Texas Process Server | Service of Process

New

Priority

First attempt within 3 days

A faster path to resolution for cases with a deadline.

$119

per party in Texas

Standard

First attempt within the first week

Our proven process with flexible timing.

$89

per party in Texas

Rush

First attempt within 48 hours

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

$154

per party in Texas

How service of process works in Texas

Texas 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 Tex. R. Civ. P. 106(a)(1)

Papers are handed directly to the defendant in person—Texas's primary method. The case clock runs from valid service.

Rule 106(a): "the citation must be served by (1) delivering to the defendant, in person, a true copy of the citation ... and of the petition." — Tex. R. Civ. P. 106(a)(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 Tex. R. Civ. P. 106(b)

Texas substituted service must be authorized by a court order granted on a sworn motion showing where the defendant can be found and that personal service was attempted. The order may allow leaving the citation with anyone 16 or older at that location, or another method the court finds reasonably effective; no separate mailing is required unless the order directs it.

Rule 106(b): the court may authorize service "(1) by leaving a copy of the citation and of the petition with anyone older than sixteen at the location specified in the statement; or (2) in any other manner ... that ... will be reasonably effective." — Tex. R. Civ. P. 106(b)

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 Tex. R. Civ. P. 106(a)(2)

Texas allows service by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested. It completes service only if the return receipt is signed by the addressee—an unsigned, unclaimed, or refused receipt does not.

Rule 106(a)(2): "mailing to the defendant by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, a true copy of the citation ... and of the petition." — Tex. R. Civ. P. 106(a)(2)

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

Service by publication Tex. R. Civ. P. 109

When a defendant is a non-resident, is absent from Texas, is a transient, or whose residence is unknown after a sworn diligent inquiry, the court may order citation by publication. Since 2020 the citation is generally published on the statewide Public Information Internet Website—and, in land or title suits, in a newspaper in that county.

Rule 116 (2020): citation by publication is served on the Public Information Internet Website, published "for at least 28 days before the return is filed," per Office of Court Administration guidelines. — Tex. R. Civ. P. 109

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 Tex. Bus. Orgs. Code §§ 5.201, 5.251, 5.255

Serve the entity's registered agent. Texas law also makes certain people agents by law—for a corporation, its president and any vice president; for an LLC, its managers or members. If the entity has no registered agent, or the agent can't be found with reasonable diligence, the Texas Secretary of State becomes the agent for service.

5.201(b): the registered agent "is an agent of the entity on whom may be served any process." 5.251: "The secretary of state is an agent of an entity for purposes of service of process ... if ... the entity fails to appoint or does not maintain a registered agent." — Tex. Bus. Orgs. Code §§ 5.201, 5.251, 5.255

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 Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 17.024

Serve the official the statute names: a county through the county judge; an incorporated city, town, or village through the mayor, clerk, secretary, or treasurer; a school district through the school-board president or superintendent.

17.024(a): "In a suit against a county, citation must be served on the county judge." (b) city/town/village: "mayor, clerk, secretary, or treasurer." (c) school district: "president of the school board or ... the superintendent." — Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 17.024

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.

Serving every kind of legal document in Texas

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 Texas

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 Texas

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 Texas

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 Texas

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 Texas

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 Texas

Registered process servers for every Texas court

Our Texas network serves filings from every trial court in the state, including the busiest venues:

Harris County District Courts Civil Courthouse, Houston

Dallas County District Courts George L. Allen Sr. Courts Building

Tarrant County District Courts Fort Worth

Bexar County District Courts San Antonio

Travis County District Courts Austin

Collin County District Courts McKinney

El Paso County District Courts El Paso

Denton County District Courts Denton

Process servers in Texas's cities

Reliable process servers

Jesse Diaz III

Local process server, McAllen, Texas

Jesse Diaz III is one of Texas's top-performing process servers, ranking among the top process servers statewide for three straight months. Active with ABC Legal since September 2025, Jesse Diaz III has completed 1263 proofs and resolved 1104 cases over that stretch, averaging 6 days to resolution. Based in McAllen, Texas, Jesse Diaz III helps ensure fast, reliable service of process for ABC Legal customers throughout Texas.

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.

Texas spotlight

Need a process server in Texas? 5 things you should know

Learn what to look for in a process server in Texas.

Texas FAQs

How much does a process server cost in Texas?

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 Texas rates are shown in the pricing section above.

Who can serve legal papers in Texas?

Service must be made by a competent adult who is not a party to the case. Texas sets the specific requirements under Tex. R. Civ. P. 99–124. All of ABC Legal's Texas servers are vetted, trained, and continuously monitored.

How long does service of process take in Texas?

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: citation must be served with due diligence after filing (Tex. R. Civ. P. 99).

What are the Texas rules for service of process, and do you follow them?

Texas service is governed by Tex. R. Civ. P. 99–124, covering personal service (Tex. R. Civ. P. 106(a)(1)); substituted service (Tex. R. Civ. P. 106(b)); service by mail (Tex. R. Civ. P. 106(a)(2)); service by publication (Tex. R. Civ. P. 109). 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, Texas allows alternatives such as substituted service under Tex. R. Civ. P. 106(b). 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 Texas?

Yes. We maintain vetted servers across all 254 counties, covering every city and ZIP code.

What documents can you deliver in Texas?

Summonses and complaints, subpoenas, divorce and family law papers, eviction documents, small claims papers, restraining orders, writs, levies, garnishments, judgments, and post-judgment documents.

Texas process server—service of process in all 254 counties

See your price for service of process

First attempt within 3 days

First attempt within the first week

First attempt within 48 hours

Prove every serve beyond doubt.

Serve anywhere in Texas

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How service of process works in Texas

Serving every kind of legal document in Texas

Summons & complaint

Citation & petition

Writs

Garnishments

Eviction

Family law

Need a rush process server in Texas?

Registered process servers for every Texas court

Process servers in Texas's cities

Reliable process servers

Jesse Diaz III

Proof you can take to any judge

Need a process server in Texas? 5 things you should know

Texas FAQs

Ready to serve papers in Texas?

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