Frequently Asked Questions

This page answers the questions we hear most often from law firms, attorneys' offices, and people serving their own papers in Texas. If you don't see what you need below, call 512-508-8629 or email [email protected] — we're happy to walk you through anything specific to your case.

Pricing & Coverage

How much does it cost to serve legal documents in Williamson County, Texas?

Service in Williamson County is $75 per paper. Williamson is one of our two home counties, so there's no travel surcharge — that's the same rate whether the address is in Round Rock, Georgetown, Cedar Park, Leander, or any of the smaller communities. The $75 covers multiple service attempts at the same address plus a notarized return of service (affidavit) once the papers are served.

How much does it cost to serve papers in Travis County?

Travis County service is also $75 per paper. Travis is our second home county along with Williamson, so there's no travel add-on for Austin, Pflugerville, or any Travis County location. Same coverage as Williamson — multiple attempts and notarized affidavit included.

What's the cost for service in counties beyond Williamson and Travis?

Counties one over from our home base — Bell, Bastrop, Burnet, Hays, Lee, and Milam — are $100 per paper ($75 base + $25 travel add-on). Counties two over — Blanco and Caldwell — are $125 per paper. We don't serve outside this 10-county Central Texas region. If you need broader coverage, we'll refer you to another certified Texas process server.

What's pro-se pricing and how is it different?

Pro-se rates apply when you're representing yourself without an attorney. Pro-se service is $100 per paper in our home counties (Williamson and Travis), with the same county-distance add-ons as attorney work — $125 for one county away, $150 for two counties away. The slightly higher rate covers the extra time we usually spend walking first-time filers through what to expect.

Does Monty offer skip tracing if I don't have a current address?

Skip tracing isn't a service we offer. We'll attempt service at the address you provide and let you know if the recipient doesn't appear to live or work there anymore. If you need help locating someone with no known current address, we'll point you to a skip tracer or investigator who specializes in that. We focus on what we do best — serving

How Service Works

How long does it take to serve papers in Texas?

Our first service attempt is made within 24-48 hours of receiving the documents — same-day if you send the papers before 9 a.m. When the recipient isn't available on the first try, additional attempts are spaced roughly 48 hours apart and at different times of day, in line with Texas's good faith effort standard. Total time to completion depends on how quickly we can make personal contact with the recipient.

Do you offer same-day or rush service?

Yes. Same-day rush service is available for time-sensitive papers like TROs, last-minute attorney filings, or anything with a court deadline. Rush service involves an additional fee on top of the standard service rate. Call 512-508-8629 to confirm pricing and availability — we can usually start attempts within the hour for confirmed rush jobs.

How many attempts will Monty make to serve someone?

We make at least three attempts at different times and days before treating a serve as unsuccessful. Some Texas counties require more than three attempts before substitute service can be requested, and we'll continue beyond three when needed — there's a $25 fee for each additional attempt past the standard three. Texas requires a "good faith effort" to serve, so we vary timing across days, mornings, and evenings to maximize the chance of personal contact.

Do I need to be present when papers are served?

No. As the person requesting service, you don't need to be present. We serve the recipient at their address (home or workplace), confirm identity, and prepare a notarized affidavit of service afterward. The affidavit goes to you by email or mail, and the original goes to the court if needed.

What happens if the person being served refuses to take the papers?

In Texas, the recipient doesn't have to physically accept the papers for service to be valid. Once a process server identifies the recipient and clearly states what's being served, the recipient can refuse — and the documents can be set down in close proximity. The service is still legally completed, and the affidavit notes the refusal.

Can Monty serve someone at their workplace?

Yes, workplace service is permitted in Texas as long as the documents can be delivered to the recipient personally and the workplace allows visitor entry. We're discreet about workplace serves to avoid creating embarrassment or workplace conflict. If you'd like us to attempt service at a workplace, let us know when you send the documents.

What if the person isn't home or is actively avoiding service?

If standard attempts fail, Texas allows alternative methods — typically through a Motion for Substitute Service approved by the court. We document every attempt with date, time, and notes; if we believe substitute service is needed, we'll provide documentation that supports your motion. If the recipient appears to have moved, we'll let you know so you can update the address before we continue.

What Can Be Served

What types of legal documents does Monty serve?

We serve a wide range of civil and family law documents, including citations and summonses, subpoenas (witness and document), temporary restraining orders (TROs) and protective orders, divorce and family law papers, small claims and JP court documents, civil and probate court papers, federal court documents, and corporate or workplace serves. Many of the cases we work on actually originate outside of Texas — out-of-state attorneys and law firms regularly send us papers when their case targets someone living in our Central Texas service area.

Does Monty serve federal court documents?

Yes. We serve documents originating in federal court, including federal civil summonses and federal subpoenas. Federal service follows the same compliance standards, and we provide the affidavit of service required for federal filing.

Does Monty handle eviction notices?

No, we don't serve eviction notices or landlord-tenant documents. Eviction service has unique requirements that are typically handled by constables in Texas, and we focus on civil and family court documents instead. If you have an eviction matter, we can point you to the appropriate constable's office.

Can Monty serve papers in any Texas county?

We focus on Central Texas — specifically Williamson, Travis, Bell, Bastrop, Burnet, Hays, Lee, Milam, Blanco, and Caldwell counties. For service outside this 10-county area, we'll refer you to certified servers who cover the region you need. As a single-server firm, we cover the area we know well rather than spreading too thin across the state.

Working With MW3142

How do I send Monty the documents to be served?

Email PDF copies to [email protected] — that's the fastest way and how most clients send documents. Include the recipient's name, address, any court deadlines, and a brief note about the case. For mailed originals required by certain courts, we charge a small handling fee.

How will I know when service is complete?

We send a status update after attempts and a final notification once service is complete. The notarized affidavit of service follows within 24-48 hours of successful service, sent by email or mail per your preference. If multiple attempts don't succeed, we'll discuss next steps before closing the case.

What's an affidavit of service / return of service?

An affidavit of service (sometimes called a return of service) is the notarized document confirming that legal papers were properly served. It includes who was served, when, where, and how, plus the process server's signature and notary seal. Most courts require this affidavit to be filed as proof that the recipient was notified — without it, the case typically can't proceed.

Is Monty a certified Texas process server?

Yes. Monty Wilson is a certified Texas process server, certified through the Texas Judicial Branch Certification Commission (JBCC). He's also a member of the National Association of Professional Process Servers (NAPPS), the National Process Servers Network (NPSN), and WilcoBusinesses.

How and when do I pay for service?

We typically send an invoice after the first service attempt rather than requiring payment upfront. Most clients pay by credit card. We also accept Venmo and Zelle. Checks are accepted with prior arrangement. Pricing is per paper at the rates listed, with travel add-ons for counties beyond Williamson and Travis.

How do I get started with Monty?

The fastest way is to email your documents to [email protected] or call 512-508-8629. Include the recipient's name, last known address, any court deadlines, and a brief description of the case. We'll confirm receipt, give you a service estimate, and start attempts within 24-48 hours.

Still have questions?

If your situation isn't covered above, just call 512-508-8629 or email [email protected]. We'd rather answer one more question now than have you guess wrong about something important to your case.