How to Start a Legal Processing Business
- 1). Review the licensing requirements for your state. The National Association of Professional Process Servers (NAPPS) provides information on which states require licensure, as well as other state and federal laws regarding the serving of legal papers. Go to Napps.org, and in the left column, press the "Laws" option. Underneath "State and Federal Laws," press the "State Laws Licensing Process Servers" link, then scroll down to your state and review the licensing requirements. If your state isn't listed, it has no licensing requirements.
- 2). Apprentice with a process server. If your state requires licensure, education and internship requirements are established. If your state has no licensing requirements, contact a local process server or private investigator and request to intern as a process server. By working with a professional, you can gain real-world experience while learning the business.
- 3). Study the process server laws for your state. If your service is challenged on its legality, the entire court proceeding can be dismissed. The Nationwide Process Servers Association (NPSA) offers a listing of states and their process server laws. Go to Processserverassociation.com and, in the left column, press "Process Server Laws." In the map of the U.S., click your state and review its laws.
- 4). Provide notary services. Most legal process documents require notarization before being filed with the courts. It's advantageous for you to become a notary, although this service can also be provided by one of the assistants in your business or by an outside firm, such as a bank, for a fee. The National Notary Organization Association provides state guidelines for becoming a notary. Go to NationalNotary.org and press the "Become a Notary" option in the left column. Under "How to Become a Notary," select your state or region from the menu or click on your state in the U.S. map.
- 5). Offer specialized services. Some process servers specialize in "hard services," meaning, they're experienced at serving people who are actively avoiding service. Others offer locate services, meaning they research unknown or hard-to-find addresses, often in conjunction with serving legal papers to that person as well. Such specialized services attract clientele and help a process server stand out from his competitors.
- 6). Establish your rates. Check out other process servers' rates in your region (through ads, websites and so on), then set competitive rates. In the beginning, many process servers charge less than their competitors to attract new clients, then gradually raise their prices as they gain experience and their reputation builds.
- 7). Market your business. There are sites that offer free websites, but consider hiring a web developer to design your website. First impressions are lasting, and you want new visitors to your site to get a positive impression of your capabilities, skills and professionalism. Join organizations where you can network and advertise your services, such as with your state professional process server association, state professional private investigator association, ServeNow.com and so forth.
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