The Registered Process Server's Guide to Service of Process in California, 3d Edition Expanded
The most definitive comprehensive “how to” guide for service of process in California, including updates through 2008.  

Statutes and leading court decisions governing service of process are cited for quick reference.  The 3d Edition is expanded to include more detail for serving a public entity, a business organization, form unknown, and a limited liability company, and a list of all California statutes. It covers service on a prisoner, a person in the military, someone served in a foreign country and on tribal lands. It also describes the changes to the California notarial wording required for notarized affidavits of service. It also addresses service by court order, fax, publication, e-mail, and out-of-state defendants.

The guide is written for the process server, office staff and attorney service owner who wants to serve process correctly and with confidence, and to build or expand a new or existing process serving business. This book is also for a person or law firm that retains a process server to provide proper service instruction.

The 2008 updates the 3d Edition are posted here. The guide is written from an entrepreneurial perspective for process servers and private investigators who are in the business of serving legal documents.

The 2008 updates will be available in January and will be handed out at the PSI What's New Dinners.  Click the link below to see what we discussed at our dinners last January: What's New for Process Servers in 2008 Dinners.

The Registered Process Server's Guide to Service of Process, 3d Edition is available for review and sale at our process serving 2008 Seminars.  The book retails for $50.00, plus tax and shipping.  The seminars are $35.00.

The Registered Process Server's Guide to Service of Process, 3d Edition is supplemented with the Affidavit and Proof of Service Requirements Guide that provides exemplars on how to complete proofs of service.
 

NON-CALIFORNIA PROCESS SERVERS

The book also contains topics that have universal relevance to process servers in any state, such as the definitions, what to do before, during and after service, stakeout techniques, safety techniques, tools of the trade, IRS 20 common law factors determining independent contractor status of workers, recordkeeping, and how to start and maintain a business as a professional process server. The supplement to all Editions of The RPS Guide is the Affidavit and Proof of Service Requirements Guide that covers the preparation of both California and out of state proofs of service, an invaluable resource for servers in any state serving lawsuits originating in another state. (The proof of service must comport with the requirements of state where the action is filed.)
 
Partial Table of Contents

What is a Registered Process Server?
 
•   Definition of a Registered Process Server and its special legal status

Manners of Service
 
•  
Personal and Substituted Service of Summonses on all Types of Defendants (Link to Sample Page.) 
•  
Alternative Manners and Methods of Service  
    Application for Service by Posting - Unlawful Detainer
    Application for Service by Publication
    Application for Service by Alternative Means
•  
Service by Mail

Special Service Requirements of Specific Documents

 
• 
Unlawful Detainer Cases
•  
Prejudgment Claim of Right to Possession on Unnamed Occupant
•  
Services on Opposition Counsel and Parties who are In Pro Per
  •  Small Claims Documents
  •  Subpoenas and Witness fees (state and federal cases)
  •  Order to Show Cause
  •  Order to Appear for Examination
•  
Three and Thirty Day Notice Services
•  
Service by Fax


Process Serving Suggestions
 
•   What to Do Checklist Before Commencing Service
•   What to Do Checklist During Service
•   What to Do Checklist After Service
•   Suggested Tools of the Trade
•   Stakeout Techniques
•   Safety and Defensive Techniques

Field Skip Tracing Techniques
 
•   Where to Start
•   Sources for Locating Persons and Business
•   Public Records

Documents Defined

What the Documents Accomplish in the Civil Process

Words, Phrases and Legal Terms
 
•   The Language of the Law with Definitions from a Process Server's Perspective
•   Process Server Jargon

What Record a Process Server Should Keep

Suggested Format for Keeping Process Serving Records

Independent Contractor and Employee Status
 
•   IRS 20 Common Law Factors for Determining Independent Contractor Status of Workers
•   California 14 Common Law Factors for Determining Independent Contractor Status of Workers

Tax Reporting Requirements for Process Servers and What is Deductible
 
•   Tax Reporting Responsibilities for a Small Business

Business Formation in California

How to Start and Maintain a Business as a Professional Process Server

Appendix Section
 
•   The California Process Servers "Industry Special Tax Regulation"
•   Frequently Asked Questions About the Registered Process Server Law
•   Exemplars of Proof of Service forms
•   Blank California Proof of Service form
•   Blank Declaration of Diligence form
•   Service by Publication Exemplar Supporting Declaration and form with Blank Application and Order forms
•   Service by Posting of Unlawful Detainer Summons Exemplar Application and Order with Blank Application and Order forms
•   Updates A cumulative copy to update all editions of the book is $25.00.  Current Updates, Rules of Court, Proof of Service exemplars and Updated Judicial Council forms are included with all purchased books. The Updates are free as a handout at the What's New Dinners in January.)

To update he Registered Process Server's Guide to Service of Process in California, 3d Edition and to see the subjects that are covered in the book, see the Revised Index.

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