Process Server in Sacramento, California
Since 1961, California law firms have relied on Direct Legal for more than process serving: statewide service of process backed by court filing, records retrieval, subpoena preparation, and judgment enforcement. In Sacramento, that means service on the commercial registered agents and state offices that make the capital a hub for corporate service, and filing at the new Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye courthouse downtown.
2710 Gateway Oaks Drive, Sacramento
- Registered & bonded
- Same-day service available
- E&O insurance coverage
- 65+ years in California
Sacramento Process Servers in California's Capital
Sacramento is California's capital and a center for corporate service of process: the Secretary of State's business filings office at 1500 11th Street, commercial registered agents such as CT Corporation System's Northern California office on Capitol Mall and CSC Lawyers Incorporating Service on Gateway Oaks Drive, state agencies and their headquarters, and the courts downtown. Our servers also cover the neighborhoods, from Midtown and Land Park to Natomas, and the rest of Sacramento County.
And because Direct Legal is a full litigation support company, not just a serve-and-go operation, the same team that serves your documents can file them at the right courthouse, subpoena the records, run the skip trace, and handle the levy when you win. One partner, from intake through judgment enforcement.
Same-Day & Rush Service Routine, rush, and same-day service levels throughout Sacramento and Sacramento County, with documented attempt records and prompt proofs of service.
Law Firms & Self-Represented Parties We serve attorneys, paralegals, businesses, and parties without an attorney, with clear flat-rate pricing published below.
Legal Support Services in Sacramento
- Process ServingSummons and complaints, subpoenas, family law documents, unlawful detainers, and small claims, served in compliance with the California Code of Civil Procedure.
- Court FilingFiling at the new Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye Sacramento County Courthouse for civil cases, the Carol Miller Justice Center for evictions and small claims, and the Ridgeway Family Relations Courthouse for family law and probate.
- E-RecordingElectronic recording of abstracts of judgment, liens, deeds, and other recordable documents with the Sacramento County Clerk/Recorder.
- Skip TracingIf a subject can't be located, our licensed skip tracers can search for a current address using licensed databases and field intelligence.
- Records RetrievalMedical, employment, and business records by subpoena, with deposition officer services.
- Subpoena DomesticationOut-of-state subpoenas domesticated for use in California and California subpoenas prepared for actions pending in other states, then issued, served, and returned.
- Writ LeviesBank levies, wage garnishments, till taps, keeper levies, and vehicle levies under your writ of execution, submitted to the Sacramento County Sheriff's Civil Bureau in Rancho Cordova.
- E-FilingE-filing with Sacramento Superior Court, which is optional for civil, eviction, and small claims cases, plus conventional filing at every Sacramento courthouse.
Sacramento Process Server Pricing & Rates
Flat rates by service level. Choose the level that fits your deadline.
| Service Level | Law Firms / Legal Departments | Party without Attorney |
|---|---|---|
| StandardFirst attempt in 3 to 5 days, up to 4 to 6 total attempts | $95 | $150 |
| PriorityFirst attempt the next business day, with continued expedited follow-up | $145 | $200 |
| Urgent Same-DayFirst attempt the same day, with expedited follow-up | $175 | $250 |
| On DemandAttempted as soon as possible, including orders received after the deadline. Contact us to confirm availability. | $225 | $300 |
| Support: Law Firms and Legal Departments | Available: Phone (800) 675-5376Available: Email support@ | |
| Support: Parties without an AttorneyPlease include your account number when you email us. | Available: Email support@ | |
- Order deadline and processing. California orders must be received by 1:30 PM Pacific to begin processing that business day, and orders for service outside California by 10:30 AM Pacific. Orders received after the deadline are processed as if received the next business day. Urgent (same-day) and On Demand requests received after 1:30 PM are subject to availability.
- Pages and pricing. Each order includes the first 50 pages; additional pages are $0.50 each. Prices and service times are per person or entity and per address attempted, and include up to 4 to 6 attempts per address in California or 3 to 5 attempts outside California, unless otherwise stated.
