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New York process server—service of process in all 62 counties

ABC Legal serves legal documents anywhere in New York, with first attempts in as little as 48 hours. Every serve is performed by a vetted New York process server in compliance with N.Y. CPLR §§ 301–320 and backed by GPS-verified, court-ready proof of service.
Local process servers
SOC2 compliant
Trusted by US DOJ since 2003

See your price for service of process

With flat-rate pricing and nationwide coverage, it's easy to see what service of process will cost.
New
Priority

First attempt within 3 days

A faster path to resolution for cases with a deadline.

$112
per party in New York
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Standard

First attempt within the first week

Our proven process with flexible timing.

$82
per party in New York
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Rush

First attempt within 48 hours

Front of the line, first attempt for cases that simply can't wait.

$147
per party in New York
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  • Preferred Partner of Wolters Kluwer / CT Corp
  • Exclusive contract with the U.S. Dept. of Justice since 2003
  • Chosen by 50,000+ legal professionals

Some markets require wet ink and may take additional time. Final price available during checkout.

Unmatched expertise

Prove every serve beyond doubt.

Close-up of an ABC Legal process server knocking at a residential front door

Serve anywhere in New York

Access a vetted process server in all 62 counties of New York—major metros and rural venues alike, with the same court-ready proof either way.

Process server serving legal documents in New York

Industry-leading legal tech

Stay confident knowing every attempt is backed by GPS coordinates, timestamped photos, and server notes—automatically bundled into a court-ready affidavit that satisfies New York's proof-of-service requirements.

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Save time and keep judges happy

Earn New York judges' trust with evidence that goes above and beyond the standard, powered by the largest process server network in the U.S.

How service of process works in New York

New York sets specific rules for how legal documents must be delivered, and defective service is one of the most common ways cases get delayed. Every rule below is built into ABC Legal's platform, so your serve is compliant by default. Expand any method to see the rule, and exactly what it means for your case.
Personal service—the gold standard CPLR § 308(1)
Papers are handed directly to the person named—New York's primary method for a summons. Service is complete on delivery, with no additional mailing or filing step required to make it effective.
"by delivering the summons within the state to the person to be served." — CPLR § 308(1)

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.

Substituted service CPLR § 308(2)
New York lets the summons be left with a person of suitable age and discretion at the person's dwelling, usual place of abode, or actual place of business, then a copy is mailed. This leave-and-mail method requires no prior diligent attempts, but the delivery and mailing must occur within 20 days of each other.
"by delivering the summons within the state to a person of suitable age and discretion at the actual place of business, dwelling place or usual place of abode" and mailing (leave-and-mail); delivery and mailing within 20 days of each other. — CPLR § 308(2)

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.

Service by mail CPLR § 312-a
New York permits mail service by sending the summons and complaint by first-class mail with two copies of a statutory acknowledgment of receipt and a postage-paid return envelope. It is effective only if the defendant signs and returns the acknowledgment—otherwise it does not count.
Summons and complaint "may be served by the plaintiff or any other person by mailing" a copy with two acknowledgment-of-receipt forms and a return envelope, by first class mail. — CPLR § 312-a

With ABC Legal: we recommend personal service first—it starts deadlines immediately and never depends on the recipient cooperating.

Service by publication CPLR § 316
Court-approved notice in a newspaper when the defendant can't be located after a diligent search—usually the last resort, after skip tracing and documented attempts.
"Service by publication is complete on the twenty-eighth day after the day of first publication, except that in a matrimonial action it is complete on the twenty-first day." — CPLR § 316

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.

Serving a corporation or LLC N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 311; N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 311-a
Deliver to the entity's registered agent for service of process, or to an officer or managing agent.
311: "Personal service upon a corporation or governmental subdivision shall be made by delivering the summons"; 311-a: LLC served "by delivering a copy personally to (i) any member of the limited liability company in this state." — N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 311; N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 311-a

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.

Serving a government entity N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 311(a)
Deliver to the clerk, secretary, presiding officer, or other designated official of the public entity.
311(a): "Personal service upon a corporation or governmental subdivision shall be made by delivering the summons" to the designated officer of the governmental subdivision (e.g., mayor, clerk, or counsel). — N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 311(a)

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

The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Statutes and court rules change, and their application varies by case and venue — verify current requirements with the applicable court or consult a licensed attorney. Statutory references on this page were last reviewed September, 2026.

What we serve

Serving every kind of legal document in New York

Different case types carry different rules and timelines.

Summons & complaint

The document that opens most lawsuits — and proper, provable service is what gives the court jurisdiction to proceed. We serve it fast and return court-ready proof.

Serving a summons & complaint in New York

Citation & petition

Family law, probate, and estate cases start here. We serve respondents and interested parties discreetly and on the court's timeline.

