In Texas, you may usually get served by a constable, sheriff, or legally authorized people. The common methods to avoid getting served are not answering the door, staying at a friend or family member’s house, or simply hiding your identity. The last one is not an ideal thing to do. Some also hide in their closet for the time being.
Process Service in Texas
Things Process Servers in Texas Are Allowed to Do
The process servers have the duty of serving by hand-delivery the papers at your doorstep. Unlike in many other states, the process server is not allowed to access your property any further in Texas. If you are not present, the judge can let them leave the papers affixed to your front door.
A Fake Debt Collector Posing as a Process Server
There are several ways to distinguish an actual process server from a fake one. For example, a legit process server won’t ask you to pay them, cannot demand identification other than your name, or cannot be below 18 years old or anyone involved in the case. So, keep an eye out for these.
Whether It is Illegal
Neither avoiding (not answering the door) nor evading (lying about your identity) are illegal. However, you are only delaying the process, as it is inevitable. You may still get served by publication from the plaintiff at one point. Any fees for the publication add to the overall payment if you are sued.
Where Can I Find More Information on Process Servers and Law?
If you want to know more about the process server and laws regarding them in Texas, you can visit the official Texas Judicial website. It has information regarding the certification and other technicalities of process servers.
How Do I Serve Process in Texas?
To be a process server in Texas, you must do a Civil Process Service educational course. Then, apply for certification within a year of the course completion. You may need to pay $200 with the application. Afterward, there will be a background check by taking fingerprints. Finally, you will get a blue certification card in the mail.
Who Is the Party That Pays a Process Server?
The ones that hire the process server are the people that pay them. It can be individuals, businesses, or lawyers. A recipient doesn’t need to pay anything to the process server. So, only a fake process server may ask you for payment. Report it to the law in that case.
Final Note
It is possible to avoid process servers. Just don’t answer the door or don’t be at home. But you will get served by any alternating method anyway. Evading service may not be ideal as it leaves a bad impression on you in court.