- Address and attempt policy. If an address is invalid, vacant, or nonexistent, or the order is canceled after the first attempt, the full fee remains due and no further attempts are made at that address.
- Additional fees. The portal shows the fees for your order before you submit it. Substitute service mailing, when required by law, is an additional $15. Filing the proof of service with the court, if you request it, is an additional fee; the prices shown do not include it.
See all of our process serving terms.
Serving someone outside Sacramento? Look up rates for any city in California and nationwide.
How to Hire a Process Server in Sacramento
Create Your Account
Register at DirectLegal.com in minutes. No setup fees, no minimum orders.
Submit Your Order
Upload your documents, enter the Sacramento or Sacramento County address, and choose your service level. Our system is available 24 hours a day.
We Dispatch a Registered Process Server
A registered process server covering Sacramento and Sacramento County is dispatched. Unsuccessful attempts are followed up automatically at varied times of day.
Digital Proof of Service Delivered
Your signed proof of service is emailed when service is complete and is available for download, ready to file with the court.
Documents We Serve in Sacramento
- Summons and complaints
- Subpoenas (civil, criminal, and deposition)
- Divorce and family law papers
- Child custody and support orders
- Eviction notices (unlawful detainer)
- Wage attachments and bank levy orders
- Orders for examination of judgment debtor
- Small claims filings (SC-100)
- Motions, pleadings, and discovery documents
- Out-of-state subpoena domestication
- Petitions (probate, civil harassment, elder abuse)
Why Law Firms Choose Direct Legal
Registered & Bonded
Every process server is registered and bonded under California Business & Professions Code § 22350.
Real-Time Case Tracking
Check your order any time in your account, from the first attempt to completed service.
Same-Day & Rush Service
Standard, Priority, Urgent, and On Demand levels, with Urgent same-day service for orders received by 1:30 PM Pacific.
Digital Proof of Service
Your signed proof of service is ready to download as soon as service is complete.
Capital City Service
From the Secretary of State counter to the registered agents on Capitol Mall and Gateway Oaks, our servers know where Sacramento corporate service happens.
In-House Skip Tracing
When an address goes bad, our skip tracers find a current one so service can continue.
Built for Law Firms, Not One-Time Serves
There's a difference between someone who serves papers and a litigation support partner. Since 1961, as California's oldest family-owned process serving company, we've helped attorneys solve litigation problems: complex service, records subpoenas on major matters, out-of-state domestication, and judgment enforcement. When unusual issues arise (and in litigation, they always do), you'll be working with professionals who've likely solved that problem before.
Leadership recognized throughout the profession Direct Legal is led by CEO Mike Kern, past president of both CALSPro and NAPPS. In 2023 NAPPS gave him its highest honor, the Donald C. “Mac” MacDonald Award. He also speaks at continuing education programs for paralegals and legal secretaries across California.
Records retrieval with decades behind it Our Records Retrieval Division is managed by professionals with over 40 years of experience, including work on some of California's largest litigation matters.
California
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Our Process Servers Cover Sacramento and Sacramento County
Every Sacramento neighborhood and every city in Sacramento County.
Nearby process server pages: CSC, Gateway Oaks · Stockton · Modesto · San Francisco · Oakland · All California locations
Courts Serving Sacramento
Sacramento's civil courts moved in April 2026. The new Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye Sacramento County Courthouse at 500 G Street replaced the Gordon D. Schaber Courthouse and the old Hall of Justice.
Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye Courthouse
500 G Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
General civil cases, limited and unlimited, plus civil harassment and workplace violence restraining orders and criminal trials. The civil clerk's office is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on weekdays, and the civil drop box is on the 2nd floor.
More Sacramento courthouses
- Carol Miller Justice Center301 Bicentennial Circle, Sacramento, CA 95826. Unlawful detainers up to $35,000 and small claims. Open Monday through Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and closed on Fridays.
