Just Take the Papers

I know this post seems counter-intuitive, since most of my business comes from individuals who do not take the papers, but in all cases, cooperation is key in legal battles.

I have to give credit to the vast majority of people I deal with who do take the papers I serve them. Most people take the papers, don’t say a word to me, and we both go our separate ways. About 2% of people I serve do not just take the papers, they choose to cause issues.

The biggest issue I face in process serving is people actively avoiding being served papers. I have encountered this a few times, and it’s always frustrating. I question why this even happens because it helps no one. Not only does it hinder me in my job, but it hinders the person avoiding service. By not taking the papers, they are out of the loop when it comes to important legal proceedings. I know that the person knows this, and they want to be out of the loop, but this will come back to bite them in the courthouse. Not only is it wasting my time, but the papers will be served eventually. If I don’t, a sheriff will, and I’ve asked sheriffs what they think about serving papers, and they despise it.

Another issue in serving process is when they create issues at the door. I’ve had people call the police, scream, threaten, attempt to follow me in their car, and it’s all pointless. Once you get the papers, it’s over. I’m not in cahoots with your ex husband, I don’t know him, so stop asking me to give him a message.

Cooperation is key. This rings true for many things in life, and legal proceedings are an important one. All the papers do is tell the person what’s happening and that they have to be a part of it. That’s all. If they just take the papers, it makes everything easier. It gives them time to prepare and reconcile their complex feelings about the situation.

In all cases, whether it be family law related, an eviction, or a notice to appear as a witness, it’s easier to just take the papers.