolis. We are members of the National Association of Professional Process Servers (NAPPS) and Mid-Atlantic Association of Professional Process Servers (MAAPPS) which provides us with a network of process servers who can get your papers served nationwide.

The timeline for serving legal documents can vary significantly. Routine service of process can take several weeks to complete all attempts, especially if the recipient is difficult to locate or the case is complex. However, for those needing expedited service, rush process serving is available, which typically results in attempts being made within a few days to a week after receiving the documents. Factors such as the recipient’s location, case complexity, and specific document requirements all influence the service timeline.

If the recipient is evasive or cannot be located, process servers use various methods like skip tracing to locate the person. If the person still cannot be served, the court may allow alternative methods of service, such as publication in a newspaper or posting at the last known address.

You will receive status updates via email from our office only for significant developments, such as when all attempts are made or when perfected service occurs. The timeframe for updates can be several weeks depending on the service speed requested. Please check your inbox regularly, including your spam or junk folders. If you haven’t received an update within the expected timeframe, feel free to reply to the confirmation email you received when you placed the order for a status check or contact our office for assistance. To ensure you receive our emails, add our address to your contacts or safe sender list.

An affidavit of service is a document provided by the process server after the documents are successfully served. It details the time, date, and manner of service and is filed with the court as proof of service.

When you hire Freestate Investigations, LLC, you are paying for the professional effort and multiple attempts to serve legal documents. Several factors can affect the successful delivery of process services, which include:

Incorrect or Insufficient Address Information: The address provided might be incorrect or outdated, making it challenging to locate the recipient.
Recipient Evasion: The person being served may actively avoid being served, making multiple attempts necessary.
Gated Communities or Secure Buildings: Gated communities or secure buildings can restrict access, hindering service attempts.
Work Schedules: The recipient’s work schedule might conflict with our service hours, necessitating multiple visits.
Relocations: The recipient might have recently moved without updating their address, making it difficult to find them.
Natural Disasters or Weather Conditions: Adverse weather conditions or natural disasters can delay or complicate the service process.
Recipient’s Travel: If the recipient is traveling or temporarily away, it can make serving the documents more complex.
Hostile Environment: Situations where the environment is hostile or dangerous can impede the service process.

To improve the likelihood of successful service, ensure that the information you provide is as accurate and detailed as possible. This includes:
Providing the most current address of the recipient: Verify and double-check the recipient’s address before submitting it to us. Include any additional information like apartment numbers, building names, or landmarks that can help our process servers locate the address more easily.
Giving detailed descriptions or photos of the recipient: Provide a clear, recent photograph of the recipient along with any distinguishing features or physical descriptions. This can include height, weight, hair color, tattoos, or other unique identifiers that can assist our process servers in identifying the correct individual.
Notifying us of any known schedules or patterns that might help us find the recipient: If you have information about the recipient’s daily routine, work schedule, or typical hangout spots, share these details with us. Knowing when and where the recipient is likely to be can significantly increase the chances of successful service.

Informing us of any known obstacles, such as gated communities or security measures: If the recipient lives in a gated community, secured building, or an area with restricted access, inform us in advance. Provide any necessary access codes, gate keys, or instructions on how to navigate these obstacles to ensure our process servers can reach the recipient.