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OKC Private Investigations & Process Server in Oklahoma

Process Serving

Process Serving

Process Serving

If you are in the legal field, you probably know all about a process server in Oklahoma that works at a private investigation agency in OKC. People who are outside the industry may have no idea what a he/she is. There are a lot of misconceptions about what a process server is and why someone might need one.

What does a process server do?

He/She is required to perform a variety of tasks, such as performing nationwide skip tracing services, providing nationwide legal document retrieval services, working as a notary public, etc. However, their primary function is to “serve” legal documents to defendants/respondents or others involved in court proceedings. Once he/she has served legal documents upon an individual, he/she also must provide proof that he/she served the documents.

Thus, they must submit what is called an affidavit of service/proof of service. They will hand document over to the notary public in OKC and the party whom the courts have required to submit the documents. Another thing you need to know is that the rules that apply to them can vary from one city to another and that they will have to deliver the paperwork correctly in a specific area.

Why are the services of a process server necessary?

They are important for several reasons. The main reason for them is to ensure that they serve as a neutral party that hand delivers the documents to one member of the party involved in the legal process. They serve as a “disinterested party” and thus has no reason to lie about whether they served the party.

Another good reason to consider them an important part of civil society is to ensure that a disinterested party, like they serve important legal documents in a timely, efficient, and appropriate manner. Why is this important? “All we can say is that if the process server in Oklahoma City, OK does not present the documents in a timely manner, the court will not be able to rule on an individual’s case, They must first make the person getting served aware of the court papers and make a response, before the judge can make any kind of a ruling.

If they do not get the court documents served to the party in a timely manner, then the judge will not be able to proceed with the case. Therefore, they must know all the rules about how to properly find and serve the defendant/respondent.

What documents does a process server at a private investigation agency in OKC serve?

Some common legal documents that they serve include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Claims statements
  • Subpoenas for Testifying in Court
  • Marital documents (i.e., Divorce Paperwork)
  • Summonses and Complaints
  • Victim Protection Orders (VPOs)
  • Contempt Citations
  • Writs of Prohibition & Writs of Mandamus
  • Small Claims Case Orders & Affidavits
  • Child Custody Case Lawsuits
  • General Lawsuit Papers (i.e., Car Accident Cases, Civil Rights Violations, Etc.)

Do you need a process server to help you?

Whether or not you need their services depends on your case, which ultimately depends on the laws that govern your case in your area. In more serious cases that often cost a lot of money or in cases where someone must receive assistance from an attorney to appear in court, they are an absolute necessity.

There are rules in every jurisdiction about how someone can receive court papers and if they must be the one to serve the individual. In general, they must present a summons and related documents to the defendant/respondent in person.

At times, such as when the court case originates out of a state like Oklahoma instead of a state like Texas, they may leave the court documents at the place of residence with anyone who lives there with the person and who is also over the age of fifteen-and-a-half (15 ½) years.

In other cases where the party getting served is willing, a plaintiff may serve process by certified mail, as in some small claims court proceedings where the business or company (i.e., a bank).  is sure to sign for them.

In exceptional cases, a judge may authorize other forms of service, including by publication when they cannot locate a person even with the use of nationwide skip tracing services.

Proper service initially establishes contact and communication regarding the initiation of the court proceedings against a person or individual. If the defendant ignores further pleas or fails to participate in the proceedings, then the court or administrative body may grant the plaintiff/petitioner a default judgment.

The service of the respondent residing in a country outside the jurisdiction of the court, if the recipient’s country is a signatory, should follow the special procedure laid down under the Hague Service Convention. In many South American countries and some other countries, defendant service letters are processed through a notary process. Where the whereabouts of a defendant are not known, the court usually allows the service by publishing in a newspaper instead of using an expert.

In the past, in many countries, people did not have the right to know that legal action was being taken against them. In some cases, the defendants only found out when a magistrate appeared with the sheriff and confiscated their property, sometimes putting them into the debtor’s prison until the defendant repaid the loan. The Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution prohibit federal and state governments from depriving any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law. They are, therefore “serving” the recipient with notice of her/his/their constitutional right to proper enforcement of the law.

