- Order online 24/7
- Free account
- Fees advanced
- 65+ years in California
Can't find your answer? Call (800) 675-5376, email support@directlegal.com or send us a message below.
Accounts and Ordering
Do I need an account to place an order?
Yes. Opening an account is free and takes a few minutes. Law firms, legal departments, businesses, and parties without an attorney can all open an account.
Is there a fee to open an account or a monthly fee?
No. There is no setup fee and no monthly fee. You pay only for each order.
Does my account work at every Direct Legal office?
Yes. Once your account is open, every Direct Legal Support office will honor it.
How do I place an order?
Log in to your account, choose the service you need, upload your documents, and choose a service level. Our video tutorials walk through each step.
Do I need a separate order for each person served?
Yes. Each person or business being served needs its own order. One order can include more than one document.
How do I cancel an order?
Email support@directlegal.com or call (800) 675-5376.
I forgot my password. How do I get back into my account?
Use the forgot password link on the client login page, or call (800) 675-5376.
What areas do you cover?
We serve all 58 California counties, and we serve legal papers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Learn more: Video tutorials · Client login
Pricing and Payment
Where can I see your prices?
Each service page lists its rates. Process serving, court filing, courtesy copies, document retrieval, and writ levies have rate lookups by city or courthouse.
How do I pay?
We accept credit cards, debit cards, and ACH (subject to approval). A 3.5% fee applies to credit and debit card payments, and ACH payments are $0.50 per invoice.
Do you advance court fees and witness fees?
Yes. We advance court filing fees and witness fees for clients in good standing and bill them on your invoice.
Do parties without an attorney pay up front?
No. We advance court e-filing fees and county recording fees for every client and bill them on one itemized invoice. If you pay by credit or debit card, our system places a pre-authorization on the card for our base fees when you order. Rates for parties without an attorney are listed on each service page.
Learn more: Process serving rates · Court filing rates
Process Serving
How much does process serving cost?
Rates for law firms and legal departments start at $95 for Standard service, and rates for parties without an attorney start at $150. Each rate covers one person or entity at one address, with up to 4 to 6 attempts at a California address and the first 50 pages.
How fast can you serve papers?
Standard service makes the first attempt in 3 to 5 days, Priority the next day, and Urgent the same day for orders received by 1:30 PM Pacific. On Demand sends a process server as soon as possible.
Can you serve documents I upload or fax to you?
Yes. We can serve documents you upload or fax to us once an order is placed. Some courts require original documents for certain papers.
Will you file the proof of service with the court?
Yes, for an additional fee. Your signed proof of service is always emailed to you and saved in your account.
Are your process servers registered and bonded?
Yes. Our process servers are registered and bonded as required by California Business and Professions Code section 22350.
Learn more: Process serving · Skip tracing
Court Filing and E-Filing
What does e-filing cost?
For law firms, e-filing is $14.95 when you submit through our portal, or $49.95 for Concierge e-filing, where we submit for you, and $99.95 for Concierge E-Filing Rush, submitted as soon as possible. Parties without an attorney pay $34.95, $99.95, and $199.95. Court statutory filing fees and EFM (electronic filing manager) fees are extra.
Do California courts still accept fax filings?
Some courts still accept fax filings under the California Rules of Court, but many courts require represented parties to e-file. We file the way your court requires.
Does the court need my original signature?
A signature on a document filed by fax counts as an original under California Rules of Court, rule 2.305(d). E-filed documents follow the court's electronic signature rules.
Can you add exhibit tabs or colored forms?
Yes. We add exhibit tabs and insert any colored forms or other items a court requires, when you request them in your order.
How will I know my documents were filed?
We email conformed copies to the email addresses set up for notifications on your order.
Do you guarantee filing by my deadline?
We guarantee an attempt to file by the court's deadline when we receive your complete documents by our deadline. The court clerk decides whether a document is accepted.
What is your deadline for same-day court filing?
Downtown Los Angeles courthouses have a 2:00 PM deadline. Most other courts fall between 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM, and some have earlier Friday deadlines.
Learn more: Court filing · California e-filing · Courtesy copies
Records and Document Retrieval
Can you guarantee you will get my copies?
No. The court controls the file and court access is limited, so we cannot guarantee copies.
How do I get my copies?
Copies are typically emailed the business day after we obtain them from the court, unless your order says otherwise. Original or certified documents are mailed to you, and those fees apply.
How long does document retrieval take?
It depends on the service level you choose. Routine retrieval is within 3 days, and Urgent is the same day. The service level is the date we obtain the documents, or the date we submit the request to the court clerk when the documents are not available right away.
How do you handle large copy orders?
We ask for a page limit. For very large files, we may ask for a not-to-exceed check for copy costs, since some case files run to thousands of pages.
Learn more: Document retrieval · Records retrieval by subpoena
Other Services
Do you record documents with county recorders?
Yes. We e-record deeds, liens, abstracts of judgment, and other documents in 47 California counties, starting at $55.
Do you handle bank levies and wage garnishments?
Yes. Our registered process servers open the levy with the sheriff, serve the bank or employer, and file the proof of service. Levies start at $250 for law firms.
Can you find someone who has moved?
Yes. A standard skip trace is $195, and skip tracing is available to law firms and legal departments.
Can you handle out-of-state subpoenas?
Yes. We domesticate out-of-state subpoenas for use in California and issue California subpoenas in other states, then serve the witness.
Learn more: E-recording · Writ levies · Out-of-state subpoenas
Still Have a Question?
Create a free account and submit your order in a few minutes. There are no setup fees. If you have a question first, call us or send a message.
Existing client? Log in to your portal