Many people assume that hiring a process server requires going through an attorney first. It doesn't. In Missouri and most states, private individuals, landlords, small business owners, and anyone else with a legitimate legal need can hire a process server directly — no attorney required.
Who Can Hire a Process Server Directly
Virtually anyone with a civil legal matter can hire a process server directly:
- Landlords — serving eviction notices, summonses, or demand letters
- Small business owners — serving defendants in small claims court or civil suits
- Individuals in family court matters — serving a spouse in divorce or custody proceedings (your attorney typically handles this, but you can also arrange it directly)
- Judgment creditors — serving post-judgment discovery or enforcement documents
- Anyone filing in small claims court — small claims cases often don't require an attorney at all, and service of process is the client's responsibility
What You Need to Provide Us
To serve process, we need:
- The documents to be served (summons, complaint, notice, or whatever the court issued)
- The name of the person or entity to be served
- The address where service should be attempted
- Any deadline set by the court for service
We handle everything else — the attempts, the documentation, and the completed affidavit of service that you return to the court.
What We Deliver Back to You
After successful service, we provide a signed Affidavit of Service documenting when, where, and how the documents were served. This affidavit is filed with the court as proof that the defendant was properly notified. It is GPS-timestamped and body-cam verified — the same standard we apply to every case, regardless of whether the client is a solo individual or a major law firm.
If service cannot be completed, we provide a detailed Affidavit of Diligence documenting our attempts, which may be used to seek the court's authorization for alternative service methods.
Small Claims Court Is the Most Common Direct-Hire Scenario
Missouri's small claims court handles disputes up to $5,000 without requiring an attorney on either side. But you still have to properly serve the defendant — and that's where we come in. We serve small claims defendants regularly and return the completed affidavit quickly so your case can proceed on schedule.
How to Get Started
Contact Faithful Path Investigations at (877) 331-4374 or submit your case details online. We'll confirm what we need, provide a quote, and get your case assigned immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I be my own process server in Missouri?
- Generally no. Missouri court rules require that service of process be performed by someone who is not a party to the case. A licensed professional process server satisfies this requirement.
- How much does process serving cost?
- Fees vary based on location, number of attempts required, and urgency. Contact us for a quote — we provide clear pricing before you commit.
- What if the person I'm trying to serve avoids being served?
- We document every attempt and can prepare an Affidavit of Diligence for court, which may allow the judge to authorize alternative service methods such as substituted service or posting.
Owner and principal investigator at Faithful Path Investigations. Veteran-owned and operated, specializing in process serving and investigations throughout Missouri and nationwide.
Need Help With Your Case?
Contact us for process serving, investigations, or skip tracing — we're ready to deploy.