Hard Service Subpoenas
Just like the title states, “hard service” subpoenas are legal papers that someone needs to serve on an individual but is unable to find them or the individual is avoiding service. Now there are various sources that can assist in serving a paper, such as a process server or the Sheriff’s Department also has a civil service department that serves papers for the public for a nominal fee. When it comes to “hard service” you want to retain the services of someone who specializes in serving papers to individuals who need to be located, are in hiding or trying to avoid service. This individual is usually a private investigator, who has the skill set and informational resources to accomplish the job.
The first thing an investigator does, once he has receives a hard service assignment, is to research the background of the individual. This research will include social media such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn as well as other Resources for Locating People available to the investigator. Social media is one location where someone’s current activities and location can be located, due to the content of their postings. Depending on what is revealed during the social media search, the next step is to use data bases where the investigator has access to real time information about the person, such as residential history, possible employment and registered.
When trying to find someone who is trying to avoid service, determining a registered vehicle for the individual is paramount. Once you have established the vehicle they’re driving, the investigators next step is to find the vehicle. Now obviously, if the individual doesn’t have a registered vehicle, it’s not the end of the investigation, it just makes it a little harder to locate the person. During the research period of the investigation, the investigator establishes a variety of information relative to the individual: employment, family members, heath clubs the person may frequent, someone their dating or romantically attached to as well as social activities they engage like bowling. (We recently served an individual attending a parade that they participated in annually).
Once the investigator has established the key factors associated with the individual, the hunt begins. There are 2 scenarios that come into play on a “Hard Service.” Is the person avoiding service or it’s a locate investigation where the subject’s residence needs to be determined. If it’s the latter of the two, service can be relatively easy. Once the investigator concludes a physical address, contact can be made. If the subject is not present at the time of the attempt, sub-service can be made if someone of suitable age and relation is present. (Always remember to verify state statute regarding sub-service).
When someone is avoiding service, the investigators job is much harder. The person’s physical location must be established to make observations of the individual and complete service. This goes back to the research work performed in the initial stages of the investigation. The investigator uses the key factors discovered to formulate an investigative plan, where the subject’s most likely to be found. Once that location has been established and the investigator moves to conduct field observations, utmost stealth is needed. The investigator must be careful not to “spook” the individual. Unlike the previous type of service, where walking up to the residence was acceptable, now the investigator has to play a game of cat and mouse.
The investigator will use their acquired surveillance skills to observe the subject and strategize how to complete service. Everything in this type of “Hard Service” goes back to the person’s registered vehicle (once you find the vehicle you’ve found them). The investigator knows that once the vehicle is located, at some point the subject will return to the vehicle. (If the person doesn’t have a vehicle, then the only option for the investigator is to set up on the location to observe and confirm the person’s presence. How you set up on the location determines the method of service. Case in point, a person I needed to serve lived across the street from a city park. I had established their registered vehicle and had previously observed the vehicle on location. Armed with that knowledge, I knew it was just a matter of time and they would arrive home. After hours of waiting, the person arrived and parked on the street in the same location observed during my time study of the residence. As they exited their vehicle, I approached them on foot and served the papers.
On another case, where I had failed to observe the registered vehicle, I commenced surveillance on the location I felt the person was most likely staying. Over the course of my surveillance, I observed the subject going in and out of a small apartment located in the upper story of the building. The building had a cat walk and set of stairs but I knew that any attempt to approach him would be futile. Late in the day, I observed the subject exit the apartment and walk down the stairs. Because I had checked the surrounding area previously, I knew the adjacent building had a rear exit near the stair landing. As I exited, the subject was not observed but when I rounded the corner of the building the subject was observed standing next to a vehicle, talking on their cell phone. Although the subject refused to accept service and preceded back to the apartment, I followed the subject and posted the papers on the door, documenting the “service by refusal” with a photograph.
As you can see from the two examples above, there can be a variety of scenarios associated with any given service. The investigator needs to be thorough and diligent in their efforts to accomplish the objective.
