Small claims court · service of process
What does it cost to serve the defendant?
Pick your state to see what each service method costs — sheriff, court-arranged mail, or certified mail — read from that court's own fee schedule, not estimated.
In California, serving the defendant costs $15 by certified mail (court-arranged) or $50 by sheriff or marshal.
Flat statewide fee set by SB 564 (2024). Some counties only serve small claims papers if the plaintiff qualifies for a court fee waiver — otherwise a process server is typically faster.
Source: Cal. Gov. Code §26721.2
Some California courts will mail the claim by certified mail for a flat $15 clerk fee. Ask your clerk whether yours offers this.
California law also allows using a registered process server instead of the sheriff. No court or state source publishes a typical cost for one, so it isn't shown here — expect it to cost more than the sheriff, and ask for a quote.
Covers the cost of serving the defendant only — not the court's filing fee, which is a separate charge. Informational only, not legal advice; confirm the current cost with your court clerk before you file.
How this is calculated
Last reviewed: September 2026
Where the numbers come from
Sheriff, marshal, and constable fees come from that state's own statute or a county court's published fee schedule — the exact source is cited by name and linked under each method above. Certified mail figures use USPS's own current published rate for certified mail plus an electronic return receipt ($9.28 as of 2026-09-03), since that's a national rate rather than something a state court sets.
Why there's no private process server price
Every state we cover allows hiring a private process server as an alternative to the sheriff, and it's often faster. But process servers set their own market rates — no state or court publishes a typical figure the way they publish a sheriff's fee schedule. Rather than invent a number, each state's result says plainly that a process server is an option with no citable price, so you know to call one directly for a quote.
What this doesn't cover
- The filing fee. That's a separate cost to open the case — see the Filing Fee Calculator.
- Mileage. A few states (Washington, Michigan, Pennsylvania) add a per-mile charge on top of the base fee for how far the officer has to travel — that's noted where it applies, but isn't computed since it depends on the defendant's exact address.
- Fallback service. If the defendant can't be located and the case needs service by publication or a second attempt, costs vary by county — ask your court clerk.
States currently covered
California, Florida, New York (New York City), Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Michigan, New Jersey, Washington. More states are added on an ongoing basis.
Frequently asked questions
Why isn't there a price for hiring a private process server?
Because no court or state publishes one. Sheriff and constable fees are set by statute or a published fee schedule, so we can cite an exact number. Private process servers set their own market rates, county by county and server by server — anyone showing you a single "typical" figure for one is estimating, not citing a source, which is exactly what this site tries not to do. Call a couple of local servers for a quote if the sheriff isn't a good fit for your case.
Does this include the court's filing fee?
No — this tool covers only the cost of serving the defendant. The filing fee is a separate charge you pay to open the case; use the Filing Fee Calculator for that number, or the Total Cost to Sue Calculator to see both added together.
Which service method should I pick?
Whichever your state's court accepts and fits your case. Sheriff or constable service is the most reliable for a defendant who might dispute being served, since it comes with sworn proof of service. Certified mail is usually cheaper and is fine when the defendant is cooperative or easy to reach. Some states restrict certified mail to certain defendants (Florida, for example, only allows it for in-state individuals) — the notes under each method flag restrictions like that.
What if the sheriff can't find the defendant?
Every state we cover has a fallback: hiring a private process server, or in some states asking the court for permission to serve by publication (running a notice in a local newspaper) if the defendant genuinely can't be located. Ask your court clerk what your state requires once a first attempt fails — it varies enough by state and by county that we don't try to give a single number for it here.