Make your difficult serves, stick (Proofs of Service)

Once you serve the difficult defendant or witness you must make it stick.  Know how to accurately complete the court approved Proof(s) of Service is key.  The Proof of Service is the document that will be filed with the court or maintained in the litigation file as proof that the defendant or witness was effectively served.  In many instances, improper service and improper filing or missing filing dates can jeopardize your case or even result in it being dismissed by the judge.  An accurate proof of service should be prepared electronically, utilizing software so that it is legible.  Additionally, the process server or investigator serving is required to personally sign the proof under penalty of perjury.  Many process servers sign proofs on behalf of their process servers; this is not a recommended practice.

At many investigation firms, a physical and/or electronic case file is maintained detailing information on the case work-up, service attempts and other details on the case in the event that the service or circumstances of the service are questioned at a later time.