What are the Pros and Cons of Becoming a Process Server?

Process servers deliver court documents to an individual who has been summoned to court. Contrary to what the general public may believe, process servers are not merely messengers who deliver documents. In actuality, process servers are not only delivering documents, but they are upholding an individual’s constitutional right to due process. This makes the job they do that much more serious as not properly serving an individual can have serious implications in court. As such, many look to hire a private process server to handle the job. However, when it is time to have important legal documents served, many are not aware of how much it costs to have someone served.

PROS

• Each day is unique. Some days a stakeout is required, while other days are spent conducting research, delivering documents, or filing paperwork. This job is for individuals who embrace change and prefer to live a life outside the prosaic day-to-day.
• Process servers get to travel and discover new areas of cities and neighborhoods they may never visit otherwise. This profession is perfect for those who have a hunger for adventure! While driving to different jobs servers can make pit stops for coffee and crank up the baseball game without a boss breathing down their neck.
• Another pro is flexible schedules! Hours vary and serves have some wiggle room as to when they will take place. Process servers do not work the standard 9 to 5 because evening and weekend serves are often more successful. As long as process servers nab the servee and meet client deadlines, then it is a job well-done.
• This career provides long-lasting job security because serving due diligence is an essential part of the legal industry. Some fear the field could become obsolete because of tech advancements, but we are lightyears away from humanoid robots capable of doing what servers do.

CONS

• If a servee knows a serve is coming, they may be difficult to track down. Evasive individuals can lead to stakeouts lasting for hours at a time. This can be a difficult job for people who are impatient. Often being a process server is a lot of rushing and then…waiting.
• Being served can cause negative emotional outbursts from the recipient. A process server must be prepared for danger and have a tough skin. Most of the time though, process servers are met with calm understanding. A process server is not out to ruin people’s lives. They are merely messengers of crucial information.
• Hourly employees get paid the same whether business is slow or busy. Process servers get paid based on a variety of factors associated with service attempts and completions. Their income can be unpredictable at times. Some fee structures will not pay servers if service was not successful.