- William R. Ridgeway Family Relations Courthouse3341 Power Inn Road, Sacramento, CA 95826. Family law and probate, plus domestic violence and elder abuse restraining orders.
- U.S. District CourtRobert T. Matsui Federal Courthouse, 501 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814. Federal cases for the Eastern District of California.
E-Filing and Filing in Sacramento County
E-Filing Is Optional in Sacramento
Unlike most large California courts, Sacramento Superior Court doesn't require e-filing. It has been optional for all parties in civil cases since January 16, 2024, and in unlawful detainer and small claims cases since June 17, 2024, through a certified e-filing service provider. We file either way. Sacramento County e-filing details
Service Through the Secretary of State
When a court orders service on a corporation or LLC through the California Secretary of State (Corporations Code sections 1702 and 2111), the order, the papers, and the $50 fee must be hand delivered to the Secretary of State's public counter at 1500 11th Street, 3rd Floor, Room 390, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on weekdays. It can't be done by mail or at the Secretary of State's Los Angeles office. We handle it in person.
Sheriff Hours for Process Servers
The Sacramento County Sheriff's Civil Bureau is at 2969 Prospect Park Drive, Suite 200, in Rancho Cordova, and registered process servers have their own hours, 6:00 to 9:00 a.m. on weekdays. Requests need the SER-001 form, plus SER-001A for writs, and an Electronic Writ Declaration when the writ was issued electronically. Since January 1, 2025, levy instructions on a judgment for a personal debt must include a declaration under CCP 684.130, now made on the Judicial Council's Declaration of Address Verification (form WG-015/EJ-135). Writ levy services
How Individuals Are Served in Sacramento
California law allows several ways to serve a person. We always try personal service first and document every attempt so your proof of service holds up to challenge.
- CCP § 415.10
Personal Service
Documents are handed directly to the individual. This is the most defensible method in court and always our first approach.
- CCP § 415.20
Substitute Service
After reasonable diligence, documents may be left with a competent adult at the person's home or usual place of business, then mailed first-class to the same address. Every prior attempt is documented in writing so the proof of service holds up to challenge.
Starting January 1, 2027, AB 747 requires at least three good faith attempts at personal delivery, on three different days at three different times, before substitute service on an individual. Each attempt will also need a photo of the service location stamped with the date, time, and GPS coordinates. Every Direct Legal order already includes up to 4 to 6 attempts at a single California address.
- § 415.20(c)
Private Mailboxes
When a private mailbox at a mail store, such as a UPS Store, is the only address we can find, the papers can be left with the store on the first attempt. The store then mails them to the box holder. A regular USPS P.O. Box cannot be used for service.
- CCP § 415.21
Gated Communities
When a gated community is staffed by a guard or other security personnel, they must let a registered process server in for a reasonable time to serve papers. Our servers work with gate staff at guarded communities and apartment complexes across Sacramento County and document each attempt.
- CCP § 415.50
Service by Publication
When a defendant can't be located after standard methods are exhausted, a court may authorize publication in a qualifying newspaper. We can prepare the declaration of diligence the court requires.
- Court-ready
Proof of Service
Every completed service produces a signed proof of service on the Judicial Council form, in your account and inbox the moment service is done, ready to file.
Serving Corporations and Businesses in Sacramento
Sacramento's economy runs on state government, healthcare, education, and the professional services that surround the Capitol, and it is home to commercial registered agents that accept service for thousands of companies. When a company names a commercial agent, serving that agent is usually the fastest and cleanest way to complete service on the company.
Key Rules for Serving a Business in Sacramento
- A corporation can be served through its registered agent for service of process, or through an officer or general manager (CCP § 416.10).
- Limited liability companies and partnerships are usually served through their registered agent. You can look up an agent on the California Secretary of State business search.
- Commercial registered agents in Sacramento, such as CT Corporation System on Capitol Mall and CSC-Lawyers Incorporating Service on Gateway Oaks Drive, accept service for the companies they represent. We check the current agent on the Secretary of State's business search first.
