Server's Corner

Top Challenges in Process Serving

“You’ve been served…” eventually.

Ah yes, process serving. That oh-so-glamorous job where you don’t actually wear sunglasses and shout “You’ve been served!” in slow motion like in the movies. (We wish.) Real-life process serving is part legal know-how and part private-eye grit.

At Roland Process Service and Investigations, we make it our mission to deliver legal documents swiftly, legally, and with zero drama. But make no mistake: process serving comes with its fair share of plot twists. Let’s break down some of the most difficult challenges we face while doing the behind-the-scenes work that keeps the legal wheels turning.

The Art of the Vanishing Defendant

If “Avoiding Legal Service” was an Olympic sport, some folks would have gold medals by now. From conveniently skipping town to pretending they don’t live at that address anymore, dodgers make our job more like a hide-and-seek championship.

How we handle it:
We do our homework. That means address verification, surveillance (the legal kind, don’t worry), and sometimes getting creative with timing. Think: early mornings, late evenings, or weekend visits. No, we don’t camp outside in bushes—but we’ve definitely loitered near a mailbox or two.

Dogs That Did Not Sign the Paperwork

Nothing gets the heart racing quite like a “Beware of Dog” sign, especially when paired with aggressive barking and scratch marks on the inside of the door. It’s not that we don’t love animals—it’s that we love our limbs intact.

How we handle it:
With patience, awareness, and sometimes, a backup plan. We’ll find an alternative route or coordinate safe drop-offs. We’re firm believers in avoiding emergency room detours.

Gated Communities & Locked Buildings

Modern housing sure knows how to keep people out—including us. Apartment intercoms that no one answers? Check. Gated communities with Fort Knox-level security? Check. Key fob elevators that think we’re ghosts? Double check.

How we handle it:
We lean on creativity, persistence, and polite communication with building managers (we’ve made some elevator friends for life). Sometimes, we’ll even serve someone at work instead—because legal papers don’t clock out.

People Who Think They're in a Spy Movie

You’d be surprised how many people think avoiding legal service means the case disappears. We’ve had individuals give fake names, use decoys, or sprint back into their homes like we’re zombies in a horror movie.

How we handle it:
We stay calm, document everything, and rely on tried-and-true techniques that are 100% court-compliant. Our motto: serve smart, not scary.

Beating the Clock

Some legal deadlines are tighter than a jar of pickles after arm day. Whether it's a last-minute rush job or a file that sat on someone’s desk too long, process servers often get handed documents with countdowns already ticking.

How we handle it:
We hustle. Of course, legally-and-safely-but-lightning-fast hustle. At Roland Process Service and Investigations, we're built for speed, accuracy, and coming in clutch when the clock is running out.

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Serving With a Smile (Even When It’s Tricky)

Let’s face it—process serving isn’t for the faint of heart. It takes patience, strategy, street smarts, and a really good sense of direction. But here’s the thing: we love what we do, challenges and all. Because at the end of the day, serving papers helps ensure due process—aka the bedrock of justice. And if we can do that while dodging dogs, gates, and evasive action movie stunts, even better.

Need something served (without the drama)? Call the pros at Roland Process Service and Investigations. We deliver results, not excuses.

By Roland Process Service & Investigations Staff 6-1-2025