CountyWide Mobile Notaries of America

STATES WITH STATEWIDE LICENSING LAWS

ALASKA
Process servers are licensed by the Commissioner of Public Safety. A $15,000 surety bond is required to
be posted by each process server. The bond applies primarily to theft that may arise out of levies and
executions. Applicants must pass a written examination.
[Alaska Administrative Code, Title 13, section 067.5 thru 067.100]

ARIZONA
Arizona has statewide registration of process servers in compliance with procedures set forth by the
Arizona Supreme Court. Applicants must be 21 and a bona fide resident for one year immediately
preceding application. Applicants must pass a written examination. No bonding or insurance required.
[Arizona Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 4(e)]

CALIFORNIA
Persons who serve more than 10 papers a year are required to be registered in the county in which they
operate. Registration is valid statewide. Applicants must be a resident for one year immediately
preceding filing. Each applicant is required to post a $2,000 bond or cash deposit. No testing or education
required. Licensed private investigators, although exempt from the registration requirement, would
probably not be empowered to serve bank levies and similar documents without being registered in view
of the statutory language requiring that a registered process server serve those documents.
[California Business and Professions Code �22350 and �22353]

ILLINOIS
There is no statewide licensing law in Illinois; however, a person licensed in Illinois as a �private
detective� may serve original process in all counties except for Cook County without special
appointment. In order for PIs to serve in Cook County, the court upon motion and in its discretion, may
appoint a �private detective agency� as a special process server in lieu of an individual. It is not
necessary that service be made only by a sheriff or PI. Private persons over the age of 18, upon motion,
may be appointed by the court to serve original process.
[Illinois Compiled Statutes �5/2-202]

MONTANA
Any person who makes more than 10 services of process in any 1 calendar year must be registered. The
registration certificate also empowers the process server to act as a levying officer and requires process
servers to have a �surety bond� of $10,000 per individual or $100,000 per firm. Process servers cannot
levy on an amount in excess of their bond. Applicants must pass a written examination based on the
Handbook for Process Servers, which is published by the Montana Department of Commerce.
[Montana Code Annotated �25-1-1101 and �25-1-1111]

NEVADA
All persons who engage in business as a process server must be licensed. Applicants must be 21 or over,
have 2 years experience as a process server, and have insurance for protection against liability to third
persons with limits of not less than $200,000. No bonding is required. Applicants must deposit $750 at
time of application to pay for a background investigation, the cost of which must be paid for by applicant
up to a maximum of $1500. Applicants must pass a written application and may be required to pass an
oral examination. Licenses are issued by the Nevada Private Investigator�s Licensing Board. The most
expensive state in the nation in which to get licensed.
[Nevada Revised Statutes �648.110 and �648.135]

OKLAHOMA
Process servers are required to be licensed, and all licensees must execute a bond �running to the State
of Oklahoma in the amount of $5,000 for faithful performance of his or her duties...� Applicants may pay
a fee of $35 and be licensed to serve process in the county in which the license is issued, or applicant
may pay a fee of $150 and be licensed statewide. The license states that process servers are officers of
the court only for the service of process. No testing or education required.
[Oklahoma Statutes Annotated �12-158.1]

TEXAS
Effective July 1, 2005, the Texas Supreme Court adopted changes to Rules 103 and 536(a) of the Texas
Rules of Civil Procedure (TRCP) which pertain to the statewide Certification of process servers. Go to the
Texas Supreme Court�s website at www.courts.state.tx.us/psrb/psrbhome.asp for a full explanation of
the new rules and the procedure for becoming certified in all Texas courts.

WASHINGTON
A person who serves legal process for a fee in the State of Washington is required to register with the
auditor of the county in which the process server resides or operates his or her principal place of
business and pay a $10 fee. No testing and no requirement for insurance or bonding. Easiest and most
inexpensive state in which to get a license.
[Revised Code of Washington �18.180.010]

STATES WITH LOCAL LICENSING LAWS

FLORIDA
Sheriffs in certain counties (currently about seven) will appoint individuals as a special process server.
Applicants must be at least 18, be a permanent resident of the state, submit to an examination and
execute a $5,000 bond.
[Florida Statutes � 48.021]

The chief judge of each judicial circuit is empowered to certify process servers to serve process, and
currently judges in approximately 30 counties grant such certifications. The requirements for becoming
certified are essentially the same as the requirements for being appointed a special process server by
the sheriff.
[Florida Statutes � 48.27 � 48.29]

MISSOURI
City of St. Louis (22nd Judicial District) (pop. 400,000) requires that all persons who want to become
process servers must take and pass a training course (5 nights of classroom instruction with written
examination) administered by the Sheriff of the City of St. Louis. Applicants must be 21 years of age,
have a high school diploma or GED and no criminal record. All process servers are required to have E&O
coverage with limits of at least $100,000.

NEW YORK
City of New York (pop. 8 million) requires all persons who serve process within its 5 boroughs
(Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Staten Island, Queens) to be licensed through the NYC Department of
Consumer Affairs. There is no requirement for insurance or bonding and no educational requirement or
testing.
[Rules of the City of New York, subchapter W, �2.231, et seq and �20-403, et seq.]

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