subject: 5 Ways to Be More Discrete While Serving Papers in a Professional Setting [print this page] 5 Ways to Be More Discrete While Serving Papers in a Professional Setting
Serving process is complicated enough at times, but when a server must conduct business in a professional setting the difficulty increases. While professionalism, good manners, tolerance, and respect are necessary for all serves, it is perhaps more crucial in professional settings because of the nature of the environment. Therefore, discretion must be of the greatest concern for the process server in such scenarios.
In spite of the nature of the documents to be served, there are a number of steps to improve discretion of which process servers must be conscious.
1. If you have to serve papers at a business, it would be wise to dress properly. A good first impression goes a long way.
2. If you anticipate any difficulty in a potential serve situation, it is crucial to assess the situation in order to determine the most effective one-time method for serving the papers because you may not get a second chance, particularly if the person to be served is famous or high-profile.
3. While at the location, do not offer more facts than is necessary in order to guard the privacy of the person to be served. This is especially true if he or she is one of the higher-ups in the business or a service provider such as a doctor with patients in the waiting room. Do not identify yourself outright as a process server except when you are badgered with questions relating to whether you have an appointment or what the nature of the visit is. In most situations a simple, "I have legal documents for so-and-so" is adequate. Though, if the individual is being troublesome by trying to evade service, I have been known to volunteer a little more information in order to secure compliance.
4. At times it is required to go beyond tact and professionalism when a receptionist or security guard will not let you into the premises to effect service. Offering the applicable statute and telling them that state law trumps office guidelines helps in most cases. Nevertheless, similar to #3 above, there are occasions where tact and professionalism must be compromised to some extent in order to get the job done.
5. If it is difficult to obtain admittance to a person's home or place of business, then occasionally calling him or her and explaining that you are a process server with papers for them, do not want to cause them any shame, will be at their office/residence in a while, and that you will ensure discretion when serving the papers if he or she cooperates, will be effective in most cases. If not, it is acceptable to inform the individual that you are permitted to carryout stakeouts at both his or her home and office to effect service and, in some cases, they could be financially responsible for the extra expenses.
At any rate, discretion is a requirement for process servers generally. There are cases which require transcending ideal tact to get the job finished. Essentially, however, being cognizant of the situation, familiar with the papers, and professional and polite will go a long way to assuring a successful serve.
