FAQ - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

• Where do I mail / deliver my papers for civil process service?
  How do I know if you serve process where I need it served?
  
• Is there an active arrest warrant(s) for this person (me)?
  How can I help you locate a wanted person?
  
• How may I clear an outstanding arrest warrant?
  When should I be at the courthouse if I want to appear on my warrant?
• Where's my Courtesy Notice (from the Traffic Court)?
• Under what circumstances can I get a Restraining Order Issued?
  Where do I get a Restraining Order?
  
• Where may I get information about evicting a tenant?
  How can I evict a tenant?
  
• Since the Sheriff's Department cannot give me legal advice, how do I get help with my legal problem?
  
• Can the Sheriff sign-off on a fix-it ticket?
  
• How much money has the Sheriff's Department collected on my case?
  
• When will my civil paper be served?
  How and when will I be notified if it's served?
  
• How can I search your web site?
  
• Where else can I get help (for Community, Social, Health, Government and Disaster Services)?
  
• How can I talk to someone?

Where do I mail / deliver my papers for civil process service?

The Sheriff's Court Services Bureau has 5 offices that serves process throughout San Diego county.  Use our Zip Code / City / Community listing page to determine where to send or deliver your process to enable the the most efficient and timely attempt to serve.  Not all of our office locations accept or serve civil process and subpoenas.

Is there an active arrest warrant(s) for this person (me)?

The Sheriff's Department maintains an Online Warrant Information database.   You can check to see if you or someone else has an active arrest warrant issued out of any San Diego Superior Court.  Only adult, criminal defendant warrants are listed in this database.  The information provided may be up to 24 hours old at any given time.  For additional information, see our Warrant and Bail page.  

You can also anonymously report the location of a wanted person (See Tips).

See our  Warrant and Bail page for detailed information.

Where's my Courtesy Notice (from the Traffic Court?)

• If you are cited for a traffic violation, the Superior court will possibly mail you a "courtesy" notice at the address listed on the traffic citation (ticket). You should possibly receive this notice at least two weeks before your "promise to appear" date (appearance date) which is written below your signature on the traffic citation. There are payment options to help avoid the inconvenience and time associated with coming to the courthouse. If you do not receive your courtesy notice or do not understand your options, you may come in person to the courthouse or inquire by mail prior to your appearance date. If your appearance in court is required, your courtesy notice will say "You must appear in Court."
• Most questions will be answered with information provided by a courtesy notice. Please allow approximately two to three weeks from the date you received your traffic ticket for your case to be filed with the court.
• Do not disregard your traffic citation if you do not receive your courtesy notice in the mail. You must appear at the courthouse or settle your case by mail by the appearance date, whether or not you receive the courtesy notice. [taken from superior Court website March 2005]

Commonly issued restraining orders prohibit domestic violence or civil harassment.  Restraining orders must be issued by the Superior court.  Restraining order forms are available from the Clerk's Office of the Superior Court.  Once the restraining order is issued by the court, two copies should be delivered to the nearest Sheriff's Court Services Division office to be entered into the Sheriff's Restraining Order computer system.  The Sheriff's Department will also attempt service for you if you so request.

Superior Court office hours are 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. They are located at:

Superior Court Locations Page          Court Services Office Locations

Where may I get information about evicting a tenant?
How can I evict a tenant?

Evictions can only occur after a landlord has received a judgment from the court and a writ of possession has been served or posted on the property.  The purpose of a writ of possessions is to place with the rightful party possession of real property.  Writs of possession usually arise as a result of a tenant's non-payment of rent or a breach of the rental or lease agreement.

After the process has been brought to the Sheriff's Department with the appropriate fee, you or your attorney of record will be sent a letter notifying you of the scheduled date of the eviction.  Your or your appointed agent will also receive a telephone call on the work day preceding the eviction to inform you of the exact time the Deputy Sheriff will meet with you at the property.

 

If you have any information regarding the occupants of these premises related to mental instability, history of or significant propensity for violence or hostile confrontation with law enforcement, please telephone your Court Services Division area office which is handling the eviction.

 

On the day of the eviction you may wish to change the locks at the residence while the Deputy Sheriff stands by for a reasonable time for this purpose.  The landlord must provide access to the property in order to complete the eviction process.  Due to scheduling constraints, some delay may occur in the deputies arrival and the deputies may not necessarily be able to stand by for extended times.

 

The Sheriff's Department will not inventory personal property left at the property. You should refer to Civil Code Sections 1983-1988 if questions arise regarding lawful disposition of property left at the site of the eviction.

 

If the occupants vacate the property prior to the eviction date, please call the  area office handling the eviction directly.

Since the Sheriff's Department cannot give me legal advice, how do I get help with my legal problem?

If you need information regarding the eviction procedure or other legal problem, you should contact an attorney, local bar association, lawyers referral service, legal aid organization, State Superior Court Legal Help, research the information at the law library or you can purchase a reference book from a book store.  The Sheriff's Department can not provide legal advice.  You may try 211SanDiego for guidance on obtaining additional services.

When the Sheriff's Department 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.  If you want a status report of how much has been collected on your case, please fax your request to (619) 441-4068.  Your case will be researched and you will receive a response by the next business day. If you do not have access to a fax machine, call  the appropriate area office.

We DO NOT guarantee service of any process and we can not tell you when your process will be served as there may be circumstances that prevent us from completing service such as the person you want served is evading service.  It is our intention to have your papers out for service as quickly as possible.  If your hearing date is within two days and you have not received information in the mail, call the appropriate area office.  Please have the case number as shown on your Service Receipt or legal document.

We will send you a proof of service or notification that we were unable to serve your papers within a few days of service or when we have determined we will be unable to serve your papers for you.  If your hearing date is within two days and you have not received information in the mail, call the appropriate area office.  Please have the case number as shown on your Service Receipt or legal document

You may search using our Search box on our homepage.  This page allows for searches of the Court Services Bureau's web pages only or the entire Sheriff's web site.   We also have an "alpha index" solely for the Court Services Bureau web pages.

Online at: "211SanDiego"  and  "Inform San Diego"

 

By Telephone at: 211  or  cellular at: 858-300-1211

 

An easier way to access information about community, social, health and government services in San Diego. Call  by dialing "2-1-1" .

Our voice and fax telephone numbers are listed here and on our Office Locations page.  Our normal office hours are 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Pacific time at most locations.  If you need to contact the Superior Court, then check their court telephone numbers.