Cook County Sheriff process server fees...
I filed a lawsuit the other day and then went over to place it for service and lo-and-behold found out that the Sheriff has increased its service fees. Now they're charging a flat fee of $60 per defendant (they say it's $50 plus a $10 fee). It used to be a mileage based system. So in my case where there were two defendants one in Chicago (literally right out of the door of Daley Center) and the other in Oak Forest the cost was the same. I think this is a significant increase over the old system. Well the "Combine" has to feed itself, right?
Lets see if the success rate is any better...that's the bigger complaint!
posted by Peter @ 11:15 AM
7 Comments:
Look at it this way. The Sheriff's have to get paid for the time they spend serving YOUR defendants. is $60.00 ou tof the fees you charge back to your clients really hurting your profit? I think not.
I don't think that a $60 flat fee is necessarily unreasonable. In fact, my process server charges a $65 flat fee to serve people.
What I find unreasonable is that the Sheriff's office is terrible to try to deal with, impossible to communicate with, and rarely can accomplish even simple service of process.
I object to the fact that we have to use the Cook County Sheriff in the first place. Whenever possible I always have a special process server appointed so that I don't have to deal with the sheriff and I know that service will be accomplished.
No doubt it's a client expense. I was wearing my Cook County better government hat when I made the post. Their ineffectiveness surely slows litigation.
I use Northshore Process Service - Tel. 847-373-8972 in Cook County and for all 102 counties in IL. They are aggressive and reliable and by far they outdo the sheriff. Fortunately, they also serve nationwide.
I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH MY SPECIAL PROCESS SERVER MIKE JONES 1-800-314-5474 1514 WEST GARFIELD BLVD. CHICAGO, ILL. HE IS VERY QUICK AND RELIABLE FOR ONLY $40.00 FLAT FEE.
No offense. I paid for this service and the sheriff did not go out to serve the papers till a week before the summons date expired, meaning I had to wait for 3 weeks before I heard back the great news that service was unsuccessful. I suggest for non-violent defendants that you go to a private process server and you would have a better chance.
The Sheriff is terrible. Most of the time they don't even make a first attempt until 25 days in on your summons. That is why another practicing attorney and I started a private detective agency to help get papers served effectively. Check us out, $65 in Cook County for up to 8-attempts. And we make our firsts attempts within 48-hours. www.YouGotServedChicago.com or call 312-473-1710.
Plus, unlike the Sheriff, we will talk to you about going at specific times of the day if that is what your client wants.
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