Legal papers only move a case forward when they reach the right person through the right procedure. Personal Protection Solutions provides process serving and subpoena services with careful preparation, professional contact, and complete documentation of every attempt.
Process serving is part of our investigative services, so our team can locate hard-to-find recipients through lawful research when an address is out of date. PPS is veteran-owned and based in the Baltimore area, serving attorneys, law firms, businesses, and individuals across Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia, and the other states we cover.
Documents We Serve
- Summonses and complaints
- Subpoenas for testimony or records
- Divorce, custody, and other family law papers
- Landlord and tenant notices
- Small claims and other civil documents
- Business notices delivered to a registered agent or company officer
We work from the documents and instructions you provide and follow the service rules that apply where the case is filed. Subpoenas can carry added requirements involving notice, fees, or timing, which we review before accepting the assignment.
How Our Process Serving Works
Review and preparation
Before the first attempt, we review the documents, deadline, recipient details, and jurisdiction. If something looks incomplete, such as a missing suite number or an unclear recipient name, we raise it with you before time is lost.
Locating the recipient
When a recipient has moved or is avoiding contact, our investigators use lawful public records and field checks to confirm a current address or workplace. Locating work is scoped and priced up front, and our article on what it costs to hire a private investigator explains the factors involved.
Professional service attempts
Our servers are calm, courteous, and discreet. They identify the recipient, deliver the papers according to the applicable rules, and avoid confrontation. Servers do not trespass, use force, or misrepresent who they are, and they step back if conditions become unsafe.
Documentation and affidavits
Every attempt is logged with the date, time, location, and outcome. After successful service, we prepare a proof of service or affidavit for filing, and we report unsuccessful attempts promptly so you and your counsel can decide on next steps.
Process Serving Rules Vary by Jurisdiction
Who may serve process, which methods are allowed, and how proof must be filed differ from state to state and sometimes between courts. In Maryland, for example, the courts’ guide to service of process explains that a party to the case cannot serve the papers personally and that proof of service is required. We confirm the requirements for your case before service begins, and your attorney remains the authority on procedural questions.
Why Choose Personal Protection Solutions
PPS was founded by Christopher Quirk, a U.S. Army veteran with 18 years of service and more than 500 executive protection details. The planning and discretion behind our protective work also apply to sensitive service, including papers for executives, public figures, or recipients in secure buildings. We are available 24/7, take rush requests, and give every client a direct point of contact. You can learn more about our team.
Process Serving FAQs
We make additional attempts at different times and locations, document each one, and use lawful research to confirm where the recipient can be found. If personal service still is not possible, we provide a detailed record of attempts that your attorney can use when asking the court about alternative service options.
No one can guarantee service, because address accuracy, building access, and the recipient’s availability all affect the outcome. We can review your deadline, prioritize rush requests, and schedule attempts to give you the best chance of meeting it. Send the documents as early as possible so there is time to work around obstacles.
Yes. After successful service, we prepare a proof of service or affidavit that records who was served, when, where, and how. We also share logs for any unsuccessful attempts. Format requirements vary by court, so tell us if your filing needs specific language and your attorney can confirm what the court expects.
Yes. These are our home markets, and we also serve documents in Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, and North Carolina. Each jurisdiction has its own rules for who can serve and how service must be completed, and we confirm them before the first attempt is made.
Often, yes. Our investigators use lawful public records, database research, and field verification to locate recipients who have moved. We do not use pretexting or other prohibited methods to obtain protected information. Locating work is quoted separately, so you know the cost before we begin.