If you’re in need of expert assistance to accomplish a hard service, please contact our office (877) 535-9154
Just like the title states, “hard service” subpoenas are legal papers that someone needs to serve on an individual but is unable to find them or the individual is avoiding service. Now there are various sources that can assist in serving a paper, such as a process server or the Sheriff’s Department also has a civil service department that serves papers for the public for a nominal fee. When it comes to “hard service” you want to retain the services of someone who specializes in serving papers to individuals who need to be located, are in hiding or trying to avoid service. This individual is usually a private investigator, who has the skill set and informational resources to accomplish the job.
The first thing an investigator does, once he has receives a hard service assignment, is to research the background of the individual. This research will include social media such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn as well as other Resources for Locating People available to the investigator. Social media is one location where someone’s current activities and location can be located, due to the content of their postings. Depending on what is revealed during the social media search, the next step is to use data bases where the investigator has access to real time information about the person, such as residential history, possible employment and registered.
When trying to find someone who is trying to avoid service, determining a registered vehicle for the individual is paramount. Once you have established the vehicle they’re driving, the investigators next step is to find the vehicle. Now obviously, if the individual doesn’t have a registered vehicle, it’s not the end of the investigation, it just makes it a little harder to locate the person. During the research period of the investigation, the investigator establishes a variety of information relative to the individual: employment, family members, heath clubs the person may frequent, someone their dating or romantically attached to as well as social activities they engage like bowling. (We recently served an individual attending a parade that they participated in annually).
Once the investigator has established the key factors associated with the individual, the hunt begins. There are 2 scenarios that come into play on a “Hard Service.” Is the person avoiding service or it’s a locate investigation where the subject’s residence needs to be determined. If it’s the latter of the two, service can be relatively easy. Once the investigator concludes a physical address, contact can be made. If the subject is not present at the time of the attempt, sub-service can be made if someone of suitable age and relation is present. (Always remember to verify state statute regarding sub-service).
When someone is avoiding service, the investigators job is much harder. The person’s physical location must be established to make observations of the individual and complete service. This goes back to the research work performed in the initial stages of the investigation. The investigator uses the key factors discovered to formulate an investigative plan, where the subject’s most likely to be found. Once that location has been established and the investigator moves to conduct field observations, utmost stealth is needed. The investigator must be careful not to “spook” the individual. Unlike the previous type of service, where walking up to the residence was acceptable, now the investigator has to play a game of cat and mouse.
The investigator will use their acquired surveillance skills to observe the subject and strategize how to complete service. Everything in this type of “Hard Service” goes back to the person’s registered vehicle (once you find the vehicle you’ve found them). The investigator knows that once the vehicle is located, at some point the subject will return to the vehicle. (If the person doesn’t have a vehicle, then the only option for the investigator is to set up on the location to observe and confirm the person’s presence. How you set up on the location determines the method of service. Case in point, a person I needed to serve lived across the street from a city park. I had established their registered vehicle and had previously observed the vehicle on location. Armed with that knowledge, I knew it was just a matter of time and they would arrive home. After hours of waiting, the person arrived and parked on the street in the same location observed during my time study of the residence. As they exited their vehicle, I approached them on foot and served the papers.
On another case, where I had failed to observe the registered vehicle, I commenced surveillance on the location I felt the person was most likely staying. Over the course of my surveillance, I observed the subject going in and out of a small apartment located in the upper story of the building. The building had a cat walk and set of stairs but I knew that any attempt to approach him would be futile. Late in the day, I observed the subject exit the apartment and walk down the stairs. Because I had checked the surrounding area previously, I knew the adjacent building had a rear exit near the stair landing. As I exited, the subject was not observed but when I rounded the corner of the building the subject was observed standing next to a vehicle, talking on their cell phone. Although the subject refused to accept service and preceded back to the apartment, I followed the subject and posted the papers on the door, documenting the “service by refusal” with a photograph.
As you can see from the two examples above, there can be a variety of scenarios associated with any given service. The investigator needs to be thorough and diligent in their efforts to accomplish the objective.
If you’re in need of expert assistance to accomplish a hard service, please contact our office (877) 535-9154