In ancient times, the laws of the land considered service of a summons a royal act with serious consequences. It was a summons to come to King’s Court and respond to a demand for a loyal article. In ancient Persia, if a person failed to respond to a king’s summons, then the king often punished that person with death. Today, the penalty for ignoring a summons may be included in a pre-determined amount decision that the courts can enforce later.

Conclusions

Service of legal process by a process server from a private detective agency basically entails the process of legal documents that one party submits to the other by a “disinterested party” – them. By serving the party, you are informing her/him/them of the information you will present in court and give that person or company a chance to respond.

They must follow certain rules must be used when presenting court documents. These rules are found in the rules of a civil procedure – the Oklahoma Rules of Civil Procedure and the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The rules outline which parties will serve the documents, how the parties will serve the documents, how a party should serve special agencies, and the established timelines for serving the documents.

After they have served the legal documents, then they must provide affidavit of service/proof of service so the plaintiff can file it in court. Thosewho served the court papers should sign the affidavit of process service in front of a notary public in Oklahoma City.

He/ She is an individual who provides legal documents to a party. He/ She is responsible for ensuring that he/she properly serves the legal documents and that courts recognize the service as valid and legal.

Their job and duties are more than just delivering paperwork to the address. They need to be an equal part messengers and private investigators. A good official must be able to read people and analyze situations quickly and accurately while quickly and accurately serving documents.

Hiring one can be very beneficial for the party. Courts can prove themselves to be very intimidating, and sometimes, individuals may try to evade services by interfering with their service or even denying that he/she/they even served her/him/them at all. This evasion and/or denial by the party that they can prove to be very frustrating for both the process server from a private investigation agency in OKC and the person who hired one.

Some people may react unexpectedly or even maliciously while the agent is trying to serve them. While hiring one can start the beginning of a process that brings about an end to a bizarre situation or conflict, things can also turn deadly for a specialist.

Sometimes people will shoot at, sue, or even try to stalk them. Yes, they working at a private detective agency has a horribly tough job. Most of the times, however, they will have few if any problems, but when they do happen they can indeed face great peril and even death.

In addition to potential violence and death, the distance, time, and money that they spend trying to serve a party can make it difficult or impossible for them to serve the legal documents. High gasoline prices, car insurance, new brakes, frequent oil changes, process server bonds, licensing, advertising, staff salaries, and more can really make a process server’s salary become much smaller. ☹

If a party succeeds in her/his/their claim, she/he/they may be eligible to recover some of the costs incurred by hiring one in Oklahoma City. When hiring a professional, the person must provide the court with a detailed receipt or statement from him/her that states the amount she/he/they paid them to serve the legal documents.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who is a process server?

An individual is considered an “officer of the court” for the service of process only, who is engaged in presenting legal documents to a person drawn into a legal matter. In some states, he/she performs a variety of tasks, including but not limited to, the following:

  • Filing Court Documents
  • Performing Nationwide Document Retrieval Services
  • Conducting Nationwide Skip Tracing Services
  • Working as a Notary Public in OKC
  • Serving Court Papers
  • Conducting Private Investigations if Working as a Private Investigator

After serving the court papers, they must ensure that they provide proof that the documents were presented to the right person or appropriately sub-submitted – which is technically an oath of service.

How much does a process server in Oklahoma working at a private investigation agency cost?

The cost of hiring them depends on them and the private investigation agency they are working for. Hiring them often costs more, but each individual usually has more experience and someone to proofread the affidavits of process service and to help advise one at a larger private investigation agency about the laws.

Likewise, while a new individual may cost less, the person working for smaller agency usually makes quite a few mistakes that could seriously jeopardize your case.  Keep in mind: Cheaper is not always better! Choosing to skimp on their cost working at a larger private detective agency can really hurt your case, if you choose to hire the cheaper agent and she/he/they screw(s) up your legal case. ☹

Hiring one in the OKC metro area on a routine basis usually costs $79.99 when you pay with cash, check, or a money order, and provide less than ten (10) pages to print out. Rush service is usually $159.99 for the same number of pages in the OKC metropolitan area. However, you need to consult a specialist to find out how much he/she charges for the services he/she provides.

