Houston Process Service

Texas Rules for Serving Legal Papers

Serving legal papers in Houston means following Texas rules from the first attempt through the final return of service. The requirements vary depending on who serves the papers and whether standard delivery succeeds.

Who May Serve Process in Houston

Under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 103, court-issued process may generally be served by:

• a sheriff, constable, or another person authorized by law;
• a person age 18 or older authorized by law or written court order;
• a person certified by the Judicial Branch Certification Commission (JBCC).

A party to the case or anyone with an interest in its outcome cannot serve the process. For private service, a JBCC-certified process server in Houston can serve process statewide under Rule 103. One Source Process works with certified Texas process servers who meet the state requirements for these assignments.

Harris County Courts That Handle These Matters

For service of process in Harris County, the court handling the case determines where the return or other proof of service is filed. Harris County includes:

• District Civil Courts — civil matters within district-court jurisdiction;
• District Family Courts — divorce, custody, child support, and other family-law matters;
• County Civil Courts at Law — civil matters within their statutory jurisdiction;
• Justice of the Peace Courts — including small claims and eviction cases;
• Probate Courts — estates, guardianships, trusts, and related matters.

When the Court Must Authorize Alternative Service

When standard service methods are unsuccessful, Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 106 allows the court to authorize substituted service. This may include leaving the citation and petition with someone age 16 or older at the specified address or using another method the court finds reasonably effective, including email, social media, or other electronic means.

The request must be supported by a sworn statement or declaration describing unsuccessful attempts and identifying a location where the defendant can probably be found. Our detailed attempt records can help support a request for court-authorized alternative service if standard methods fail.

Locating Recipients Across Houston

Houston covers a vast area, and the hardest part of many serves is simply locating the recipient. When an address may be outdated, we verify available details before attempting service. Our skip tracing in Texas combines database research with field verification to locate and serve individuals in Houston, Texas who have moved or are difficult to reach.

Outdated addresses and evasive recipients require different approaches. When an address no longer exists, such as after a building is demolished or a unit is renumbered, we research the recipient’s current location. When someone is actively avoiding service, we vary attempt times and methods while documenting each visit.