Please include the direction to serve through the Secretary of State (and any special instructions) in the "Physical Description/Helpful Notes" section when placing an order.
Common situations that require service through the Secretary of State.
Service of process may be served on an entity, business, or corporation's registered agent as permitted by law, but what happens if the specific entity you are trying to serve does not have a registered agent? Service of process through the Secretary of State may be an option for substitute service. Contact the court clerk or your attorney to see if service of process through the Secretary of State will be considered acceptable service for your case.
How do I place an order for service of process through the Secretary of State?
The directions for Service of Process through the Secretary of State can vary by state, and we require you to provide those details to us in Step 1 of the order process, where you describe the "Party to Serve".
The defendant who needs to be served will need to be included in the 'Name of Individual or Business' section.
The instruction to serve through the Secretary of State will need to be included in the 'Physical Description / Helpful Notes' section. Additionally, you must include information about how to serve the defendant per your state's instructions.
How do I find my state's instructions for service of process through the Secretary of State?
The directions for how to serve a defendant through the Secretary of State can usually be found on the official Secretary of State website for most states. Once you have found the correct way to serve your defendant through the Secretary of State.
If the service requires a witness fee, please review our article on Ordering Service of Process with a Witness Fee.