Serving a citation & petition in New York

Writs

Turn a judgment into recovery. We serve writs of execution, possession, and attachment on sheriffs, employers, and third parties — accurate the first time.

Serving a writ in New York

Garnishments

Wage and bank garnishment orders served on the employer or institution with the precision the process demands, so collection starts without procedural do-overs.

Serving a garnishment in New York

Eviction

Eviction runs on short, unforgiving clocks. We serve notices to vacate and unlawful-detainer papers correctly and document every attempt so the case stays on schedule.

Serving eviction papers in New York

Family law

Divorce, custody, and support cases turn on valid service. We serve petitions and summonses discreetly, with the care and documentation these sensitive matters require.

Serving family law papers in New York

Rush service

Need a rush process server in New York?

Rush orders get a first attempt within 48 hours anywhere in the state. Court date this week? Statute of limitations closing? Place your order before 5:00 pm ET and we dispatch instantly.
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Statewide Coverage

Registered process servers for every New York court

Our New York network serves filings from every trial court in the state, including the busiest venues:
New York County Supreme Court 60 Centre Street, Manhattan
Kings County Supreme Court Brooklyn
Queens County Supreme Court Jamaica
Bronx County Supreme Court Bronx
Suffolk County Supreme Court Riverhead
Nassau County Supreme Court Mineola
Erie County Supreme Court Buffalo
Westchester County Supreme Court White Plains

Process servers in New York's cities

Albany Brentwood Buffalo Central Islip Elmont Freeport Hempstead Mount Vernon Poughkeepsie Rome Schenectady Shirley Staten Island Uniondale Utica Valley Stream Yonkers Baldwin Bellerose Franklin Square Hicksville Mastic Beach Ossining Port Jefferson Station View all featured New York cities ›

Reliable process servers

Steven Zentz

Steven Zentz

Local process server, Dunkirk, New York
Steven Zentz is one of New York's top-performing process servers, ranking among the top process servers statewide for three straight months. With 3+ years with ABC Legal, Steven Zentz has completed 227 proofs and resolved 220 cases over that stretch, averaging 2 days to resolution. Based in Dunkirk, New York, Steven Zentz helps ensure fast, reliable service of process for ABC Legal customers throughout New York.
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why courts and law firms choose ABC Legal

Proof you can take to any judge

20+

Years as the exclusive U.S. Department of Justice contractor for international service of process.

50,000+

Legal professionals rely on ABC Legal nationwide

50+

Years of process serving experience

12M+

Service attempts made annually, available instantly in our SOC2 compliant system.

New York service of process rules

New York spotlight

Service of process in New York: must-knows for ensuring success

Service of process in New York involves complex rules and regulations. ABC Legal helps ensure service of process is done right every time.

Commonly asked questions

New York FAQs

How much does a process server cost in New York?
ABC Legal uses flat-rate pricing with three tiers—standard, priority (first attempt within 3 days), and rush (first attempt within 48 hours). Pricing is flat per party and address: no mileage fees, no per-attempt charges, and the court-ready proof of service is included. Current New York rates are shown in the pricing section above.
Who can serve legal papers in New York?
Service must be made by a competent adult who is not a party to the case. New York sets the specific requirements under N.Y. CPLR §§ 301–320. All of ABC Legal's New York servers are vetted, trained, and continuously monitored.
How long does service of process take in New York?
Most serves complete within 3–7 days. First attempts happen within 48 hours on rush orders, 3 days on priority, and within the first week on standard. Note the filing deadline: 120 days from filing to serve (CPLR § 306-b).
What are the New York rules for service of process, and do you follow them?
New York service is governed by N.Y. CPLR §§ 301–320, covering personal service (CPLR § 308(1)); substituted service (CPLR § 308(2)); service by mail (CPLR § 312-a); service by publication (CPLR § 316). Compliance is the product—every ABC Legal serve follows these rules and produces a proof of service your court accepts.
What if the person is avoiding service?
Evasion doesn't stop a case. After documented diligent attempts, New York allows alternatives such as substituted service under CPLR § 308(2). We record every attempt with GPS, timestamps, and notes—exactly the evidence a court needs. If the person's address is unknown, our skip tracing team locates them first.
Can you serve papers anywhere in New York?
Yes. We maintain vetted servers across all 62 counties, covering every city and ZIP code.
What documents can you deliver in New York?
Summonses and complaints, subpoenas, divorce and family law papers, eviction documents, small claims papers, restraining orders, writs, levies, garnishments, judgments, and post-judgment documents.

Ready to serve papers in New York?

Upload your documents in under two minutes. We dispatch a registered local server and keep you updated at every attempt.
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Questions? Call (206)-521-2885 — Mon-Fri, 7am-4pm PT.
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