When a summons and complaint, subpoena, or eviction notice must reach someone in Boston, you need delivery that is handled correctly and documented properly from the start. We provide in-person delivery of legal documents across Boston and the rest of Suffolk County, with the appropriate proof of service prepared for filing after completion. As part of our nationwide process service, our experienced Massachusetts process servers can also cover assignments outside Boston when needed.
Boston Process Service
Routine
$125
-
1st attempt within 5 business days
-
Up to 3 attempts made within 7–10 business days
Same Day
$225+
-
1st attempt same day
(or next, depending on submission time and server availability) -
Up to 3 attempts in 3 days
-
Additional mileage may be incurred for rural or outside of city limits locations.
-
+$50 pro se administrative surcharge per service address, when applicable.
-
Significant discounts for volume accounts. Please contact us at info@onesourceprocess.com to inquire.
-
Stay informed with timely updates and service details via our online portal.
Get Started with Process Service in Boston
Apply online
Once we have received your application, we will respond with an email confirmation the same day. If you submit a Rush order, we will respond to you immediately.
Have your documents served
One of our highly trained professional servers will attempt to serve your document(s) as instructed by your Job Order.
Receive your affidavit
Once Your document(s) have been served. We will send you an Affidavit of Service!
Types of Requests We Service
Real Estate
- Foreclosure documents
- Eviction Notices / 30 Day Notice to
Correct or Vacate - Landlord & Tenant documents
- Bank levies
- Wage garnishments
Family Law
- Divorce papers
- Paternity determination
- Child support
- Custody
- Visitation papers
Government
- Local & Federal government
courts - City municipalities
- Government agencies
- Police departments
- Jails & detention facilities
General Civil Litigation
- Summons & Complaints
- Restraining orders
Our Certifications & Partners
We proudly showcase our certifications and partnerships, reflecting our dedication to quality and collaborative excellence.
Is the person/entity avoiding service?
You may require our stake-out and investigative services
Who Can Serve Legal Papers in Massachusetts
Proper service starts with assigning the right person to the job. For service of process in Boston, Massachusetts rules determine who may deliver particular court papers and how service must be documented, making the server’s authority an important part of a valid attempt.
Service by Sheriffs, Deputy Sheriffs, and Constables
Under Massachusetts Rule of Civil Procedure 4(c), civil process may be served by a sheriff, deputy sheriff, special sheriff, another person authorized by law, or someone specially appointed by the court. Constables are also authorized to serve certain types of civil process under Massachusetts law.
Which option applies can depend on the type of document, the court, and the authority required for that particular service. If you are comparing a constable, sheriff, or private server, our team can match your Boston assignment with the appropriate server.
Suffolk County Courts That Handle Boston Matters
Boston cases may originate in several Massachusetts Trial Court departments, depending on the subject matter and jurisdiction involved. Courts that commonly handle matters in the Boston area include:
- Suffolk Superior Court — civil actions within its jurisdiction, as well as felony matters;
- Boston Municipal Court (BMC) — civil claims, small claims, summary process matters, and a range of criminal cases;
- Suffolk Probate and Family Court — divorce, custody, child support, probate, estate, and guardianship matters;
- Eastern Housing Court — landlord-tenant disputes, evictions, and other matters involving residential property.
Boston Process Service Options and Turnaround
Not every job moves on the same clock. We offer routine service, rush process service for approaching hearings, and same-day process service for urgent documents. For same-day process service in Boston, requests are prioritized immediately, with the first attempt made the same day or the next day depending on submission time and server availability.
For civil actions governed by Massachusetts Rule 4, the summons and complaint generally must be served within 90 days after the complaint is filed unless good cause justifies additional time. Starting early leaves more room for additional attempts if the recipient is difficult to reach. Keep in mind that typical process service timelines vary by document type, recipient availability, and the number of attempts required.
Serving Boston’s Building Stock
In Boston, reaching the right door can be as challenging as reaching the recipient.
Triple-Deckers, Brownstones, and Walk-Ups
Much of Boston’s residential stock includes triple-deckers, brownstones, and walk-ups in areas like Dorchester, South Boston, and the South End, where older layouts, unclear unit markings, or unlabeled buzzers can make the correct entrance harder to identify. Our servers verify address and unit details as closely as possible before an attempt.
Doorman and Secured Access Buildings
High-rises in the Seaport, Back Bay, and downtown often have a doorman, front desk, or key-fob entry that can limit direct access to the recipient. Our team adapts each attempt to the building’s access procedures, working with staff where permitted and returning at different times when needed.
Campus, Hospital, and Office Addresses
Universities, hospitals, and corporate offices bring their own access procedures and gatekeepers. For workplace or institutional addresses, including subpoena service in Boston involving records custodians, we work with security or reception where appropriate to complete delivery discreetly.
Difficult and Evasive Recipients
When a recipient is difficult to locate or appears to be avoiding service, the assignment often requires more than repeated visits to the same address. Our team handles difficult cases, including when a recipient dodges service and matters that require serving without a known address. If an address is outdated or the recipient has moved, we use fieldwork and investigative research to locate and serve individuals in Boston, MA, at a current residence or workplace.
Common steps on a difficult serve include:
- verifying and updating a last-known address before the first attempt;
- using skip tracing in Massachusetts to identify a current residence or workplace;
- attempting service at different times, including evenings and weekends;
- serving at a place of employment where the applicable rules allow it;
- documenting each attempt with the date, time, location, and outcome.
Neighborhood Process Service Across Boston
One Source Process provides process service across Boston, including neighborhood-specific coverage where local access can affect delivery.
Beacon Hill
Our Beacon Hill process service covers residential and business addresses throughout the neighborhood, from properties near Charles Street and Mount Vernon Street to offices around the Massachusetts State House.
Start Your Boston Process Service Order
Tell us what needs to be served and where, and we’ll assign the right server and get the process moving. From one-time assignments to high-volume process service for law firms in Boston, our team is ready to support the workload.
Testimonials from real clients
FAQ
How Much Does Process Service Cost in Boston?
Does a Massachusetts Process Server Have to Be a Constable or Sheriff?
Which Suffolk County Court Will My Affidavit Be Filed With?
Do You Offer Rush or Same-Day Service in Boston?
What Happens If the Recipient Avoids Service?
Can an Out-of-State Attorney Order Process Service in Boston?
Ask us anything!
Ask us anything!
CEO Brandon Yoshimura (left) and Director of Operations Danny Koo (right) outside of our office in Washington, DC.