Ennis is a city of 20,118 people in Ellis County, 32.5 square miles in all, and a process server in Ennis, Texas serves papers for a county whose courts sit in Waxahachie, about 13.1 miles away. Whether the paper is a citation, petition, subpoena or notice, you choose the speed. Standard Service sets an attempt within 5 business days. Rush Service sets one within 48 hours, and 24-Hour Service within 24 hours. Delivery is followed by a signed Texas Rule 107 Return of Service, which is emailed to you. Ennis Regional Medical Center is in the city.
What a Process Server Costs in Ennis: Three Flat Tiers
Rates in Ennis are flat across all paper types. Standard Service is $69. Rush Service is $119. 24-Hour Service is $169. The pricing page displays them and the order form books them. Ellis County constables and the sheriff may serve too, at fees the commissioners court sets under Local Government Code 118.131. A private server is one more option.
Who May Serve Papers in Ennis: Certified Servers, Constables and Court Orders
Ask a Texas court clerk who may deliver a citation and the answer will track Rule 103. Law enforcement officers qualify, meaning sheriffs, constables and others authorized by law. A private adult qualifies only with a written court order naming that adult, and the adult must be at least 18. A process server certified by the Judicial Branch Certification Commission qualifies without such an order. What disqualifies someone is a personal stake in the case, which rules out both the plaintiff and the defendant. The certification guide tells more about how the credential works.
Where Ennis Cases Are Filed: Justice Court, County Court and District Court
Although Ennis is one of the larger cities in Ellis County, the county seat is Waxahachie, and the Ellis County Courts and Administration Building is at 109 South Jackson Street, Waxahachie, TX 75165, about 13.1 miles from Ennis in a straight line. For civil claims up to $20,000 (excluding interest) and for evictions, the justice court is the right venue; divorces are not heard there. County courts take amounts above $200 up to $20,000 as well, and a civil case over $500 up to $325,000 can be heard by a statutory county court or a district court. The justice court precinct covering an Ennis address turns on the disputed address, so the justice court clerk can confirm it. The Ellis County page has more.
Eviction Notices in Ennis: Notice to Vacate and the Justice Court Case
When an Ennis tenant falls behind or a lease ends badly, the landlord's first document is a written notice to vacate. The minimum period is three days, though a lease or agreement may set a shorter or longer one. The notice can be mailed, left in a conspicuous place inside the premises, handed to a tenant who is 16 or older, or sent electronically if the parties agreed in writing. Weekends and holidays are counted, and a deadline that falls on one is pushed to the next business day. After the period, a sworn petition is filed in justice court. A private server can hand-deliver the notice, but the eviction citation can only be served by a sheriff or constable, and an alias citation may be requested after 5 business days.
Divorce Papers, Citations and Substituted Service for Ennis Defendants
Getting divorce papers to a spouse in Ellis County follows Rule 106. The citation and petition go to the spouse in person, or by registered or certified mail with return receipt. If that fails, the plaintiff may ask the judge to approve something else through a Rule 106(b) motion, with a sworn statement of likely locations and the facts of earlier attempts. Orders can allow papers to be left with a person over 16 or sent by email or social media. A company is served through its registered agent, a president or vice president if it is a corporation, or the Secretary of State. No default judgment may be granted until proof of service has been on file ten days. The Rule 106(b) guide has more.
Subpoena Service, Witness Fees and Records Near Ennis
Ennis has a police department of its own for reports. For medical records, Ennis Regional Medical Center, 2201 West Lampasas Street, Ennis, TX 75119, is about 1.2 miles away. Other hospitals in range are Baylor Scott & White Medical Center- Waxahachie, 2400 N Interstate Highway 35E, Waxahachie, TX 75165 (about 9.5 miles), and Navarro Regional Hospital, 3201 West Highway 22, Corsicana, TX 75110 (about 17.7 miles). To serve a subpoena, a copy goes into the witness's hands together with any fee the law requires. The witness fee is $10 for each day of attendance and the summoning party pays it; a records custodian is owed $1. Records sought from a nonparty require 10 days' notice to every party before the subpoena goes out. The fee guide has more.
ZIP Codes and Neighboring Cities Around Ennis
Ennis is covered by ZIP code 75119, and the neighboring places are Palmer, Rice and Waxahachie.
Ennis Process Server FAQ
Can I serve the papers myself?
No. As the party who filed, you have a stake in the outcome and Rule 103 keeps interested persons from serving.
What if the person avoids service?
Note each place and date you tried and ask the court for a Rule 106(b) order. The services page and the FAQ have related answers.
How is a company served?
Through its registered agent or a corporate officer, with the Secretary of State as the last resort.