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Google review excerpts from Utah clients.
…the opposing party was served within 3 hours of me submitting the request!
They ran a skip trace, made five in-person service attempts, provided a sworn affidavit…
…the documents were served within a few hours.
82 five-star reviews on Google.
Who can serve a summons, complaint or subpoena?
Any adult 18 or older who isn’t a party to the case can serve a summons, complaint or subpoena in Utah (Utah Code 78B-8-302; Utah Rule of Civil Procedure 4). That includes a private process server, a sheriff’s deputy or a constable. The one person who can’t is you, if it’s your own case.
Who can serve court orders and writs?
Orders and writs, such as an order of restitution, a writ of execution or a writ of garnishment, need an officer: a sheriff or deputy sheriff, a constable or deputy constable, another peace officer, a state investigator, or a licensed private investigator (Utah Code 78B-8-302). A process server who isn’t one of these can’t serve them.
Who can carry out an eviction lockout?
Only a sheriff or constable may remove a tenant under an order of restitution (Utah Code 78B-6-812). A landlord, process server or private investigator can’t do the lockout, and a landlord who changes the locks outside the court process is breaking Utah law (Utah Code 78B-6-814). See lockout service.
Who can seize and sell property under a writ?
A sheriff or constable can take, hold and sell personal property, such as a vehicle or equipment, under a writ of execution (Utah Rule of Civil Procedure 64). Writs against land or a house are issued only to the sheriff. Property named in a writ of replevin can be recovered by either.
Can a constable or sheriff arrest someone?
Yes. A sheriff’s deputy is a full law enforcement officer. A constable is a sworn peace officer, called a special function officer, who carries police powers to enforce court orders and can arrest on a warrant (Utah Code 58-91-301). A private process server can’t arrest anyone.
How do cost and speed compare?
Sheriff’s civil units charge set fees and often have a waitlist. Private process servers set their own prices and often add mileage or attempt fees. Wasatch Constables charges flat prices: $69 Standard, $95 Priority, $129 Rush or same day, and $249 Guaranteed, with no mileage or attempt fees in Salt Lake, Utah, Davis and Weber counties. See how Utah providers compare.
Which one should I use?
For a summons, subpoena or divorce papers, use a private process server or a constable. For eviction orders, lockouts and writs, use a constable or the sheriff. A constable’s office does both, so one office can take a case from the first summons to the final lockout. Read more about what a constable is, or call 801-392-9400.
Need papers served or an order enforced?
Upload your papers and pick a speed. You see your total before you pay. Read more guides for people handling a court case in Utah.
FAQs
Constable, sheriff and process server questions
Is a constable higher than a sheriff?
Neither outranks the other. They are separate offices: the sheriff is an elected county official, and a constable is an officer a county or city selects and contracts with. For civil papers and court orders, both can serve and enforce, but only the sheriff handles writs against land or a house.
Can a process server do an eviction lockout?
No. In Utah only a sheriff or constable may remove a tenant under an order of restitution (Utah Code 78B-6-812). A process server can serve the eviction summons, but the lockout itself needs one of those two officers.
Is a constable the same as the sheriff?
No. The Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office has its own civil division that also serves papers and enforces orders. A constable is a separate officer the county selects. Both can carry out evictions and writs on personal property, but only the sheriff handles writs against land or a house.
Can a constable arrest me?
Only on a warrant, and only while working for the city or county that hired them (Utah Code 58-91-301). A constable delivering civil papers is there to hand them to you, not to arrest you over a debt. Ignoring a court order, such as an order to appear, is what can lead a judge to issue a warrant.
Ready to get your papers served?
Need a first attempt today? Choose Rush or Guaranteed and submit before noon Mountain Time on a weekday. Scheduling is subject to acceptance. After noon, call 801-392-9400.
Weekdays 8:30 to 5.