How Process Servers Locate the Most Elusive People

Most people do not want a visit from a process server, since they often deliver unpleasant news about an upcoming court date or issue. Even so, avoiding a process server is never a good idea, but that doesn’t stop people from trying! Evasive recipients give the process server the additional job of hunting them down… but for some servers, this is the most exciting part of the job! After years of experience of locating people who don’t want to be found, the process servers at Accurate Serve® servers have learned the following tips and tricks to make the hunt a little easier:

Do the Necessary Research

Don’t skip out on doing the homework about your target before heading out for a service attempt. Nowadays, you luckily don’t even have to leave your office to discover tons of information about pretty much anyone. Gather this basic information, at a minimum, about each process recipient:

• Name
• Addresses
• Phone numbers
• Aliases/nicknames
• Vehicle make, model, color, unique bumper stickers, and other identifiers
• Social media information
• Information from public records
• Picture or physical description of the target
• Best time and place to contact
• History of evading service
• History of violence

Since each case and target is different, you’ll need to adjust this list depending on the specific situation you are dealing with. Not all of the items on this list will apply to every job, but reviewing the items that do apply will give you a better overall picture of who you are looking for!

Jot Everything Down

Write down everything that you learn about the process recipient and the case in a dedicated space, like a small notebook that fits in your pocket, no matter how insignificant the fact seems. A minor detail may be what ultimately leads you to the process recipient, so don’t leave anything out! Continue adding to your notes as you gather more information for the most effective research possible.

Make Phone Calls

No one wants their work, family, or friends to know that a process server is searching for them, so a process recipient will usually get back to you back pretty quickly once you start calling their associated phone numbers. These can be numbers for their home, work, friends, and family. Be careful when contacting someone at work, though, as there are strict rules about that. While you always want to maintain discretion, contacting others can be helpful if finding the target continues to be a problem.

Case Them Out

For the most difficult targets to locate, a stakeout may be in order. During a service attempt at the location where you think the process recipient is hiding, take photos of anything you can see that should move regularly, including:

• Oil stains on the driveway
• Power meter readings
• Water meter readings
• Things that you can see while looking in a window, such as dirty dishes or a coffee table

Once you have a few photos, stick a piece of masking tape in a highly visible place on the door that they seem to use the most. In an inconspicuous spot near the bottom of the same door, place a small, clear piece of tape connecting the door to the frame. Now, leave and return in a few days. Has any of the tape been removed, or have the items you took photos of moved? If they have, you know there’s human activity there, and you can move on to the stakeout! Pick a nearby spot to park your vehicle where you can see the entrance to the home. When the process recipient finally shows their face, make your move.

Request Alternative Service

If you can’t locate the process recipient after multiple service attempts at various locations, including their last known home and work addresses, a judge may grant you permission to serve them by substitution or publication. In service by substitution, you may give the process to someone who you reasonably believe will give it to the intended recipient. However, you will need to mail a copy of the papers to the recipient’s last known address as well. For service by publication, an announcement for the intended recipient is posted publicly, usually in the local newspaper, for at least 32 days.

Avoiding Service of Process Doesn’t Work

Avoiding service of process is fairly common as many people mistakenly believe that avoiding a process server will stop their court case altogether, but this is untrue. Even if the process recipient cannot be located in person, other service options exist. At Accurate Serve® of Tallahassee, we give our process servers all of the tools and knowledge that they need in order to find even the most elusive individuals. 

Visit us online to view all of the services that we offer in the Tallahassee area. If you’re a process server and want to join the Accurate Serve® team, contact us at https://www.accurateservetally.com/contact or email [email protected] to discuss your future with us today!