Serving Process

Serving legal process is a state-mandated service. The Sheriff's Office serves and executes the various legal processes issued by and for non-criminal State courts and its subdivisions, the legal community and the general public. Departmental and divisional policies and procedures are consistent with New York State and court case law. These policies are designed and developed to insure the accurate, expeditious, and judicious service and execution of matters relating to civil process. This includes the Civil Practice Law and Rules (CPLR), Judiciary Law, Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law (RPAPL), Family Court Act (FCA), etc.

The purpose of service of civil process gives a defendant notice of the start of a legal action or a proceeding. Although any private citizen over 18 years of age can serve process if they are not party to the action, Sheriff's Officers, including Deputy Sheriffs, are asked to serve process because of their professional service. Deputy Sheriffs are public officers who help in the administration of justice.

Family Court Summonses

All Paternity (docket# starting with a "P") and Support (docket# starting with an "F") summonses must be served to the respondent at least eight(8) days before the court date. In order to have a reasonable chance of serving the respondent, we must receive summons no later than three weeks before the court date. There is a State mandated $42.00 filing fee with these summonses.

All Family Offense (docket starting with a "O") summonses must be served to the Respondent at least 24 hours before the court date. There is no fee for serving these summonses.

Orders of Protection

All Orders of Protection are served for no fee. If there is a scheduled hearing, Respondent must be served no later than 24 hours before the court date.

Other Summonses or Processes

All other summonses or process including civil court summonses and divorce summonses require a State mandated $42.00 filing fee.

In order to have a reasonable chance of serving the respondent, we must receive summons no later than three weeks before the court date.

To have a summons or subpoena served bring/send us:

• Original plus two copies of the summons, order of protection or process
• A printed and completed Service of Process Intake Sheet
• A check or money order for $42.00 payable to "NYC Sheriff"

Send or bring all documents and payments to the Sheriff's Office in the county where the service is to be made. Sheriff Office Locations 

If service is requested at multiple locations (for example, at home and work addresses), there is an additional $25 service fee for each location after the first one.

Additional Information
Sheriff Civil Law Enforcement
Cigarette Tax Enforcement
Collecting Judgments & Orders of Seizure
Evictions
Making Arrests
Tax Evasion and Fraud
Towed Vehicles