IMPORTANT MESSAGE ABOUT CIVIL PROCESS SERVICE Effective January 2, 2009, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department will discontinue service of all non-enforcement types of civil processes. Non-enforcement civil process can be served by anyone over the age of 18 who is not a party to the action or by a registered process server.  You may locate a San Diego County registered process server by searching for "attorney support services" or "process serving" in a telephone directory or search engine. Service of non-enforcement process will still be made where a California court has ordered a waiver of fees for the party requesting service.  A certified copy of the order indicating that it applies to Sheriff's fees is required when submitting the process for service. Civil process no longer served after January 2, 2009: ▪  Citations ▪  Landlord Notice (Eviction Letter) ▪  Order to Show Cause ▪  Subpoena - Civil ▪  Claim & Order to go to court (Small Claims) ▪  Notice of Motion ▪  Out-of-State process ▪  Summons & Complaint (or Petition) ▪  All other NON-ENFORCEMENT process not listed. Civil process service continuing after January 2, 2009: ▪  Restraining Orders ▪  Order for Examination or Appearance ▪  Warrant of Attachment (Civil Bench Warrant) ▪  Subpoena - Criminal or Juvenile (only) ▪  Subpoena duces Tecum ▪  Writ of Possession - Real Property (Eviction) ▪  Writ of Possession - Personal Property ▪  Writ of Possession - Claim and Delivery ▪  Writ of Sale ▪  Writ of Execution or Attachment ▪  Bank Levy   ▪  Keeper   ▪  Personal Property Levy   ▪  Real Property levy   ▪  Rent Levy   ▪  Till Tap   ▪  Verbal Demand for Payment   ▪  Wage Garnishment   ▪  3rd Party Levy

INSTRUCTIONS AND PROCESS REQUIRED FOR SERVICE

Each process submitted for service MUST include instructions. The instructions must be original, must include a physical address for service and must be signed by the Plaintiff/Requestor or their Attorney of Record. Instructions for garnishments, levies and earning withholding orders must be signed by the attorney of record or by the judgment creditor acting as his/her own attorney.

Summons and Complaints - Two copies of each process per defendant to be served.

Small Claims Process - Two copies of each process per defendant to be served.

Other Non-Writ Process - One copy per defendant to be served.

Earnings Withholding Orders - Original Writ of Execution plus original Application for Earnings Withholding Order.


PROCESS SERVICE INFORMATION

If you need to determine if we serve in the community you need, see our Zip Code / City / Community page. To assist us in more efficiently serving your process, please review our Tips for Service page. Common forms are also available online.

A proof of service will be mailed to you after your process has been served or a certificate of non-service will be mailed to you if our office has been unsuccessful in serving your process.

If your hearing date is within two days and you have not received information in the mail, call an area office directly.


COLLECTION INFORMATION

When the Sheriff receives a written response from the garnishee or employer, a copy will be mailed to you. You should receive a written response from our office within three weeks after service of the levy. Any funds collected from the levy will be paid to you within approximately four to five weeks from receipt of funds less a $10 processing fee that is assessed by the Sheriff's Department in accordance with California Government Code 26746. This processing fee is charged to the defendant for each payment processed and does not count towards the judgment total.

If you want a status report of how much has been collected on your case, please fax your request to your area office. Your case will be researched and you will receive a response within 5 business days. If you do not have access to a fax machine, call your area office directly.


IMPORTANT TIPS TO EXPEDITE SERVICE OF YOUR CIVIL PROCESS

Please provide as much of the following information as possible to assist us in serving your process.

Defendant’s full name, alias, or fictitious business name if a business Defendant’s home address and telephone number

Defendant’s business address and telephone number and work hours, specific location at work, and supervisor's name if known

Full physical description of defendant (include picture if available) and defendant’s vehicle

Best times to find defendant at the address(s) provided. Our normal service hours are Monday through Friday, from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

A daytime/nighttime telephone number(s) where you can be reached regarding the service of your process

If a business is being served, verify business license information with the appropriate licensing agency. In order to properly serve the process and eventually enforce your judgment, the defendant business entity must be named in your case the same way as they are licensed or incorporated to do business

An extra copy of the summons and complaint or claim and order for substitute service.

FEES FOR SERVICE OF CIVIL PROCESS

Note: Most process from outside of California requires a $30.00 service fee.  Generally, a notarized Certificate of Service is required by the out-of-state jurisdiction.  Commonly, the total fee for service of an out-of-state process is $40.00.

$15.00	Citation sign off;(fix-it tickets; does not include the court's fee)
$30.00	Earning Withholding Orders
$30.00	Garnishments (bank, funds, escrow, etc) Order After Hearing - Civil Harassment Order for Appearance of Judgment Debtor Temporary Restraining Order - Harassment
$50.00	Civil Bench Warrants
$80.00	Writ of Possession - Real Property (after claim of right of possession)
$85.00	Demand Levy Till Tap Writ of Possession - Personal Property
$125.00	Writ of Possession - Real Property (Eviction)
$205.00	Writ of Execution -  8 Hour Keeper
$325.00	Writ of Execution - 12 Hour Keeper
$1,075.00	Writ of Execution - 48 Hour Keeper
$5,155.00	Writ of Execution - 10 Day Keeper
$1,500.00	Writ of Execution - Vehicle Levy (deposit)