Smaller, more rural areas often cost more, because there are often few, if any, they are there and it means more driving, mileage, gas, etc., for the private detective to complete the task.

What is a process server in Oklahoma from a private investigation agency in OKC?

A  licensed private individual whom the courts and client assign the task of presenting court documents and other legal documents to an individual whom the client is suing. He/ She performs several tasks, including submitting court documents, performing nationwide skip tracing services, conducting nationwide document retrieval services and nationwide court document filing services, and executing documents in the service of process upon an individual.

How does the process server find someone?

In addition to ensuring that the process is carried out by following the law, they also have a responsibility, when asked, to find a secret claimant or the person for whom the job is but whose address is not known. Therefore, they can also act as a private investigator in OKC.

In this instance, they conduct nationwide skip tracing services upon individuals. This is basically when they locate defendants/respondent involved in lawsuits via a special database a private investigator uses for nationwide skip tracing services. It is illegal to for a process server to sell or perform Oklahoma private investigative services without a license from an Oklahoma private investigative agency.

Nationwide skip tracing services are one of the skills used in legal fields – just like they do – to locate a person for any purpose. They can also use this method to locate a respondent whose address is unknown or who is actively avoiding service.

Can a process server also work as a notary public or a private investigator?

Yes, many times one can find him/her simultaneously working as a private investigator, a notary public, providing nationwide skip tracing services, as a polygraph examiner, and conducting document retrieval services. Many of these legal fields are similar in nature and require cross-training in one another’s fields,

How old must a process server be, to serve as one in Oklahoma?

The individual must be at least eighteen (18) years of age to qualify to serve as a licensed official working at a private investigation agency.

What are the residency requirements to serve as a process server ?

An individual applying to work as this special agent must have first lived in the State of Oklahoma for at least six (6) months prior to completing and submitting the application as a process server in Oklahoma.

What kind of criminal record must a process server have to qualify to serve as a professional?

An expert must have no felonies or pending charges, must be of “sound moral character” and have not committed any crimes of “moral turpitude,” whatever the hell that means. Of course, nearly everything is a crime in Oklahoma, so basically “Oklahoma morality” *cough, cough* probably means being a White male, Christian, “straight,” cisgender, and Protestant Christian individual. *cough*

Is a process server allowed to trespass onto other people’s property when serving court papers in Oklahoma?

No one is allowed to trespass upon another person’s property in any state.  However, the State of Oklahoma formally recognizes them as “officers of the court” for service of process purposes only and is thus legally allowed to serve someone court papers. Of course, there are laws that prohibit anyone – even law enforcement officials – from entering/trespassing on any property without permission. These often include someone who enters past a locked gate that has a sign that reads, “No Trespassing” posted somewhere on the fence/area.

Indeed, the Oklahoma Court of Appeals ruled in a case that police can indeed cite them for trespassing onto someone else’s property. This seems grossly unfair, as a professional must have access to a person’s property, to properly serve court papers to someone. ☹

  1. What are the steps to becoming a process server at a private investigation agency in OKC?

To become one, an applicant must do the following:

  1. Go to you any court clerk within the State of Oklahoma and fill out the process server in Oklahoma application. The court clerk will assign you a court date.
  2. Pay the associated fee to the court clerk. Before you apply and pay the fee, make sure you qualify with the criminal background and residency requirements.
  3. Publish notice of your application with a legal paper like the Journal Record.
  4. Get your bond from a reputable insurance company like the Sherman Humes Insurance Agency in Oklahoma City, OK.
  5. Get two (2) passport photos from a place like FedEx Office, Walgreens or CVS.
  6. Submit proof of publication, your passport photos, and your bond to the court clerk before the court date they assign you for your license.
  7. You do not need to show up for your court date, where the judge will approve your license, but you may always do so if you wish.

What kind of money do they make?

They can make a decent amount of money. Our private detective agency in OKC starts every private investigator and process server off very slowly, as each must prove themselves to us.

This is especially true for beginning agents who are just starting out.  Learning all the laws, finding out to conduct nationwide skip tracing services accurately, embracing the ropes of surveillance, and more just takes time and training that they simply do not learn in their licensing courses.

