Out past the eastern edge of El Paso sits Horizon City, a city of 22,476 people on 8.7 square miles, and anyone with papers for a defendant there can book a process server in Horizon City, Texas. Citations, petitions, subpoenas and notices to vacate all go through the same process. An attempt is made within 5 business days when you choose Standard Service. Choose Rush Service and that window shrinks to 48 hours, or choose 24-Hour Service and it becomes 24 hours. Once the papers are in the recipient's hands, a signed Rule 107 Return of Service is sent to your email. The trip to the county courthouse in El Paso is about 18.1 miles.
What a Process Server Costs in Horizon City: Three Flat Tiers
Three prices, no extras. Standard Service is $69. Rush Service is $119. 24-Hour Service is $169. The pricing page carries the same numbers as the order form. Since many people in this part of El Paso County wonder about constables, here is the position: they may serve papers too, and the commissioners court sets what they charge under Local Government Code 118.131, so the price is theirs to quote. A private server is a different option, not a better or worse one.
Who May Serve Papers in Horizon City: Certified Servers, Constables and Court Orders
Anyone planning to hand over a Horizon City lawsuit should read Rule 103 first. The rule lets sheriffs, constables and others whom the law authorizes serve. It allows an adult 18 or older when a written court order names that adult. It allows a process server certified by the Judicial Branch Certification Commission, whose certification must be renewed every two years. It does not allow a party, and it does not allow a person interested in the outcome. A clerk can also be asked to mail a citation by registered or certified mail. The certification guide has more.
Where Horizon City Cases Are Filed: Justice Court, County Court and District Court
For cases in El Paso County, the seat is El Paso, and the El Paso County Courthouse is at 500 East San Antonio Avenue, El Paso, TX 79901. It is about 18.1 miles from Horizon City in a straight line, which makes it one of the longer courthouse trips among cities of this size. Civil claims up to $20,000 (excluding interest) belong in justice court, as do evictions, but divorces do not. County courts overlap with justice courts from over $200 up to $20,000. A civil case over $500 and up to $325,000 may be heard by a statutory county court or a district court. Which justice court precinct covers a given address depends on that address, so the justice court clerk is the person to ask. The El Paso County page has more.
Eviction Notices in Horizon City: Notice to Vacate and the Justice Court Case
Imagine a landlord in Horizon City whose tenant has stopped paying. The path to court starts with a written notice to vacate. It must give at least three days, unless the lease or agreement says shorter or longer. The notice can be mailed, placed inside the premises in a conspicuous spot, handed to a tenant 16 or older, or sent electronically if the parties agreed in writing. All calendar days are counted, and a final day on a weekend or holiday is pushed to the following business day. Once the period has run, the landlord files a sworn petition in justice court. Delivering the notice is something a private process server is allowed to do. The justice court's eviction citation is reserved for a sheriff or constable, and an alias citation may be requested if 5 business days pass after filing.
Divorce Papers, Citations and Substituted Service for Horizon City Defendants
Divorce service in Texas starts from Rule 106(a): put the citation and petition in the spouse's hands, or mail them by registered or certified mail with return receipt requested. A spouse who cannot be found calls for Rule 106(b). The plaintiff files a motion with a sworn statement, or one made under penalty of perjury, listing likely locations and the facts of earlier attempts. The judge may then allow the papers to be left with a person over 16 or sent by email or social media. For a business, the registered agent comes first, then a corporation's president or vice president, then the Secretary of State. The court may not enter a default judgment until proof of service has sat on file for ten days. Step-by-step help with the motion is in the Rule 106(b) guide.
Subpoena Service, Witness Fees and Records Near Horizon City
Three hospitals are in range: The Hospitals of Providence Horizon City Campus, 13600 Horizon Street, Suite 100, Horizon City, TX 79928 (about 1.0 miles), The Hospitals of Providence - East Campus, 3280 Joe Battle Blvd, El Paso, TX 79938 (about 8.8 miles), and El Paso Children's Hospital, 4845 Alameda Avenue, El Paso, TX 79905 (about 15.6 miles). A server delivers a subpoena by handing the witness a copy and tendering any fee the law requires. The witness fee is $10 for each day of attendance, paid by the summoning party, and a records custodian receives $1. If records are wanted from a nonparty, all parties must be given 10 days' notice before service. The fee guide explains more.
ZIP Codes and Neighboring Cities Around Horizon City
Horizon City is covered by a single ZIP code, 79928. Neighboring places are Socorro, San Elizario and El Paso.
Horizon City Process Server FAQ
Can I serve the papers myself?
No. A party is an interested person, and Rule 103 forbids interested persons from serving.
What if the person avoids service?
Keep a record of each place and date you tried, then ask the court for an order under Rule 106(b). Related questions are answered on the services page and in the FAQ.
Can papers be taped to a door?
Not unless a judge has issued a Rule 106(b) order that approves it.