Frequently Asked Questions

Service of process is the formal delivery of legal documents to notify a person or business that they are involved in a court case or legal proceeding. Proper service helps ensure that all parties receive notice and have an opportunity to respond—an important part of due process.

A professional process server helps ensure your documents are delivered in accordance with the laws and court rules that apply to your case. Requirements can vary depending on the type of documents, the person or entity being served, and the jurisdiction where service takes place. After service, the process server provides documentation showing when, where, and how service was completed.

Using an experienced process server helps reduce the risk of improper service, unnecessary delays, or challenges to whether the documents were legally served.

Every service request is different, and pricing is based on the number of parties or entities being served, the number of cases involved, and the addresses where service must be attempted.

Each person or entity requiring service is considered a separate service assignment because we must complete and provide a separate Affidavit or Proof of Service documenting the service for that party. Likewise, documents from separate court cases are treated as separate service assignments when separate proofs of service are required.

Multiple parties at the same address: To help keep your costs down, Speedy Services, LLC offers a reduced concurrent service fee when multiple parties can be served at the same address. The concurrent fee applies per additional Affidavit/Proof of Service required.

Multiple addresses: If service must be attempted at more than one address—even for the same party or the same case—each additional address is a separate service assignment. Each location requires additional travel, mileage, fuel, time, and service attempts.

Example: If two defendants in the same case live at the same address, you would pay the regular service fee for the first defendant and our reduced concurrent fee for the second. If those two defendants live at different addresses, each is charged as a separate service.

Not sure how many services you need? Send us your documents and service information, and we’ll help you determine the appropriate service options and fees before we get started.

No. Under Washington State law, you cannot serve papers for a lawsuit if you are a party to that case. Documents must be delivered by a registered process server or any resident of Washington who is over the age of 18 and not a party to the litigation. Hiring a professional agency ensures your delivery complies strictly with state court rules.

We provide professional legal process service and mobile notary solutions directly across Pierce, King, and Thurston Counties. This includes regular daily service to municipalities such as:

Tacoma, Puyallup, and South Hill

Bonney Lake, Fife, Graham, and Enumclaw

Kent, Auburn, and Federal Way

Gig Harbor, Lakewood, and Olympia. Need service outside of these areas? Visit our Out-of-Area Service page for more info.

Once our servers complete personal or substituted service in accordance with Washington rules, we generate a formal Proof of Service (also known as an Affidavit of Service). We sign and (if required) notarize this document to verify the exact date, time, and method of delivery. You must file this completed document with your local county court clerk to prove to the judge that the target party was formally notified. Speedy Services, LLC offers filing services in some jurisdictions, please inquire.

If the defendant has moved, cannot be located, or appears to be avoiding service, we document each attempt to establish due diligence. When service cannot be completed, we provide an Affidavit of Non-Service detailing our attempts.

This affidavit can be presented to the court as evidence of your efforts and may support a request for an alternative method of service, such as service by publication, when permitted by the court.

If an individual is actively evading service, we carefully document every single attempt we make (noting dates, times, vehicle presence, and context) to legally establish due diligence. If we cannot complete service after exhausting these attempts, we will provide you with an Affidavit of Non-Service. You can present this affidavit to the judge or court clerk to request permission for alternative methods, such as Service by Publication.

Yes. We specialize in rapid-turnaround, last-minute, and rush service of process across our entire Pacific Northwest service region. If you have an urgent court window or a fast-approaching filing timeline, contact us immediately so we can prioritize your documents.

Under Washington law (RCW 4.28.080), legal documents may generally be served on an individual in one of two ways:

Personal Service: The documents are delivered directly to the named defendant.

Substituted Service: If the defendant is unavailable, the documents may be left at their usual place of residence with a co-resident of suitable age and discretion who lives there.

Simply leaving documents with a neighbor, landlord, or someone who does not reside at the defendant’s home generally does not qualify as substituted service.