Garland is a Dallas County city, so a process server in Garland, TX works from Garland doorsteps but files and checks records in Dallas. Citations, petitions, subpoenas and notices can be placed for an attempt within 5 business days, 48 hours or 24 hours, and the signed Return of Service is emailed after delivery. The county seat is Dallas, about 13.7 miles from Garland.
Garland Process Server Pricing: Three Flat Tiers
Garland orders come in three speeds. The slowest and cheapest, Standard Service, is $69 and starts within 5 business days. Rush Service at $119 starts within 48 hours. 24-Hour Service at $169 starts within 24 hours. Compare them on the pricing page or place a job through the order form.
Constables and sheriffs are priced differently: their fees come from the county commissioners court (Local Government Code 118.131). A private server is simply an alternative to them.
Who May Serve Papers in Garland: Certified Servers, Constables and Court Orders
Rule 103 gives the plaintiff no role. No party and no person interested in the outcome may serve process. The rule lets a sheriff, constable or other person authorized by law serve, an adult 18 or older authorized by written court order, and a person certified by the Judicial Branch Certification Commission. The clerk offers mail service as well, sending the citation by registered or certified mail.
Certified process servers are defined in Government Code 156.001, and the certification runs to the last day of the month of its second anniversary. More is in the JBCC certification guide.
Where Garland Cases Are Filed: Justice Court, County Court and District Court
Dallas County's listed courthouse is the George L Allen Sr Courts Building, 600 Commerce Street, Dallas, TX 75202. It is about 13.7 miles from Garland, a real trip, so leave room in the day for it.
The justice court takes civil cases up to $20,000 with interest left out and evictions. Divorce, slander, defamation, title to land and lien-on-land suits go elsewhere. A county court shares cases from over $200 to $20,000 and a statutory county court shares civil cases with district court from over $500 to $325,000. Which justice court precinct covers an address depends on where the address in dispute lies, and the county's justice court clerk can confirm that. The Dallas County page has county information.
Eviction Notices in Garland: Notice to Vacate and the Justice Court Case
A Garland landlord filing on or after January 1, 2026 needs to give at least three days' written notice to vacate unless the lease or written agreement sets another period. Mailing works, as does leaving it inside the premises in a conspicuous place, putting it in the hands of a tenant 16 or older, or sending it electronically when the parties agreed in writing. Nonpayment cases may use a notice to pay rent or vacate. Weekends and holidays count, but a last day on one rolls forward.
In the court case that follows, a sheriff or constable serves the citation. If five business days go by without service, the landlord can request an alias citation. A private server cannot take that role.
Divorce Papers, Citations and Substituted Service for Garland Defendants
Divorce is filed in district court. A defendant is handed the citation and petition, or receives them through registered or certified mail with a return receipt. If someone keeps ducking, Rule 106(b) allows a court order authorizing delivery to a person over 16 at a likely location or by email or social media, after a sworn statement lists locations and the attempts made there. Taping papers to a door is not service without that order. The Rule 106(b) guide explains the process.
A company is served through its registered agent. If the agent cannot be found with reasonable diligence, the Secretary of State becomes the agent. A default judgment has to wait ten days from the filing of proof of service under Rule 107(h).
Subpoena Service, Witness Fees and Records Near Garland
Sheriffs, constables and non-party adults can serve a subpoena anywhere in Texas by delivering a copy and any required fee. Witnesses are owed $10 per day of attendance, paid by the summoning party, and records custodians are owed $1. A witness within 150 miles of the suit's county can be reached. The subpoena guide has the intake steps.
No hospital sits very near Garland in the data. The nearest are Methodist Richardson Medical Center at 2831 E President George Bush Highway, Richardson (6.3 miles), White Rock Medical Center at 9440 Poppy Drive, Dallas (6.7 miles) and Nexus Childrens Hospital Dallas at 9525 Greenville Avenue (6.9 miles). Garland has its own police department for records requests.
ZIP Codes and Neighboring Cities Around Garland
Garland has ZIP codes 75040, 75041, 75042, 75043 and 75044. Nearby places are Dallas, Richardson, Rowlett, Sachse, Mesquite and Sunnyvale.
Garland Process Server FAQ
Can I serve the papers myself?
No. Parties to the suit cannot.
Can papers be taped to a door?
Not without a Rule 106(b) order.
What if the person avoids service?
Gather the locations and the attempts made and ask the court for substituted service.