Service of process in California
In California a summons and complaint may be served by any non-party adult 18 or older, by a sheriff or marshal, or by a registered process server; service is generally made by personal delivery under Code of Civil Procedure section 415.10, with substituted service, mail with acknowledgment, and publication available in defined circumstances. A person who serves more than 10 process per year for compensation must register with the county clerk. Under California Rules of Court rule 3.110, the complaint is to be served and proof of service filed within 60 days of filing.
ProcessServerState provides procedural-information-only summaries of state process-server rules. This is not legal advice. Service of process is a critical step in litigation — if you fail to serve correctly, your case can be dismissed. For complex or contested matters, consult a licensed attorney or a court self-help center. Not affiliated with any court or sheriff's office.
Is a license required in California?
Authority: County clerk of the county of residence or principal place of business (registration, not state licensing)
Registration required only for a natural person who serves more than 10 process per calendar year for compensation, or any business deriving compensation from service (Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 22350); an occasional non-party adult need not register.
Who may serve process in California?
- County sheriff
- Marshal
- Licensed / registered process server
- Any non-party adult (18+)
- Certified / registered mail
- Publication (by court order)
Service deadline (California)
Cal. Rules of Court 3.110(b): complaint served and proof of service filed within 60 days of filing — a case-management deadline (extendable), not jurisdictional; CCP § 583.210 sets a 3-year outer limit.
UIDDA: California has adopted the Uniform Interstate Depositions and Discovery Act for interstate service.
Sheriff / Marshal civil-process route
Civil-process fees are set by each county and listed on the local sheriff's civil-process page. Not all counties publish a fee schedule — confirm with the county where service will be made.
Statute / Rule citation
Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 415.10 (personal service); § 414.10 (who may serve)
UIDDA: Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §§ 2029.100–2029.900
Interstate service from California
California has adopted the Uniform Interstate Depositions and Discovery Act (UIDDA), which provides a streamlined process for issuing an out-of-state subpoena based on one issued in the trial state. Service of an initial summons across state lines follows the receiving state's rules.
Sources for California
Other states with licensing requirements
Check a different state
Verified against California primary sources on June 16, 2026. Read how we verify on our methodology page, or browse every citation in the source manifest.
Editorial review status: Reviewer attribution pending — we are recruiting a credentialed reviewer (ex-process-server with a NAPPS credential, or a NALA/NFPA-certified civil-procedure paralegal) before this site applies for advertising. We will not display a fabricated reviewer.
ProcessServerState provides procedural-information-only summaries of state process-server rules. This is not legal advice. Service of process is a critical step in litigation — if you fail to serve correctly, your case can be dismissed. For complex or contested matters, consult a licensed attorney or a court self-help center. Not affiliated with any court or sheriff's office.