Once they have themselves, then our private investigation agency supervisors will provide them with more work in the field of private investigations and process serving in Oklahoma. A private investigator in Oklahoma who is willing to work overnight, especially one who is also licensed as a process server and a notary public and can perform work as a specialist, can make quite a bit of money with our private investigation agency. 😊

Do people ever try to harm them?

Most of the time, they can serve court papers without a single problem at all. However, there are times when the village idiots get emotional and attack them.

In this case, the defendant/respondent believes that if she/he/they can somehow make them “go away,” their legal problem will likewise disappear. Of course, the legal process does not work this way, and our agents will not simply quit, give up, or give in to intimidation and violence. 😊

Is working as a process server a difficult job, or can anyone do it?

Anyone who has ever worked as one can tell you that it is a very difficult task indeed. There is so much about the process serving laws that takes at least one (1) year or longer to learn.

This task is easier if the process servers like ours has a mentor to help them out. However, many have no such mentor and role model, and thus, inexperienced ones usually stumble along and make numerous mistakes along the way – even when experienced individuals.

In addition, a lot of individuals tend to struggle badly with completing paperwork like the affidavits of service. It just seems true that the type of person who is great at working as one is rarely good at paperwork/office tasks. Thus, without mentors and office managers at a larger private investigation agency who are experienced in correcting affidavits of service, a new person on her/his/their own will likely struggle quite a bit.

Also, it can be an extremely dangerous job! There have been far too many occasions where some village idiot thinks she/he/they will solve her/his/their problem by attacking them. Instead of recognizing that they are human beings with thoughts, feelings, hopes, dreams, and maybe even a family to support, the person just sees them like an “expendable” person sex traffickers have kidnapped for sex trafficking. Of course, people forced into sex trafficking, much like them, are hardly expendable, either. ☹

Does your company, OKC Private Investigations and Process Serving, discriminate in its hiring practice of a process server?

No, no professional is allowed to discriminate against other individuals in any of the following areas:

  • Gender, Including Gender identity
  • Age (Minimum Age of 18 is Required)
  • Race
  • Ethnicity
  • Sexuality
  • Creed, or Lack Thereof (Unless Your “Religion” Requires That You Discriminate)
  • Disability
  • Nationality
  • Veteran Status
  • Marital Status
  • Weight
  • Height (Must be Tall Enough to Drive a Car or Have Someone Drive You)
  • Any Other “Factor” We Consider “Stupid” to Discriminate Against

Everyone is required to be nice to one another, and they often work together with each other. Life is short; do not be a dick. 😊

How do I apply to become a process server?

To become a licensed process server, you may simply fill out an application here. You may also apply as a private investigator, as a notary public, as an expert witness, as a polygraph examiner, and/or to provide bodyguard services in OKC.

What times of the day and night can a process server serve me court papers?

They can basically serve someone at any time of the day or night. Typically, they will attempt to serve a person when she/he/they are there at a home or place of business. However, there are no laws or restrictions on what time they can serve an individual or business.

For safety and courtesy reasons, they usually do not serve court papers past 9:00 or 10:00 pm at night. By that time, many people are asleep, or it is simply too dark and dangerous to proceed with this. However, in super rush or emergency situations, they will certainly serve court papers even at 2:00 am in the morning. 😊

Why does an individual want to become a process server, given that the work can be so dangerous?

The kind of people who enter this field tend to be adventurous, self-starters who like to make their own schedules and who do not need someone breathing down their necks to get a job done. They also often enjoy flexible work schedules and is happy to see the smiles on the faces of people the professional has helped. 😊

The amount of money a skilled officials can make is also enticing. Indeed, the owner of this private investigation agency in OKC, Dr. Makayla Saramosing, started out as a process server in Oklahoma in 2010 while teaching school and working on her doctoral degree. However, the money side of it became so great that she also became a notary public and then got her license as a private investigator.

One thing led to another, and Dr. Makayla Saramosing combined her skills to become a full time process server, private investigator, notary public, and she also provides nationwide skip tracing services and document retrieval services. The money is honestly kind of like crack or selling cocaine – not that Dr. Makayla Saramosing would know, but as she has heard – the money made as a professional is so good that it is hard to quit. 😊

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