No stress, no delays — just a fast, professional service of Court Orders

You must ensure Court Orders and legal documents are served correctly, served on time, and accurate proof of service is filed at Court ahead of the hearing date. This will help you avoid service being challenged, wasted costs and court hearings having to be re-listed.

If you want to know how to serve a court order, read on.

Knowing how to serve a Court Order in the UK can be a complicated. In the UK, CPR Part 6, Service of Documents, deals with how service should be completed. It is important to understand that some court orders have their own special rules for service.

So, how do you serve a court order in the UK?

Service options include:

• by first class post or other service which provides for delivery on the next business day.
• by delivering to or leaving at a permitted place.
• by personally handing it to or leaving it with a person.
• by other means permitted by the court
• by Document Exchange
• by fax machine
• by other electronic means per mitted by the court

It is important to understand how each document must be served. For example, for valid service, you may be required to ensure the court papers are handed to or left with the defendant / respondent. Letterbox service or displaying the papers at the address may be possible. There will be occasions where you need to seek the Courts permission to serve the papers by alternative means or rely on evidence to apply for deemed service especially, on cases where the defendant is evasive.

To ensure the papers are served on time, and served correctly, it is wise to employ the service of an experienced Process Server. A Process Server is a person who delivers "serves" court documents for a living. 

A Process Server will help ensure your papers are served correctly. Knowing how and where to serve the Court papers is crucial. Equally, knowing what procedure to follow if personal service is not possible is a vital part of the process. Get it wrong, and a Court may require you to serve the paperwork again, delaying your case.

What happens if a defendant refuses to take hold of the papers or is evasive? 

It's a fact some defendants or respondents will do all they can to avoid service. If this is you, you should consider the consequences of doing so. Firstly,  a court can still proceed without your appearance. Secondly, avoiding service could actually make the situation worse for you. For example, the Court may be able to make a decision in your absence. By delaying the inevitable, you risk such things as a court making a decision in your absence, or a judgment being registered against you. It is therefore prudent to deal with the proceedings.

As an example, a Court has accepted a defendant had been served with contempt papers, despite the defendant refusing to take hold of the papers and running away. Following an attempt to personally serve the papers, the defendant refused to accept the papers, so they fell to the floor. The defendant ran away. The court was satisfied the papers had been served on the defendant because the Process Server had spoken to the defendant through the door. The Process had made the defendant aware of what was being served. The Process Server moved the papers to the door of the defendants flat. You can read more about avoiding service in this article Can you avoid service of a Court Order? 

Another example could include a Respondent evading personal service of a Bankruptcy Petition. The Process Server had made several attempts to personally serve the papers including attending on appointment. Residency was confirmed but the debtor did their best to avoid personal service. The Petitioner, through their Solicitors successfully applied for an Order allowing the Petition to be served by substituted service. The Process Servers Witness Statement played a crucial part in this process by providing the court with ample evidence the debtor was avoiding service.

Hopefully you appreciate the advantages of instructing a Process Server to serve paperwork for you.

• A Process Server knows how to serve the court papers correctly. 
• A Process Server is not a party to the proceedings, so is independent. 
• Their impartial evidence, in court hearings, is often vital when confirming service of Court papers, especially where the validity service is challenged. 
• A Process Server is not biased in what they say or do therefore the proof of service or evidence provided by a Process Server may carry more weight than a statement made by yourself.

What happens once the paperwork has been served?

Shortly after service, the Process Server will provide you with either a Certificate of Service, a Statement of Service or Affidavit, which will confirm the date, time and how the documents were served. You will be required to file this with Court prior to the hearing.

PB Process Servers UK Limited is a firm of Private investigators, specialising in Process Serving, the art of serving legal documents! We have helped the legal service sector, serve court orders and legal document, since 2002. To instruct a process server in the UK follow the link. It is quick and easy to instruct us.

Why choose PB process Servers UK to serve your court order?

• Fixed Fee Process Serving
• Nationwide service
• A certificate, statement or affidavit of service

We simplify the legal process of getting court papers served in the UK. We make it straightforward and affordable and depending on the urgency, we provide standard, priority, and same-day service options.

We serve every type of process including: -

• Statutory Demands, Bankruptcy and Winding-up Petitions
• Family and Children Proceedings
• Claim Forms, Summons and Writs
• Witness Summons
• Divorce Petitions
• Non-Molestation Orders / Prohibited Steps Orders and Injunctions
• Section 21 Notices and Section 8 Notices
• Break Notices
• Court Orders

If you would like to instruct a Process Server click here for further information on how to do so. If you would like a fee estimate simply complete our quick enquiry form.

It should go without saying, you should always seek legal advice on your particular matter.