Small Claims Process Server of San Diego County 619-239-0892

We will Serve your San Diego County Small Claims Documents in Accordance with the San Diego County Small Claims Court Guidelines (or according to your local Court guidelines): 

The plaintiff must make sure the defendant knows about the lawsuit. The correct way of notifying the defendant is called "service of process," which means giving the defendant a copy of the claim.

• The plaintiff cannot give the defendant a copy of the claim; the plaintiff must arrange for someone else to do it.
• The service of process must be done according to strict rules or else the case may be dismissed or delayed.
• The person who serves the defendant must sign court paperwork showing when the defendant was served. This paper is called "proof of service."

The defendant must be served by a certain date and the proof of service must be returned to the court clerk by a certain date, as follows:

• If the defendant lives in the county, service must be completed at least 15 days (25 days if by substitute service) before the trial date.  The period is 20 (30 days if by substitute service) days if the defendant lives outside the county.
• Proof of service must be filed by the Plaintiff with the court clerk at least five (5) days prior to the trial.

If these deadlines are not met, the trial may be postponed.

Here are a couple of legal ways to serve process on (give a copy of the claim to) the defendant:

1. Personal Service By a Registered and Bonded Private Process Server San Diego
   • The Process Server who serves the defendant must complete a "proof of service" form verifying that the defendant was properly served with a copy of the claim.
      

1. Substitute Service By a Registered and Bonded Private Process Server San Diego
   • This is a two-step process where someone other than the defendant personally receives a copy of the claim.
   • Step 1. The first copy must be delivered to someone over the age of 18 at the defendant's:
      
     1. residence - left with a competent member of the household
     2. place of business - left with a person apparently in charge of the office
     3. usual place of mailing other than a U.S. Postal Service Box
     4. Step 2. A second copy must be mailed to the defendant at the same place where the first copy was delivered. The mailing must be by regular mail, not certified mail.

More Public information according to the Superior Court of California County of San Diego:

*We cannot provide legal advice (including how you need to complete the documents) so we have provided the links and info provided by the County of San Diego website for your convenience. 

San Diego County Small Claims FAQs

How do you file a County of San Diego Small Claims Case? An Advisory Information Sheet is available (provided by the County) in the How to File a Small Claims Case booklet.PDF 

You may call the Small Claims Advisor for information on small claims issues and procedures.  Note: The Small Claims Advisor cannot provide any assistance with traffic citations or other case types.
24 hour Recording: (858) 634-1900

Phone Number: (858) 634-1777 available Monday through Friday 
Phone Hours:  8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

The Small Claims Legal Advisory walk-in clinic services located at the Central and North County courthouses are suspended until further notice.

The Small Claims Legal Advisory is offering remote assistance by phone. In addition to assisting by phone, the advisory assists litigants with completing paperwork by email. Help is available in English and Spanish.

The Small Claims Legal Advisor offers remote assistance via live chat. When an advisor is available, a "Chat" icon will appear in the bottom right corner of your browser.