Flat-Rate JBCC Private Process Server Pricing in Texas ($69 / $119 / $169)
In Texas civil litigation, retaining a Judicial Branch Certification Commission (JBCC)-certified private process server is frequently both faster and more cost-effective than paying county constable civil fees. At Process Servers Texas, our statewide pricing across all 254 Texas counties is structured into three transparent flat-rate tiers: Standard Service at $69 (first attempt within 3 to 5 business days), Rush Service at $119 (priority dispatch with first field attempt within 24 to 48 hours), and Same-Day Service at $169 (immediate same-day field dispatch when submitted before 2:00 PM CT).
Every flat-rate order includes up to three to four field attempts conducted across varied morning, daytime, evening, and Saturday residential windows (observing the strict TRCP Rule 6 prohibition on Sunday civil citation service). In addition, every serve includes GPS coordinate stamping, real-time attempt logs, and a court-compliant Return of Service under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure (TRCP) 107 bearing our process server's JBCC PSC certification number and expiration date.
If a defendant actively evades personal delivery across three documented attempts at a verified residence or workplace, we prepare a detailed TRCP Rule 106(b) Sworn Statement at no extra charge so counsel can immediately obtain a court order for substituted service.
Texas County Constable & Sheriff Civil Process Fees (Tex. Loc. Gov't Code § 118.131)
Unlike states where county sheriffs charge a nominal $15 or $25 statutory fee, Texas Local Government Code § 118.131 authorizes the Commissioners Court of each of Texas's 254 counties to set 'reasonable fees' for civil process served by the Sheriff and Precinct Constables. As a result, county constable civil citation and subpoena fees in major Texas metropolitan counties routinely exceed our $69 private flat rate:
• Harris County (Houston — Precincts 1 through 8): Constable civil citation and subpoena service fees generally range from $75.00 to $90.00 per defendant/instrument, with writs of garnishment and execution costing $125.00 to $150.00+.
• Dallas County & Tarrant County (Dallas / Fort Worth): Constable service of a civil citation, divorce petition, or subpoena typically costs $80.00 to $90.00 per defendant.
• Travis County (Austin) & Bexar County (San Antonio): Constable civil citation fees generally range from $75.00 to $85.00 per target.
Beyond the higher upfront cost, constable precincts in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Fort Worth, and Austin must prioritize eviction writs of possession, protective orders, and mental health warrants. Routine civil citations frequently wait 2 to 4 weeks for an initial daytime attempt, and if a defendant moved to a different constable precinct across town, the citation often must be re-routed or re-issued.
Need JBCC-Certified Service Under Tex. Loc. Gov't Code § 118.131, CPRC § 22.001 & TRCP 103?
Upload your PDF pleadings online—Standard ($69), Rush ($119), or Same-Day ($169) across all 254 Texas counties.
Why Registered Agent & Corporate Service in Dallas and Austin Costs Less with a Daily Courier
Over 70% of commercial lawsuits, insurance claims, employment actions, and non-party discovery subpoenas in Texas are served at commercial registered agent hubs in downtown Dallas (C T Corporation System at 1999 Bryan St, Suite 900; Cogency Global at 1601 Elm St, Suite 4360) or Austin (Corporation Service Company at 211 E. 7th St, Suite 620; Registered Agents Inc. and Northwest Registered Agent at 5900 Balcones Dr, Suite 100; InCorp Services at 815 Brazos St, Suite 500; and the Texas Secretary of State at 1019 Brazos St, Room 105).
Because our JBCC-certified couriers run scheduled morning and afternoon routes directly to these Dallas and Austin intake suites every business day, a $69 Standard or $119 Rush order achieves confirmed in-hand corporate delivery within 24 to 72 hours, with the executed TRCP Rule 107 Return uploaded immediately for eFileTexas.gov submission.
Mandatory Ancillary Costs: $10 Cash Witness Fees, SOS Fees & Skip Tracing
When budgeting for Texas process serving, attorneys and paralegals should account for four statutory or situational disbursements:
1. Mandatory $10.00 Cash Witness Fee (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 22.001 & TRCP 176.5): When serving a subpoena commanding a witness to appear in person for a deposition, hearing, or trial, Texas law requires tendering a $10.00 cash fee for one day's attendance at the exact moment of service. For business or medical records subpoenas by affidavit where no live attendance is required, CPRC § 22.004 sets a $1.00 custodian fee.
2. Texas Secretary of State Statutory Fees (Tex. Gov't Code § 405.031): Substituted service on the Texas Secretary of State at the James E. Rudder Building (1019 Brazos St, Room 105, Austin) requires duplicate copies of the citation and petition plus a $40.00 statutory service fee and $15.00 for the mandatory Whitney Certificate of Service ($55.00 total statutory fee).
3. Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) Statutory Fee: Serving an eligible surplus lines or foreign insurer through the TDI Chief Clerk at 1601 Congress Ave in Austin under Tex. Ins. Code Ch. 804 requires a $50.00 statutory fee.
4. Investigative Skip Tracing ($45) & Rural West Texas Routing: When a defendant has vacated an apartment in Houston or Dallas, a $45 database skip trace locates their current Texas address before attempts are wasted. For remote West Texas, Panhandle, or Rio Grande Valley counties where a server must travel 75+ miles across ranches or oilfields, we provide upfront mileage quotes prior to dispatch.