California Form SER-001, the Request for Sheriff to Serve Court Papers, is the form you file with a county sheriff’s civil division to have a deputy personally deliver your court papers to another party. You complete one form for each person or business being served, attach the documents to be delivered, pay the sheriff’s fee or submit a court-approved fee waiver, and drop the package at the sheriff’s office. A deputy attempts personal service, and you receive a proof of service to file with the court.
Where to Get the Form
SER-001 is available free from the California Courts self-help site, where it is listed as “Request for Sheriff to Serve Court Papers.”1California Courts | Self Help Guide. Request for Sheriff to Serve Court Papers (SER-001) You can also pick up a paper copy at the clerk’s office of any California superior courthouse, and some county sheriff websites host the PDF directly.2Orange County California Sheriff. Civil Process Services Print the current version. Older revisions can be rejected.
How to Complete Each Section
You need a separate SER-001 for every person or entity you want served. All fields are required unless the form marks them optional.3San Diego Superior Court. SER-001 Request for Sheriff to Serve Court Papers
Your Information and the Case Name (Items 1 and 2)
At the top, write the county whose sheriff or marshal you are asking to serve the papers. Then fill in your name, mailing address, and phone. Email and phone are optional but useful if the sheriff’s office needs to reach you. If a lawyer represents you, add their name and firm. Item 2 asks for the case name exactly as it appears on your court documents, such as “Garcia v. Smith.”
Who Is Being Served (Item 3)
Detail matters most here. For an individual, give the full legal name plus any known nicknames or aliases. Then fill in the physical description: gender, height, weight, hair color, eye color, approximate age or date of birth, race or ethnicity, and distinguishing marks like tattoos or scars. You can also list vehicle make, model, and license plate. The more the deputy has, the easier it is to confirm they have the right person.
A safety and accessibility section includes checkboxes for issues the deputy should know about, such as a history of violence, weapons in the home, or accessibility concerns at the location. Be honest. Leaving out a known safety risk endangers the deputy and can delay your case.
If the party is a business or other entity, a parallel section asks for the entity’s name and type, a specific person to receive the papers if applicable, and the name of any registered agent for service of process.
Where to Attempt Service (Item 4)
Enter the physical address where the deputy should try, and mark whether it is a home or business. Add gate codes, entry instructions, and the best time to attempt. A second address field lets you list a backup location if you know one. A checkbox flags that the person is currently in jail or prison, which routes the request through a different set of procedures.
What You Want Served (Item 5)
Item 5 asks what type of papers you are handing over, such as a Summons and Complaint, a Civil Harassment Restraining Order, or a Subpoena. List every specific form and document included. If a court hearing is set, enter that date so the sheriff’s office treats the request as time-sensitive, and note any separate service deadline.
One field trips people up: “Has the court allowed you to serve your court papers in another way besides personal service?” If a judge has already ordered substituted service or service by mail, check yes and attach a copy of that order. If not, leave it at no and the sheriff will attempt personal delivery.
Use the open instructions field for practical detail, like “works the night shift, usually home before 2 p.m.” or “front office closes at 5 p.m.”
Writs and Levies (Item 6)
Item 6 applies only if you are asking the sheriff to enforce a writ or levy in addition to serving papers. If so, check yes and also complete SER-001A, Special Instructions for Writs and Levies. Anyone requesting standard service of a summons, restraining order, or subpoena can skip it.
Signature
Date and sign the form. An unsigned SER-001 will be returned. If an attorney is handling the case, the attorney may sign.
What Else Goes in the Packet
The completed SER-001 is only part of what you submit. You also need copies of the court papers the deputy will physically hand over. The required number of copies varies by county and document type. Some offices want two copies of a Summons and Complaint; others want one copy per person to be served plus one for the sheriff’s file. Call your county sheriff’s civil division or check its website before assembling the packet.
If a judge has granted you a fee waiver, include the original signed order (Form FW-003) with your package. Without it, the sheriff’s office will expect payment before processing the request.
Sheriff’s Fees
The sheriff charges a fee for each service attempt. Government Code section 26721 directs sheriff departments to charge the amount set in the fee schedule established by Article 7 of that code.4California Legislative Information. California Government Code 26721 The exact amount depends on the document type and the county. Contact your local civil division for the current figure. Most offices take checks, money orders, or in some counties online payment.
