California Process Serving, Explained
Plain-English answers from people who serve papers every day — not content-farm filler.
How Much Does a Process Server Cost in California? (2026)
Real price ranges for routine, rush, and same-day service — plus skip tracing, stakeouts, and the fees nobody explains upfront.
AB 747 (the SPARE Act) Explained
California's new process serving law: photo + GPS proofs, the 3-attempt rule, and no-deadline default challenges — operative Jan 1, 2027.
How Many Attempts Does a Process Server Make?
Three attempts, three days, three times of day — and what happens when nobody answers.
Can a Process Server Serve You at Work?
Yes — workplace serves are legal in California and often the most effective. How they work, discreetly.
What If a Process Server Can't Find You?
Skip tracing, substituted service, stakeouts, and service by publication — the escalation ladder for hard serves.
How Long Do You Have to Serve a Lawsuit?
CRC 3.110's 60-day deadline, the case types it excludes, OSC sanctions, and the new 2026 email-service option.
Sheriff vs. Private Process Server
The sheriff's $50 statutory fee, what it buys, and the enforcement actions that must go through a levying officer.
Can a Process Server Enter a Gated Community?
CCP § 415.21 gives registered servers access past a staffed gate — and what to do at the gates it doesn't reach.
Question we haven't answered?
Check the full FAQ — nearly 100 questions — or just call us. We answer directly, 7 days a week.