If you need to serve court documents to an individual or business, then you might have decided to use a process serving company. These companies can serve documents on your behalf, saving you time and unnecessary stress.

Before you choose a process server, make sure that the company can do the job you need. To get started, ask the following questions.

1. How Quickly Can They Serve Your Documents?

While some legal cases aren't urgent, you should serve your papers as soon as you can. This helps you get ahead of the game if the person you're serving is hard to pin down. If you need to serve papers quickly, then you need to find a process server that can move at the right speed.

Most process servers move quickly. However, if you're in a real rush, then look for companies that offer a 24 or 48-hour average turnaround. These companies give some response guarantees and have a track record of quick service. They should be able to help you meet your deadline.

2. What Do They Do if They Can't Locate the Plaintiff?

People often use process servers because they can't locate the people or businesses to which they need to serve papers. Sometimes, the serving company discovers that a plaintiff is going to be hard to locate once they start their search for them.

In either case, you need to partner with a company that has the skills and experience to locate the individual you want to serve papers to if they prove hard to find. For example, a serving company should understand how to do basic electoral roll and social media searches. Some also offer a full range of private investigative and surveillance services for people who really go under the radar.

3. Can They Serve Papers in Other States?

States don't all share the same process serving laws and rules. If there is a chance that you will need to serve papers in another state, then you have to ensure that they are served according to local regulations.

Look for process serving agencies that can work on a country-wide basis. Typically, this means that a company local to you will be part of a network of process servers all over Australia. Your process server can then use a licensed service in the relevant state if they need to.

To get the fastest and most comprehensive service, start by contacting 24-hour country process serving professionals.