Plainview is the seat of Hale County and a city of 20,183 people on 13.9 square miles, so a process server in Plainview, TX is typically working a short distance from the courthouse and from Covenant Hospital Plainview. Papers can be citations, petitions, subpoenas or notices. Pick Standard Service for an attempt within 5 business days, Rush Service for one within 48 hours, or 24-Hour Service for one within 24 hours. After the papers are delivered, you receive a signed Rule 107 Return of Service by email. That signed return is the document the clerk expects to see.
What a Process Server Costs in Plainview: Three Flat Tiers
Plainview's prices are the same as anywhere. Standard Service is $69. Rush Service is $119. 24-Hour Service is $169. The matching attempt windows were given above, and you can double-check them on the pricing page before using the order form. Hale County constables and the sheriff are another route, and the commissioners court determines what they charge under Local Government Code 118.131. A private server is simply an alternative.
Who May Serve Papers in Plainview: Certified Servers, Constables and Court Orders
On the question of who may hand over a citation in Plainview, Rule 103 gives a three-part answer and one exclusion. Officers (sheriffs, constables and others authorized by law) may serve. Adults 18 or older may serve if a written court order names them. Process servers certified by the Judicial Branch Certification Commission may serve. The exclusion covers parties and anyone with an interest in how the suit ends. A friend of the plaintiff who has no stake still needs a court order to qualify. The certification guide has more.
Where Plainview Cases Are Filed: Justice Court, County Court and District Court
The Hale County Courthouse is at 500 Broadway Street, Plainview, TX 79072, about 1.3 miles from Plainview's center, and Plainview is the county seat. A claim for money up to $20,000 (excluding interest) belongs in justice court, along with an eviction, while a divorce does not. County courts overlap for amounts above $200 up to $20,000. A civil case over $500 and up to $325,000 can be heard by a statutory county court or a district court. The justice court clerk can confirm which precinct covers a particular address, since the answer depends on where the dispute is. See the Hale County page.
Eviction Notices in Plainview: Notice to Vacate and the Justice Court Case
A landlord in Plainview who wants a tenant out first sends a written notice to vacate. It has to give at least three days, unless the lease or agreement sets some other period. The Property Code approves mail, leaving the notice in a conspicuous place inside the premises, handing it to a tenant who is 16 or older, or electronic communication if both sides agreed to it in writing. The count includes weekends and holidays, and a last day on one carries over to the next business day. When the period ends, the landlord files a sworn petition in justice court. A private process server may deliver the notice. The eviction citation may be served only by a sheriff or constable, with an alias citation available after 5 business days.
Divorce Papers, Citations and Substituted Service for Plainview Defendants
A Plainview spouse who is sued for divorce should receive the citation and petition in person or by registered or certified mail with return receipt requested. If neither route works, the plaintiff may file a Rule 106(b) motion supported by a sworn statement of likely locations and what was tried at each. A judge who agrees may allow leaving the papers with someone older than 16, or sending them by email or social media. A company defendant is reached through its registered agent, a corporation's president or vice president, or the Secretary of State. Default judgment cannot be taken until proof of service has been on file ten days. The Rule 106(b) guide has more.
Subpoena Service, Witness Fees and Records Near Plainview
Plainview Police Department handles local reports. Hospitals in range: Covenant Hospital Plainview, 2601 Dimmitt Rd, Plainview, TX 79072 (about 1.2 miles), W J Mangold Memorial Hospital, 320 North Main, Lockney, TX 79241 (about 16.7 miles), and Swisher Memorial Hospital, 539 Southeast 2nd, Tulia, TX 79088 (about 23.9 miles). A subpoena is served by delivering a copy to the witness along with any fee the law requires. A witness is owed $10 per day of attendance, paid by the party who summons, and a records custodian $1. Records from a nonparty require 10 days' notice to all parties before the subpoena is served. The fee guide has more.
ZIP Codes and Neighboring Cities Around Plainview
Plainview is ZIP code 79072. Neighboring places are Hale Center and Lockney.
Plainview Process Server FAQ
Can I serve the papers myself?
No. A party is an interested person, and Rule 103 bars interested persons.
What if the person avoids service?
Keep a log of each attempt, then ask the court for a Rule 106(b) order that approves another method. Related answers are on the services page and in the FAQ.
How soon after service can a default judgment be taken?
When proof of service has been on file ten days, leaving out the filing day and judgment day.