Delaware process server—service of process in all 3 counties

Delaware's most direct method reaches the defendant in person. Section 3103(a) lets a summons be served by stating its substance to the defendant personally, and Superior Court Rule 4(f)(1)(I) requires handing a copy of the summons, complaint and affidavit to the individual. The sheriff ordinarily carries out this service, giving the court solid proof the defendant actually received notice.

§ 3103(a): "A writ of summons may be served on the defendant in the manner prescribed by any rule of court, or by stating the substance of it to the defendant personally, or by leaving a copy of it at the defendant's usual place of abode, in the presence of some adult person, 6 days before the return thereof." Super. Ct. Civ. R. 4(f)(1)(I): service is made "by delivering a copy of the summons, complaint and affidavit, to that individual personally." — Del. Code tit. 10 § 3103(a)

With ABC Legal: a vetted server makes the first attempt on your tier's timeline—as fast as 48 hours—and EvidenceChain™ records the GPS location and timestamp of the exact delivery moment.

When the defendant cannot be reached in person, Delaware allows abode service—leaving a copy of the summons at the defendant's usual place of abode in the presence of some adult person, at least 6 days before the return date. Superior Court Rule 4(f)(1)(I) frames this as leaving copies with a person of suitable age and discretion residing there. Delaware requires no follow-up mailing.

§ 3103(a): summons may be served "by leaving a copy of it at the defendant's usual place of abode, in the presence of some adult person, 6 days before the return thereof." Super. Ct. Civ. R. 4(f)(1)(I): "by leaving copies thereof at that individual's dwelling house or usual place of abode with some person of suitable age and discretion then residing therein." — Del. Code tit. 10 § 3103(a)

With ABC Legal: courts only accept substituted service after documented diligence. Our app geotags and timestamps every attempt automatically, so your diligence record is built before you need it.

Delaware has no general publication service for ordinary suits. Publication is a Court of Chancery device: under Section 366, when a defendant is a nonresident the court may order the defendant to appear and direct that the order be served by mail or otherwise and published at least once a week for 3 consecutive weeks. It typically accompanies seizure of Delaware property.

§ 366: the order "shall be served on such nonresident defendant or defendants by mail or otherwise, if practicable, and shall be published in such manner as the Court directs, not less than once a week for 3 consecutive weeks." § 365 similarly authorizes an order of publication compelling appearance. — Del. Code tit. 10 §§ 365, 366

With ABC Legal: our skip tracing team locates most "unfindable" defendants before you ever pay for publication—and if it truly comes to that, your ABC attempt history is the diligence evidence the motion needs.

A Delaware corporation is served under Title 8 Section 321 by delivering a copy personally to any officer, director, or the registered agent, or by leaving it at that person's Delaware dwelling or at the registered office. Title 6 Section 18-105 mirrors this for LLCs, reaching any manager or the registered agent. If diligent efforts fail, the Secretary of State may be served instead.

§ 321(a): service is made "by delivering a copy personally to any officer or director of the corporation in this State, or the registered agent of the corporation in this State, or by leaving it at the dwelling house or usual place of abode in this State of any officer, director or registered agent ... or at the registered office or other place of business of the corporation in this State." § 18-105(a) uses parallel language for a "manager" or "registered agent" of an LLC. — Del. Code tit. 8 § 321; tit. 6 § 18-105

With ABC Legal: we verify the current registered agent against state records before dispatch, so the serve lands on the right desk the first time.

Suing the State of Delaware or one of its agencies, boards, or officials carries a strict rule. Under Section 3103(c), service on the State—or on a state officer over a matter tied to official duties—is not complete until made on the person of the Attorney General, the State Solicitor, or the Chief Deputy Attorney General. Serving only the agency itself does not satisfy the statute.

§ 3103(c): "No service of summons upon the State, or upon any administrative office, agency, department, board or commission of the state government, or upon any officer of the state government concerning any matter arising in connection with the exercise of his or her official powers or duties, shall be complete until such service is made upon the person of the Attorney General or upon the person of the State Solicitor or upon the person of the Chief Deputy Attorney General." — Del. Code tit. 10 § 3103(c)

With ABC Legal: our servers handle city, county, and state entity serves routinely—and know exactly which office actually accepts them.