This process server page is for Austin, Texas, where a Travis County dispute can send a citation, petition, subpoena or notice to vacate across town. The attempt can happen within 5 business days, 48 hours or 24 hours depending on the tier, and the signed Return of Service by email closes the loop on proof. Austin is the Travis County seat and also touches Williamson and Hays counties. Check where the case is filed before you order.
Austin Process Server Rates: What Each of the Three Tiers Costs
Austin has three price points. Standard Service is $69 and the attempt comes within 5 business days. Rush Service costs $119 and the attempt comes within 48 hours. 24-Hour Service costs $169 and the attempt comes within 24 hours. The pricing page has the details and the order form takes the job.
If you would rather use a constable or sheriff, expect a fee set by the county commissioners court under Local Government Code 118.131. A private server is one more way to get the papers delivered.
Who May Serve Papers in Austin: Certified Servers, Constables and Court Orders
Three kinds of people can serve under Rule 103. One is a sheriff, constable or other person the law authorizes. Another is an adult 18 or older with a written court order. The third is a person certified by the Judicial Branch Certification Commission. Whoever the plaintiff is, and whoever else stands to gain from the outcome, is excluded. The clerk can mail the citation by certified or registered mail when asked.
Certification starts under Government Code 156.001 and needs renewal before the last day of the month of its second anniversary. The guide to Rule 103 and certification is the long version.
Where Austin Cases Are Filed: Justice Court, County Court and District Court
Travis County Courthouse sits at 1000 Guadalupe Street, Austin, TX 78701, about 1.8 miles from the city's reference point, and Austin is the seat of the county. Parts of Austin extend into Williamson and Hays counties, so a case about an address there can belong to a different county's courts.
The justice court takes civil claims up to $20,000 with interest left out plus evictions. It does not take divorce, slander, defamation, title to land, or suits to enforce a lien on land. A county court overlaps from over $200 to $20,000 and a statutory county court overlaps with district court from over $500 to $325,000. Which justice court precinct applies turns on the address in dispute, and the justice court clerk can say. See the Travis County page.
Eviction Notices in Austin: Notice to Vacate and the Justice Court Case
A notice to vacate comes first. For suits filed on or after January 1, 2026, the landlord gives the tenant at least three days in writing unless a written lease or agreement picks another period. The statute lists mailing, leaving it inside the premises in a conspicuous place, handing it to a tenant 16 or older, and electronic communication if agreed in writing. Calendar days count, and a final day on a weekend or holiday moves to the next business day.
After the sworn petition is filed in justice court, the citation goes through a sheriff or constable; nobody else qualifies. If five business days pass after filing without service, the landlord can ask for an alias citation to be served by another qualified officer. Private servers deliver notices, not eviction citations.
Divorce Papers, Citations and Substituted Service for Austin Defendants
Divorce cases are heard in district court. Personal delivery works, or registered or certified mail with return receipt requested. When it does not, the party can ask under Rule 106(b) for an order allowing the papers to be left with someone over 16 at a location where the defendant can probably be found, or served by email or social media, supported by a sworn statement about the locations and what happened there. The Rule 106(b) guide is a good companion.
When the defendant is a company, the registered agent at the registered office is the usual target. A corporation's president and vice presidents can also be agents for service. The return, once filed, must sit ten days before a default judgment (Rule 107(h)). The server can sign the return under penalty of perjury, so no notary is needed.
Subpoena Service, Witness Fees and Records Near Austin
Texas allows a sheriff, constable or any non-party 18 or older to serve a subpoena anywhere in the state by handing over a copy and tendering required fees. Witnesses collect $10 for each day of attendance, due from the summoning party at service, and a records custodian gets $1. Anyone within 150 miles of the county where the case is pending can be subpoenaed. The subpoena intake guide covers it.
The closest hospitals in the data are Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin at 1201 W 38th St (0.7 miles), St David's Medical Center at 919 E 32nd St (1.7 miles) and Dell Seton Med Center at the University of Tx at 601 E 15th Street (2.0 miles). Police records are with the Austin Police Department.
ZIP Codes and Neighboring Cities Around Austin
Austin's ZIP codes in this data number 36, including 78701, 78702, 78703, 78704, 78705 and 78712. The neighbors are Cedar Park, West Lake Hills, Rollingwood, Manor, Bee Cave and Pflugerville.
Austin Process Server FAQ
Can I serve the papers myself?
A party to the case cannot. An authorized adult, a constable or sheriff, or a certified server can.
How soon can a default judgment be taken?
Only after ten days of proof of service on file with the clerk.
What if the person avoids service?
Ask for substituted service under Rule 106(b), listing the likely locations and the earlier attempts.