If You Cannot Afford the Fee
Ask the court to waive it. File Form FW-001, Request to Waive Court Fees, with the court. If the judge approves, the order on Form FW-003 specifically lists “Sheriff’s fee to give notice” as a covered cost.5Judicial Council of California. FW-003 Order on Court Fee Waiver (Superior Court) Bring the signed FW-003 to the sheriff’s office in place of payment. The sheriff must process the request without charging you.6Judicial Branch of California. Ask for a Fee Waiver
Protective-Order Cases
California waives fees for several protective-order cases by statute. Government Code section 6103.2 requires no fee deposit for service of domestic violence prevention orders, civil harassment restraining orders, elder abuse protection orders, or gun violence restraining orders.7California Legislative Information. California Government Code 6103.2 Section 26721 further bars any fee for serving an emergency protective order or domestic violence restraining order on a respondent already in custody.4California Legislative Information. California Government Code 26721 Tell the clerk if your case fits one of these categories. You should not need a separate fee waiver.
Submitting the Request
Most people file in person at the sheriff’s civil division during business hours. Bring the completed SER-001, the correct number of copies of the court papers, and your payment or fee waiver. The clerk reviews the package, collects payment, and hands back a receipt or file-stamped copy.
Many counties also accept mailed submissions. If you mail your request, include a self-addressed stamped envelope for the receipt and any correspondence. Some counties offer online submission; Orange County, for example, accepts most civil process requests electronically.2Orange County California Sheriff. Civil Process Services Check your county’s website to see what is available.
What Happens After You Submit
Once the sheriff accepts your package, a deputy is assigned to attempt personal delivery at the address you gave. In Los Angeles County, the sheriff will make up to three attempts when personal service is legally required.8Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Court Services FAQ Most counties follow a similar practice, though the exact number varies. Deputies try at different times of day to improve their chances of catching the person.
If the deputy reaches the right person and hands over the papers, service is complete at that moment.9California Legislative Information. Code of Civil Procedure – Article 3, Service of Summons The sheriff prepares a proof of service documenting the date, time, and location of delivery, along with the name of the deputy who completed it.
If the deputy cannot find the person after exhausting all attempts, the sheriff’s office returns the papers to you with a declaration of due diligence that records what was tried, including dates, times, and any observations at the address.10California Courts. Sheriff Serves – Section: How to Ask the Sheriff to Serve Your Court Papers That does not mean your case is over. It means you need to consider another service method.
File the Proof of Service Yourself
The sheriff handles physical delivery, but getting the proof of service into the court file is your job. Take the original proof from the sheriff’s office and file it with the court clerk where your case is pending. This step tells the judge the other party has been legally notified and clears the way for the case to move forward. Skip this filing and the court has no record that service happened; hearings may be delayed or the case dismissed for failure to prosecute. File as soon as you receive the proof.
If the Sheriff Cannot Complete Service
A failed attempt is not the end of the case. California law offers two main alternatives.
Substituted Service
If personal delivery fails after “reasonable diligence,” you can use substituted service under Code of Civil Procedure section 415.20. California treats reasonable diligence as at least three good-faith attempts on three different days at three different times.11California Legislative Information. California Code of Civil Procedure 415.20 The sheriff’s declaration of due diligence usually satisfies that requirement.
With substituted service, a copy of the papers is left at the person’s home, workplace, or usual mailing address (not a P.O. box) with a competent adult, meaning someone at least 18 years old who appears to be in charge or is a member of the household. That person must be told what the documents are. Another copy must then be mailed by first-class, Priority Mail with tracking, or certified mail to the same address. Service is complete 10 days after that mailing.11California Legislative Information. California Code of Civil Procedure 415.20
If a court has already authorized substituted service in your case, mark that at Item 5e on SER-001 and attach the order.
Service by Publication
When the defendant cannot be located at all, you can ask the court for permission to serve by publication under Code of Civil Procedure section 415.50. You must file an affidavit showing that the defendant cannot be served by any other method despite reasonable diligence, and that a valid cause of action exists against them. If the court grants the request, you publish a summary of the summons in a newspaper of general circulation for a set period. This is a last resort, and courts are reluctant to approve it without strong evidence that every other option was exhausted.
Serving Someone in Jail or Prison
If the person is incarcerated, check the box at Item 4 and provide the facility’s name and address. The sheriff’s office will coordinate with the facility. Procedures differ by institution. Some require advance approval or a background check for anyone entering, and inmates can sometimes refuse to accept documents. If in-person delivery to the inmate is not possible, the facility administration may assist. Contact the specific jail or prison in advance to learn what they require.
If the Person Is on Active Military Duty
Federal law adds a layer of protection when the person served is on active military duty. Under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, if the defendant does not respond after being served and you seek a default judgment, you must file an affidavit stating whether the defendant is in the military or that you could not determine their status.12United States Courts. Servicemembers Civil Relief Act The court cannot enter a default against a servicemember without first appointing an attorney to represent them. The Department of Defense maintains a free status-verification website if you are unsure. Overlooking this requirement can get the judgment thrown out later.