Everything attorneys and property managers need to know — plain English. From TRCP Rule 106 and 107 requirements to GPS-tracked proof that holds up in court.
Process serving is the formal delivery of legal documents to a party in a lawsuit or legal proceeding. The term "process" refers to the legal paperwork issued by a court — a citation, summons, subpoena, or notice — that puts a party on official notice that a legal action involves them.
In practical terms: when an attorney files a lawsuit against someone in Jefferson County District Court, the court issues a citation. That citation must be physically delivered to the defendant by an authorized person — the process server. Once delivered and documented, the defendant has official legal notice. The court can proceed. Without valid service, the case can't move forward, and any judgment is vulnerable on appeal.
Property managers use process serving differently. When a tenant hasn't paid rent and won't leave, an eviction starts with a formal notice — and that notice must be properly served to hold up in Justice of the Peace Court. Miss the service requirements and you're starting over.
The U.S. Constitution's Due Process Clause requires that defendants receive notice of legal proceedings before a court can act against them. In Texas, that constitutional requirement is codified in the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure. Courts take this seriously.
Proper service isn't a formality. It's the legal foundation your case rests on.
Texas process serving is governed by Rules 103 through 107 of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure. Here's what matters when you're selecting a process server and evaluating their work.
Process may be served by a sheriff, constable, or any person authorized by written court order. A certified process server who is 18 years or older, not a party to the lawsuit, and not interested in the outcome qualifies. Texas Legal Runners' servers meet all Rule 103 requirements.
The person receiving process must execute it promptly and return it as directed by the court. Delays can jeopardize your case timeline. We execute same-business-day when possible and return proof of service within 24 hours of completion.
Authorized in certain circumstances via certified mail, return receipt requested. Less common for contested matters because it creates opportunities for defendants to claim non-receipt. Personal service is always preferred for contested cases.
Rule 106 is where most service questions arise. Personal service (handing documents directly to the defendant) is the gold standard. If personal service cannot be accomplished after diligent attempts, Rule 106(b) allows a court to authorize substituted service — leaving documents at a residence or place of business, or posting on a door. A motion for substituted service requires an affidavit documenting every failed attempt. Our GPS-timestamped attempt logs are built specifically to satisfy this requirement.
After service is complete, the process server must execute a Return of Service — a sworn statement identifying who was served, where, when, and how. Rule 107 specifies exactly what this document must contain. Our notarized affidavit of service satisfies Rule 107 in full and is delivered digitally within 24 hours of completed service.
For service to be legally valid in a Texas civil case, all of the following must be true:
One missing element can invalidate service entirely. That's why working with an experienced, compliant process server matters — not just for speed, but for legal defensibility.
Under Texas Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 103, a person may serve process if they meet all three of these requirements:
Additionally, constables and sheriffs are authorized by statute. Courts can also issue written orders authorizing specific individuals for particular cases.
Notably, Texas does not require process servers to be licensed or certified at the state level (unlike some states). However, professional process servers — like Texas Legal Runners — carry professional liability coverage, maintain detailed GPS records, and know the TRCP requirements cold. Attorneys who use professional process servers almost never face Rule 107 deficiency challenges.
An attorney who is not a party to the case can technically serve process. However, attorneys rarely do this in practice — it creates scheduling problems, and if service is contested, the attorney becomes a potential witness in their own case.
Paralegals and legal assistants can serve process if they're not a party and have no interest in the outcome. But again, using a professional process server insulates the firm from service-related challenges and provides GPS-documented proof that's far more persuasive than an in-house affidavit.
From a routine divorce citation to an emergency TRO, Texas Legal Runners handles the full spectrum of legal documents requiring formal process service.
For property managers in Southeast Texas, eviction process serving has specific requirements. A 3-day Notice to Vacate must be properly served before filing in Justice of the Peace Court. Service options include:
Improper service of the eviction notice gets the case dismissed at the first hearing. We serve eviction notices correctly, with full documentation, so your JP Court filing is solid from the start.
Serving a subpoena in Texas requires more than handing over the document. Under Texas Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 176.5, the subpoena must be accompanied by the witness fee ($10 per day) and mileage reimbursement when required. We tender statutory witness fees at time of service and invoice you for reimbursement — ensuring your subpoena is legally enforceable.
See our dedicated subpoena service page for full details on deposition, trial, and records-only subpoena serving throughout Southeast Texas.
Texas Legal Runners covers all of Southeast Texas — urban downtowns, industrial corridors, suburban neighborhoods, and rural county roads. We know these counties, these courts, and these addresses.
Beaumont, Port Arthur, Nederland, Groves, Port Neches, Vidor, and surrounding areas. Home to the 58th, 60th, 136th, and 172nd Judicial District Courts and Jefferson County Courthouse on Pearl Street.
Jefferson County details →Silsbee, Lumberton, Kountze, Sour Lake, Pinewood Estates, and the Big Thicket region. Hardin County District Court (88th Judicial District) in Kountze. We cover every rural road.
Hardin County details →Orange, Vidor, Bridge City, Pine Forest, Pinehurst, and the Texas-Louisiana border communities. Serves the 128th and 163rd Judicial District Courts at the Orange County Courthouse on Division.
Orange County details →We serve documents in — and frequently travel between — all of the following cities and communities in Southeast Texas:
Extended-range serves outside these three counties are available — contact us for a quote.
The service is only as good as the proof. A defendant who claims they were never served — "he said/she said" — can derail a case or delay a default judgment for months. GPS-tracked service eliminates the argument.
Every serve — standard, rush, or same-day — includes the full documentation package at no extra charge.
Exact latitude/longitude of the service location, timestamped to the second. Eliminates any dispute about where service occurred.
Photos documenting the service attempt — residence, person served, or posted location — with embedded date/time metadata.
Written account of exactly how service was accomplished — who answered the door, what was said, physical description of the person served.
Sworn Return of Service satisfying all Rule 107 requirements. Ready to file with the court immediately upon receipt.
All documentation emailed and available in your client dashboard within 24 hours of completed service. No chasing down your server for paperwork.
Failed attempts are documented identically — GPS, photos, narrative. Your Rule 106 substituted service motion is pre-built.
Traditional process servers complete service and return a hand-signed affidavit. In uncontested cases, that's fine. In contested cases — or anywhere a defendant might claim non-receipt — an affidavit alone creates "he said/she said" risk.
GPS-tracked service gives courts objective evidence: coordinates, timestamp, photographs. A defendant claiming they were never served faces GPS data placing our server at their address at the time of service. That's not a credibility contest — that's math.
For TROs, protective orders, and any serve where the defendant has a motive to deny receipt, GPS documentation is the difference between a defensible serve and a contested hearing.
Flat rates quoted before we start. GPS documentation, timestamped photos, and notarized Return of Service are included on every job — at every price tier. No hidden fees for mileage within our service area, photo evidence, or digital delivery.
Texas Legal Runners handles process serving throughout Jefferson, Hardin, and Orange Counties. GPS-verified proof, TRCP compliant, same-day rush available.