A process server is a credible, trustworthy individual authorized under law and court rules to deliver legal documents such as subpoenas, federal summonses, divorce and domestic relations process, eviction notices, witness summonses, and similar papers. To qualify, a process server must be of good moral character and may not have felony convictions or serious misdemeanor convictions.
A constable, by contrast, is a process server who has been elected or appointed by a city or town and who is legally obligated, under their commission, to perform the official duties of a constable. These duties include enforcing court orders and serving certain civil process that must be delivered by an officer authorized to serve civil process. While every constable is a process server, not every process server is a constable.
Many people believe that process serving is just handing someone a piece of paper. Though that is involved, there is much more to process serving. A Massachusetts process server or constable may have to investigate a person's whereabouts (known as "skip-tracing"), stake out a business or residence, and even be willing to testify in court in the event a person attempts to challenge the fact that he/she was served.
A process server must also document who, what, where, when, and how a person was served. This is often referred to as an "Affidavit of Process Server," a "Return of Service," or just a "Process Server Report." Falsifying whether service was made, or falsifying the type of service made (such as in-hand service), is a crime punishable under M.G.L. c. 268 § 6B.
Our Network specializes in serving all types of court documents. Most documents are served on a routine basis and could take up to five business days to complete. Rush service is always available. If you can't locate a defendant or witness, allow us to utilize our law enforcement type database to locate them for you.
We will serve your paperwork anywhere in Massachusetts. Our team welcomes out-of-state process that needs to be served in Massachusetts.
A constable, by contrast, is a process server who has been elected or appointed by a city or town and who is legally obligated, under their commission, to perform the official duties of a constable. These duties include enforcing court orders and serving certain civil process that must be delivered by an officer authorized to serve civil process. While every constable is a process server, not every process server is a constable.
Many people believe that process serving is just handing someone a piece of paper. Though that is involved, there is much more to process serving. A Massachusetts process server or constable may have to investigate a person's whereabouts (known as "skip-tracing"), stake out a business or residence, and even be willing to testify in court in the event a person attempts to challenge the fact that he/she was served.
A process server must also document who, what, where, when, and how a person was served. This is often referred to as an "Affidavit of Process Server," a "Return of Service," or just a "Process Server Report." Falsifying whether service was made, or falsifying the type of service made (such as in-hand service), is a crime punishable under M.G.L. c. 268 § 6B.
Our Network specializes in serving all types of court documents. Most documents are served on a routine basis and could take up to five business days to complete. Rush service is always available. If you can't locate a defendant or witness, allow us to utilize our law enforcement type database to locate them for you.
We will serve your paperwork anywhere in Massachusetts. Our team welcomes out-of-state process that needs to be served in Massachusetts.
Constable Services:
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Capias Warrant of Civil Arrest
Summary Process (Eviction) Attachments Child Support Enforcement Judgment Recovery Show Cause Hearing Summonses Contempt Summons & Complaint |
Authorized Process Server:
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All Subpoenas (Federal, Civil, Criminal)
Domestic Relations Summons Federal Summons & Complaint Witness Summons Divorce Paperwork Probate Citations 14 Day Notice to Quit 30 Day Notice to Quit Child Support Modifications Notice of Trespass |
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OUT-OF-STATE PROCESS
We can serve your paperwork from another state anywhere in Massachusetts. The flat fee would be $125.00. We do not charge for each attempt. For example, if you need a Summons & Complaint served on a person living at 123 Main Street, Worcester, and it takes us three attempts at serving the paperwork in-hand, you will only be charged $125.00 whereas most process service companies charge you for every attempt. An additional fee will only apply for a bad address but will not exceed $50.00.
(The fee mentioned is for out-of-state paperwork only)
I NEED DOCUMENTS FROM MASSACHUSETTS SERVED IN ANOTHER STATE
We can streamline the process for you and ensure your legal documents are served in any state through our nationwide network of professional process servers. Fees for serving documents in other states vary, so send us an email for a quote.
We can streamline the process for you and ensure your legal documents are served in any state through our nationwide network of professional process servers. Fees for serving documents in other states vary, so send us an email for a quote.
IS PROCESS SERVING DANGEROUS?
