Mission sits in Hidalgo County, and a process server working a Mission, TX case can deliver a citation, subpoena, petition or notice to vacate with the attempt coming within 5 business days, within 48 hours or within 24 hours. A signed Rule 107 Return of Service reaches you by email once the papers are delivered. One thing sets Mission apart: it is a city of 85,786 people, yet the county courthouse is in Edinburg, about 12.1 miles from Mission, so county filings usually mean a trip to a different town.
What a Process Server Costs in Mission: Three Flat Tiers
Think of the tiers as three clocks. On the first, Standard Service at $69 starts the attempt within 5 business days. On the second, Rush Service at $119 starts it within 48 hours. On the third, 24-Hour Service at $169 starts it within 24 hours. The pricing page lays them out, and the order form is where you place a job.
County constables and the sheriff are another route. Their fees are decided by the commissioners court (Local Government Code 118.131), so they are not the same as a private server's flat tiers.
Who May Serve Papers in Mission: Certified Servers, Constables and Court Orders
Who may serve is spelled out in Rule 103. Sheriffs, constables and persons authorized by law qualify; so do people 18 or older with a written court order; so do those certified by the Judicial Branch Certification Commission. Anyone interested in the suit is out. The certification comes through the Supreme Court and the Commission, and it ends on the last day of the month of its second anniversary unless renewed. A clerk can also mail a citation by registered or certified mail. Read the JBCC certification guide for more.
Where Mission Cases Are Filed: Justice Court, County Court and District Court
Mission is not the county seat. Edinburg is, and the Hidalgo County Courthouse at 100 North Closner Boulevard, Edinburg, TX 78539 is about 12.1 miles from Mission. Justice court takes civil claims up to $20,000 not counting interest, eviction cases and some lien enforcement, while divorce, slander, defamation, land title and land-lien suits are beyond it.
County courts share authority with justice courts for amounts over $200 up to $20,000. A statutory county court shares with the district court from over $500 up to $325,000 before interest, damages, penalties, fees and costs. Which justice court precinct applies is decided by the location of the address in dispute; ask the county justice court clerk to confirm. The Hidalgo County hub has background.
Eviction Notices in Mission: Notice to Vacate and the Justice Court Case
Landlords whose suits are filed after January 1, 2026 give written notice to vacate before going to court. The baseline is at least three days, but a written lease or agreement may set a shorter or longer period. Mail, delivery inside the premises in a visible place, hand delivery to a tenant 16 or older, and electronic delivery by written agreement are the permitted routes. Weekends and holidays are included in the count, with a last day on one moving to the next business day.
A private server may deliver that notice. The citation for the suit itself must be served by a sheriff or constable, and if filing is followed by 5 business days of silence, the landlord can ask for an alias citation.
Divorce Papers, Citations and Substituted Service for Mission Defendants
A defendant is normally served in person, or by registered or certified mail with a return receipt. If that fails, the plaintiff can file a motion under Rule 106(b), backed by a sworn statement or a declaration under penalty of perjury, naming the likely locations and describing the efforts made. The court may then permit leaving papers with someone older than 16 at that spot or use of social media or email. Papers left with a relative or taped to a door without an order do not count. The Rule 106(b) guide walks through it.
Businesses are served through a registered agent at the registered office, or through a corporation's president or vice president. The Secretary of State acts when the agent cannot be found. No default judgment may be entered until ten days after proof of service is on file, leaving out the filing day and judgment day.
Subpoena Service, Witness Fees and Records Near Mission
Mission Regional Medical Center, 900 South Bryan Road, Mission, TX 78572, is about 0.9 miles away, which makes it the nearest hospital for records. Rio Grande Regional Hospital, 101 E Ridge Rd, McAllen, TX 78503, is about 6.4 miles away. Doctors Hospital at Renaissance, 5501 South McColl, Edinburg, TX 78539, is about 8.2 miles away. The Mission Police Department is the local agency.
A witness is owed $10 for each day of attendance, paid by the summoning party when the subpoena is served. A records custodian is owed $1. A witness living within 150 miles of the county where the suit is pending may be subpoenaed. Notice of a nonparty document subpoena must reach the parties at least 10 days before it is served. See the witness fee guide.
ZIP Codes and Neighboring Cities Around Mission
Mission uses ZIP codes 78572 and 78574. Neighbors include McAllen, Palmhurst and Palmview.
Mission Process Server FAQ
Can papers be taped to a door?
Not without a court order under Rule 106(b). Absent a court order under that rule, a citation cannot be posted on a door.
What if the person avoids service?
The plaintiff can ask the court for substituted service by motion, listing where the person is likely to be found and what was tried.