- A standard USPS P.O. Box is never a valid address for service; a physical street address is required. If the only address we can find is a private mailbox at a mail store, such as a UPS Store, the papers can be left with the store on the first attempt (CCP § 415.20(c)).
Sacramento Process Serving FAQs
How fast can you serve legal documents in Sacramento?
We offer routine, rush, and same-day service levels throughout Sacramento and Sacramento County. Our servers work this territory every business day, so rush assignments go to a server already in the area, not into tomorrow's queue.
Where are Sacramento court cases filed now?
General civil cases, limited and unlimited, are filed at the Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye Sacramento County Courthouse at 500 G Street, which replaced the Gordon D. Schaber Courthouse and the old Hall of Justice in April 2026. Unlawful detainers and small claims are filed at the Carol Miller Justice Center, 301 Bicentennial Circle, which is open Monday through Thursday and closed Fridays. Family law and probate are at the William R. Ridgeway Family Relations Courthouse, 3341 Power Inn Road.
Is e-filing mandatory in Sacramento County?
No. Sacramento Superior Court accepts e-filing but doesn't require it. E-filing has been optional for all parties in civil cases since January 16, 2024, and in unlawful detainer and small claims cases since June 17, 2024. Documents e-filed by 11:59 p.m. on a court day count as filed that day if accepted.
Can you serve a business through the Secretary of State?
Yes, when a court has ordered it. When a court orders service on a corporation or LLC through the California Secretary of State (Corporations Code sections 1702 and 2111), the order, the papers, and the $50 fee must be hand delivered to the Secretary of State's public counter at 1500 11th Street, 3rd Floor, Room 390, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on weekdays. It can't be done by mail or at the Secretary of State's Los Angeles office. We prepare the delivery and handle it in person.
Can you serve CT Corporation or CSC in Sacramento?
Yes. Sacramento is home to major commercial registered agents, including CT Corporation System's Northern California office at 555 Capitol Mall and CSC-Lawyers Incorporating Service at 2710 Gateway Oaks Drive, Suite 150N. Serving a company's registered agent completes service on the company. Always check the current agent on the Secretary of State's business search before ordering.
Do you handle writ levies in Sacramento?
Yes. Sacramento County levies go through the Sheriff's Civil Bureau at 2969 Prospect Park Drive in Rancho Cordova, which sets aside 6:00 to 9:00 a.m. on weekdays for registered process servers. Requests need the SER-001 form, plus SER-001A for writs, and an Electronic Writ Declaration when the writ was issued electronically. Since January 1, 2025, levy instructions on a judgment for a personal debt must include a declaration under CCP 684.130, now made on the Judicial Council's Declaration of Address Verification (form WG-015/EJ-135). We prepare the writ and instructions, submit them, and serve bank levies, wage garnishments, till taps, keeper levies, and vehicle levies.
What happens if the person can't be found at the address I provide?
Our servers make multiple attempts at different times of day and document each attempt. Where permitted, we can complete substituted service under California law. If the subject can't be located at all, our licensed skip tracers can search for a current address before your deadline passes.
How much does a process server cost in Sacramento?
For law firms and legal departments, process serving in Sacramento is $95 for Standard service, $145 for Priority, $175 for Urgent same-day service, and $225 for On Demand. For parties without an attorney, the rates are $150, $200, $250, and $300. Each rate covers one person or entity at one address and includes up to 4 to 6 attempts and the first 50 pages. Rates for some surrounding cities, such as Elk Grove, Folsom, Citrus Heights, and Rancho Cordova, start at $120 for law firms.
What is changing for substitute service in California in 2027?
Beginning January 1, 2027, AB 747 requires at least three good faith attempts at personal delivery, on three different days at three different times, before substitute service can be used on an individual. Each attempt must also be documented with a photo of the service location stamped with the date, time, and GPS coordinates. Every Direct Legal order includes up to 4 to 6 attempts at a single California address.
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