Stafford is a Fort Bend County city of 17,668 people on 7.0 square miles, and a process server in Stafford, Texas will usually be carrying papers toward the county's justice center in Richmond, about 11.8 miles away. Standard Service brings an attempt within 5 business days. Rush Service brings one within 48 hours, and 24-Hour Service within 24 hours. The documents may be citations, petitions, subpoenas or notices. Once they are delivered, a signed Rule 107 Return of Service is emailed to you. St Luke's Sugar Land Hospital is about 3.6 miles away.
What a Process Server Costs in Stafford: Three Flat Tiers
Stafford has three price points. Standard Service is $69 and it is the slowest. Rush Service is $119. 24-Hour Service is $169. The pricing page repeats them, and the order form is where you decide. Fort Bend County's constables and sheriff can serve too, but their fees come from the commissioners court under Local Government Code 118.131 and are not shown here. A private server is another route.
Who May Serve Papers in Stafford: Certified Servers, Constables and Court Orders
Here is Rule 103 in a form you can hold in your head. No party serves. No one with a stake in the outcome serves. Everyone else must be a sheriff or constable or other person authorized by law, or an adult of 18 or more named in a written court order, or a process server certified by the Judicial Branch Certification Commission. The certification guide has more.
Where Stafford Cases Are Filed: Justice Court, County Court and District Court
Richmond is the Fort Bend County seat. The Fort Bend County Justice Center is at 1422 Eugene Heimann Circle, Richmond, TX 77469, about 11.8 miles from Stafford in a straight line. Justice court covers civil claims up to $20,000 (excluding interest) and evictions, but not divorces. County courts overlap above $200 up to $20,000 and civil cases over $500 up to $325,000 may be heard by a statutory county court or a district court. The justice court clerk can confirm which precinct covers a Stafford address. The Fort Bend County page has more.
Eviction Notices in Stafford: Notice to Vacate and the Justice Court Case
Texas landlords in Stafford cannot file for eviction cold. First they serve a written notice to vacate giving at least three days, or whatever other period the lease or agreement sets. The notice can be mailed, left in a conspicuous place inside the premises, given by hand to a tenant 16 or older, or sent electronically if the parties agreed in writing. Weekends and holidays count in the total, with a last day on one moving to the next business day. A sworn petition in justice court is next. A private server can deliver the notice, but the eviction citation can be served only by a sheriff or constable, and an alias citation may be requested after 5 business days.
Divorce Papers, Citations and Substituted Service for Stafford Defendants
A Stafford spouse who is sued for divorce should receive the citation and petition in person or by registered or certified mail with return receipt. If the spouse cannot be reached, the plaintiff may move under Rule 106(b) with a sworn statement of likely locations and earlier attempts, and the judge may allow papers to be left with someone over 16 or sent by email or social media. Businesses go through a registered agent, a president or vice president of a corporation, or the Secretary of State. Ten days of proof of service on file must pass before a default judgment. The Rule 106(b) guide has more.
Subpoena Service, Witness Fees and Records Near Stafford
Stafford Police Department is the local agency. Hospitals in range: St Luke's Sugar Land Hospital, 1317 Lake Pointe Parkway, Sugar Land, TX 77478 (about 3.6 miles), Houston Methodist Sugarland Hospital, 16655 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land, TX 77479 (about 5.9 miles), and Sugar Land Surgical Hospital Llp, 16906 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land, TX 77479 (about 5.9 miles). Subpoena service is a copy to the witness plus any fee the law demands. A witness is owed $10 for each day of attendance by the party who summoned them, and a records custodian is owed $1. Notice to every party, 10 days ahead, is required for a nonparty documents subpoena. The fee guide has more.
ZIP Codes and Neighboring Cities Around Stafford
Stafford is ZIP code 77477, and Missouri City, Sugar Land and Meadows Place are neighboring places.
Stafford Process Server FAQ
Can I serve the papers myself?
No. As a party you are an interested person, and Rule 103 excludes interested persons.
What if the person avoids service?
Record every try and ask for a Rule 106(b) order. The services page and the FAQ have more.