About Us

Terrance Private Investigator & Associates is a leading private investigation firm serving clients nationwide. We provide professional investigative services for individuals, attorneys, businesses, and insurance professionals, specializing in infidelity investigations, criminal defense support, surveillance, background checks, asset searches, missing persons, and complex investigative assignments. Our reputation is built on integrity, discretion, professionalism, and delivering results that matter. Every investigation is handled with precision, thorough documentation, and a commitment to helping our clients get answers and uncover the truth.

As our firm continues to grow across multiple markets, we are seeking certified process servers to handle service of process for our attorney and corporate clients. Service is the hinge the whole case swings on. Get it right and the matter proceeds. Get it wrong, or write a return that will not survive a challenge, and a judgment gets vacated years later. We are looking for servers who treat the return of service as a sworn document rather than paperwork, and who can find the person who does not want to be found.

Position Overview

This is an Independent Contractor (1099) position serving all firm markets. Process servers accept assignments on a per-serve basis and work them on their own schedule within the deadlines set by the court and the client. Compensation is per serve, determined by document type, service address, urgency, evasion difficulty, and attempt count, with additional rates for rush service, skip tracing, and out-of-area assignments. Volume is consistent for servers who deliver clean returns and communicate well.

Required Qualifications, Experience & Licensing

• Current certification or court authorization to serve process in the state and jurisdiction of assignment, in good standing
• Minimum of 1 year of documented process serving experience with a record of successful service
• Demonstrated knowledge of service rules in your jurisdiction, including personal, substituted, corporate, registered agent, and alternative service
• Proven ability to prepare accurate, complete returns of service and affidavits of due diligence that withstand challenge
• Skip tracing ability to locate evasive defendants
• Working knowledge of the boundaries governing service, including trespass, misrepresentation, and prohibited conduct
• Minimum 18 years of age and not a party to the actions you serve
• Valid driver’s license, clean driving record, and reliable insured vehicle
• Ability to pass a background check and maintain confidentiality at all times
• Preferred: notary commission
• Preferred: certification in multiple counties, circuits, or states
• Preferred: experience with evasive service, guard-gated communities, and corporate registered agent service
• Preferred: bilingual, particularly Spanish

Equipment Requirements

As an independent contractor, you provide and maintain your own equipment:

• Reliable vehicle in good mechanical condition, currently insured and registered
• Smartphone with reliable voice and data service, camera, and GPS
• Ability to capture timestamped, geotagged photographs documenting attempts and service
• Tablet or laptop for return preparation and assignment management
• Printer and scanner access for documents and completed returns
• Secure storage for documents in your possession

Core Responsibilities

• Accept assignments and effect service within the deadlines set by the court, the statute, and the client
• Serve summonses, citations, subpoenas, and court documents in strict accordance with the service rules of the jurisdiction
• Attempt service at varied times and days, documenting each attempt with date, time, location, and observations
• Conduct skip tracing and field investigation to locate evasive or relocated defendants
• Determine correct service method for the party and entity type; identify when substituted or alternative service is appropriate and advise the client
• Confirm identity of the person served and document the basis for that confirmation
• Prepare accurate and complete returns of service, executed under oath, with no detail stated that you cannot personally support
• Prepare affidavits of due diligence supporting motions for alternative service where personal service fails
• Photograph and document attempts, service, premises, and vehicles as appropriate and lawful
• Maintain custody and security of all documents in your possession
• Report non-service promptly with the factual basis, rather than allowing a deadline to pass silently
• Testify regarding service if service is challenged
• Operate in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local law and the rules of the court of issuance
• Communicate status and results promptly to the assigning case manager
• Safeguard confidential client and case information and maintain discretion and professionalism at all times

Service Types

Assignments span the full range of civil and investigative service:

Summonses and citations · Subpoenas and deposition notices · Small claims and civil filings · Family law and divorce filings · Child custody and support documents · Evictions and notices to vacate · Writs, garnishments, and levies · Temporary restraining orders and injunctions · Protective orders · Corporate and registered agent service · Out-of-state and long arm service · Skip trace and evasive service assignments · Rush and same-day service

Depth in evasive service and skip trace assignments is strongly valued.

Required Skills & Attributes

• Command of the service rules in your jurisdiction, precisely enough to know when a shortcut would void the service
• Absolute accuracy on returns, you are swearing to it, and a return you cannot defend is worse than a non-service
• Skip tracing and field investigation instinct for locating defendants who are actively avoiding service
• Ability to read a situation at a door and adjust, without escalating it
• Sound judgment on legal boundaries, no trespass, no impersonation of law enforcement or officials, no conduct that hands opposing counsel a challenge
• Proficient with mobile technology, GPS documentation, photo timestamping, and assignment management software
• Excellent written communication for returns, affidavits, and attempt documentation
• Exceptional attention to detail on names, addresses, dates, times, and case captions
• High level of integrity and discretion; you handle documents that change people’s lives
• Composure with hostile, distressed, or evasive recipients
• Ability to work independently and manage your own route, schedule, and priorities
• Strong time management against firm court deadlines across concurrent assignments
• Reliable, dependable, and responsive in all communications
• Professional appearance and demeanor
• Self-motivated with a strong work ethic and commitment to clean, defensible service

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work on foot, including walking, standing, and climbing stairs at service addresses
• Ability to work outdoors in varying weather and environmental conditions
• Ability to conduct attempts at early morning, evening, and weekend hours
• Ability to drive for extended periods across service areas
• Ability to safely disengage from and remove yourself from a hostile encounter
• Valid driver’s license with a clean driving record and reliable transportation
• Ability to occasionally lift and carry documents and equipment weighing up to 25 pounds

What We Offer

• Consistent assignment volume for servers who deliver clean returns
• Per serve compensation with premium rates for rush, evasion, and out-of-area work
• Full independence, you set your own route, schedule, and attempt strategy
• Established attorney and corporate client base with steady civil and family law flow
• Skip trace support and database resources on hard-to-locate defendants
• Clear assignment briefings with deadlines, addresses, and known subject information stated up front
• Predictable payment cycle
• Support from an experienced leadership team when a service presents a legal or safety question
• First look at higher-value evasive and rush assignments for servers who prove out

Compensation Structure

Compensation is per serve, based on document type, geography, urgency, and difficulty. Premium rates apply to rush service, evasive service requiring extended attempts, skip trace assignments, and out-of-area work. Rates are discussed during the interview process and are determined by certification, experience, and coverage area.

Safety & Professional Standards

Process servers contracted by Terrance Private Investigator & Associates handle sworn documents and confidential case information and are expected to maintain the highest standards of accuracy, legal compliance, and professionalism. This includes full compliance with the service rules of the court of issuance, applicable state certification requirements, trespass and privacy law, confidentiality and document security obligations, and our professional code of ethics. Servers must never misrepresent themselves as law enforcement or a government official, never make a statement on a return they cannot personally support, and must immediately report any safety incident, hostile encounter, or circumstance that could compromise the validity of service.

Equal Opportunity

Terrance Private Investigator & Associates is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive team. We welcome applications from qualified candidates of all backgrounds. All applicants will be considered based on qualifications, experience, and professional merit.