Serving court papers can be dangerous. For example, serving a Domestic Relations Summons & Complaint on a defendant could be the first time the defendant realizes his or her marriage is over, or that he or she may lose custody of their children. Nobody wants that bad news! According to an article by the Massachusetts Bar Association titled "Process Servers: Foot Soldiers of the Law," "...[m]ost attorneys seem to regard the process server as a delivery person. They fail to acknowledge that the process server is, in fact, the bearer of bad news. Process servers do not get a "thank you" from defendants or witnesses when they are served, nor do they get a tip for delivering the unwanted documents. Process servers are sometimes spat upon, cursed, threatened, chased, and have the papers, or whatever object handy, thrown at them. More seriously, process servers have been maimed, hospitalized and even killed while serving process...".
If you think the person being served might react aggressively, let the process server know so they can be ready and stay alert.
Serving court papers can be dangerous. For example, serving a Domestic Relations Summons & Complaint on a defendant could be the first time the defendant realizes his or her marriage is over, or that he or she may lose custody of their children. Nobody wants that bad news! According to an article by the Massachusetts Bar Association titled "Process Servers: Foot Soldiers of the Law," "...[m]ost attorneys seem to regard the process server as a delivery person. They fail to acknowledge that the process server is, in fact, the bearer of bad news. Process servers do not get a "thank you" from defendants or witnesses when they are served, nor do they get a tip for delivering the unwanted documents. Process servers are sometimes spat upon, cursed, threatened, chased, and have the papers, or whatever object handy, thrown at them. More seriously, process servers have been maimed, hospitalized and even killed while serving process...".
If you think the person being served might react aggressively, let the process server know so they can be ready and stay alert.
WHAT ARE "SERVICE OF PROCESS" AND "DUE PROCESS"?
A process server is a trained professional responsible for delivering legal documents to individuals involved in a court case. This act is known as "service of process." Its primary purpose is to satisfy a cornerstone of the American legal system: "due process." Due process ensures that all parties in a legal action are properly notified, giving them a fair opportunity to respond and present their case.
No court has jurisdiction over a person until they have been properly served. Without proper service of process, a court case cannot legally proceed, and any judgments made could be invalidated.
WHY CHOOSE A PROCESS SERVER INSTEAD OF THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT?
Certified Process Servers know that their livelihood depends on effectuating service properly and expeditiously. Process Servers will often go above and beyond to get the job done, which is something that most clients cannot ask of a sheriff. For example, if a client knows an individual will be at a specific place and time, a process server may be able to accommodate that request whereas the sheriff will not. Additionally, the sheriff’s office may require you to do more of the legwork (making sure you have enough copies, filing the affidavits, etc.), whereas a process server will usually take care of these things for you.
PROCESS SERVERS FALSIFYING THE FACT THAT SERVICE HAS BEEN MADE
According to M.G.L. c. 268 § 6B: [a]ny process server who returns to the court a writ or other official instrument of process on which he has willfully falsified either the fact that service has been made, or the fact that a particular kind of service has been made, shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one year.
According to M.G.L. c. 268 § 6B: [a]ny process server who returns to the court a writ or other official instrument of process on which he has willfully falsified either the fact that service has been made, or the fact that a particular kind of service has been made, shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one year.
TITLE 18 U.S.C. § 1501 PROTECTS THE SERVICE OF FEDERAL COURT DOCUMENTS
This law makes it illegal to interfere with, resist, or assault anyone who is legally authorized to serve federal process. Its purpose is to ensure that federal documents—such as subpoenas and court orders—are delivered safely, correctly, and without obstruction. Violations can result in fines or up to one year of imprisonment. See Title 18 U.S.C. § 1501.
HAVE US APPOINTED AS A SPECIAL PROCESS SERVER
Confused about who can legally serve your documents? Eliminate the guesswork by asking the court to appoint IPS as your Special Process Server so we can serve them for you quickly and correctly. A Rule 4(c) Motion lets the court authorize us to serve your legal documents anywhere regardless of the type of document you need served. Clients choose this option because it provides:
How to Have us Appointed (Fillable PDF or Word):
Confused about who can legally serve your documents? Eliminate the guesswork by asking the court to appoint IPS as your Special Process Server so we can serve them for you quickly and correctly. A Rule 4(c) Motion lets the court authorize us to serve your legal documents anywhere regardless of the type of document you need served. Clients choose this option because it provides:
- Faster service with flexible scheduling, including evenings and weekends.
- Higher success rates for hard‑to‑reach or evasive defendants.
- Statewide coverage without jurisdictional limits.
- Clear communication and real‑time updates from a single point of contact.
- Accurate documentation that meets court requirements and avoids delays.
How to Have us Appointed (Fillable PDF or Word):
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LEGAL DISCLAIMER: The network members who serve court process are authorized by law and/or court rules to serve the documents. The constable members are individually licensed and bonded as required by law.
