Routine
$170
First attempt within 3 business days.
Each additional defendant at the same address: $110.
Process Serving · Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Process Server for Law Firms
Have summonses, complaints and other court papers served anywhere in Pennsylvania, ordered and tracked from one account. Below: who can serve papers in Pennsylvania, how service is made, the deadlines, the proof of service form and our prices.
Process serving through Legal Hub Group is for law firms, attorneys and their staff. Representing yourself? Our sister company Famous Legal Services handles serves for individuals.
How it is done
How papers are served in Pennsylvania
- Handing a copy to the defendant
Original process may be served by handing a copy to the defendant. Pa. R. Civ. P. 402(a)(1) ↗
- At the residence or place of business
Handing a copy at the defendant's residence to an adult family member who lives there (or, if none, the adult in charge), to the clerk or manager of a hotel or apartment house where the defendant lives, or at the defendant's office or usual place of business to an agent or the person in charge. Pa. R. Civ. P. 402(a)(2) ↗
- Acceptance of service
The defendant or an authorized agent may accept service by filing a separate document. Pa. R. Civ. P. 402(b) ↗
Who
Who can serve papers in Pennsylvania
Original process is served within Pennsylvania only by the sheriff, except in listed actions where a competent adult may also serve, such as a civil action seeking an injunction, partition, a declaratory-judgment-only action, and an action with complete diversity where at least one defendant is a Pennsylvania citizen. Pa. R. Civ. P. 400(a)–(b) ↗
Timelines
How fast, and the court's deadline
Our first-attempt promises:
- Routine: First attempt within 3 business days.
- Rush: First attempt within 24 hours.
- Same-day: for papers that cannot wait.
Every attempt shows in your account as soon as the server logs it.
The court's deadline for service: Original process must be served within Pennsylvania within 30 days after the writ issues or the complaint is filed. If not, the prothonotary can reissue the writ or reinstate the complaint, any number of times. Pa. R. Civ. P. 401(a)–(b) ↗
Proof
The proof of service in Pennsylvania
Return of service. The sheriff or other person who made service files a return of service right away, setting out the date, time and place; if service is not made, a return of no service is filed when the period runs out. Pa. R. Civ. P. 405(a)–(b) ↗
Your server's proof is built from the field record of the serve.
Price
What a Pennsylvania serve costs
Per person served, shown before you submit. Subscription plans take up to 20% off every serve.
Rush
$220
First attempt within 24 hours.
Same-day
$270
For papers that cannot wait.
Questions
Serving papers in Pennsylvania: questions
Can a private process server serve a complaint in Pennsylvania?
Usually original process is served only by the sheriff. A competent adult may also serve in listed actions, including those seeking an injunction, partition, declaratory-judgment-only actions and certain complete-diversity actions (Pa. R. Civ. P. 400).
How long do you have to serve in Pennsylvania?
30 days after the writ issues or the complaint is filed; after that the writ can be reissued or the complaint reinstated (Pa. R. Civ. P. 401).
Who can accept papers at the home in Pennsylvania?
An adult family member the defendant lives with, or, if none is found, the adult in charge of the residence (Pa. R. Civ. P. 402(a)(2)(i)).
Keep reading
Guides to serving papers
- Who Can Accept Served Papers?
- How to Serve Someone Court Papers Without an Address
- Can You Serve Someone Yourself?
- What Happens If You Are Not Properly Served?
- Can Court Papers Be Served by Mail?
- What Does a Process Server Do?
- How Much Does a Process Server Cost?
- What Is a Return of Service?
- What Is a Declaration of Non-Service?
- What Is Insufficient Service of Process?
Serving in another state? See process serving in every state.
General information, not legal advice. The rules above are the ones in force when we checked them (October 2026); the court and the cited rules control.
Serve papers in Pennsylvania today.
Create your free firm account, upload the papers and choose routine, rush or same-day.