Process Serving in 2013: Resolutions and Projected Changes

• January 08, 2013
• by Kimberly Faber
• Service of Process Looking Forward

With 2013 now in full-force, process servers are sharing their business resolutions and predictions for how process service will evolve in 2013. Keep reading for more on what your peers are hoping to accomplish this year and for information on how legislation, e-service, crime, the economy, and safety will influence process serving over the next twelve months. 

Process servers set their resolutions for 2013

Here are some of the resolutions process servers are sharing on Facebook:

1. Avoid hungry canines

Hopefully, the only dogs you encounter this year are sweet little puppies!

2. Change up marketing strategies

These two resolutions go hand in hand. Changing up your marketing strategy is a great way to reach new clients!

3. Cut expenses and calories

Whether it's cutting sweets or cutting small costs, a little goes a long way! A great resolution that made us smile.

4. Make a dent in leftover holiday serves

A lot of folks were traveling during the holidays. Hopefully, they'll be back to their normal lives and easier to serve.

5. Restructure fees

The beginning of the year is a great time to make sure your fees are competitive and line up with the services you provide.

6. Reach out to new clients

Reaching out to new clients is definitely a way to ensure that the new year is prosperous. 

7. Make fewer attempts

An ambitious resolution that might change the way you work! Best of luck, Marsha, keep us updated on what strategies help you maintain this resolution.

8. Embrace change and maintain good relationships

Orange County definitely has been going through some changes. Keeping abreast with the latest is a great way to make sure your firm is staying ahead, and being knowledgeable is just one of many ways to maintain good client-server relationships.

9. Stay safe and avoid a certain cookie

Staying safe is always a great resolution! And good luck with those Oreo cookies, we're not ready to break up with them just yet!

10. Still deciding . . . 

Don't fret if you haven't decided on your resolutions for 2013. Any time of the year is a great time to make some changes. 

To share your resolution or to comment well wishes to those who have already shared, visit the ServeNow Facebook Fanpage and join the community! Best of luck to all with their resolutions both personal and professional.

How will process service evolve this year?

There are numerous projected changes that will shape process service in the coming twelve months. Here are just a few ways process service might change in 2013.

Legislation and regulation changes

As New York's 5 Boroughs faced the final affecting of some unprecedented regulation changes last year, it's likely that similar law changes will be proposed and incorporated in other areas. At last year's NAPPS (National Association of Professional Process Servers) conference, some who were affected by the changes in New York cautioned their peers in other areas to prepare themselves for the inevitable spread of those changes. 

E-service will be adopted by many companies

Michael Kern, president of the California Association of Legal Support Professionals (CALSPro), predicts that technology will play a big role in process service this year. "I think some companies will evolve towards e-filing and e-service technology to provide services to clients where others can't or won't." In a poll conducted last year, process servers listed e-service as one of the major challenges members of the profession were facing, second only to adjusting to legislation and regulation changes. Some companies have already embraced e-service and e-filing as a means to stay ahead of the competition.

Some process servers will benefit from the dissolving of sheriff's civil process duties

Blu Monday-Daniels is hoping to pick up more work this year, saying, "Our Sheriff's Office started out the year doing away with their civil process department." Though we've only caught wind of this development in parts of Texas, it's a shift that really benefits process servers in the area. Monday-Daniels shares excitement of this new development. "I am hoping that means more work will come to me!" J.M. Powers of Kansas City predicts similar changes in his area, noting that widespread municipal and county law enforcement budget cuts, as well as a call from the public to get tough on crime, will benefit private process servers. "Law enforcement agencies are going to be concentrating their efforts on crime reduction and push legal process to the back which will give the private process serving industry more work," he said. 

Process servers will continue to focus on safety and situational awareness.

In 2013 many associations will take the necessary steps to achieve assault legislation similar to that of Illinois, California, and Florida. Many will propose legislation to make an assault on a process server a felony, while others will work toward having process servers added to existing lists of individuals protected under stricter assault charges. Some associations are already taking steps to educate their members through safety training, seminars, and group discussions. 

Associations won't be the only ones focused on safety. Individual companies will continue to take safety precautions. Powers notes that the last four years and the poor economy are going to bring new lawsuits for extremely past due collection accounts. "Safety should always be any process servers top concern," he says. "Be aware of your surroundings and those around you. Understand the neighborhoods you travel to and from while working and ask questions about any job that might be a higher risk than usual." Powers notes the reality that any job can be dangerous and high risk. "Awareness and safety is your best bet in keeping safe while serving papers," he said. 

Here's wishing a happy and prosperous new year to all process servers!

J.M. Powers says it well: "2013 is going to be a great year for the private process serving industry," and we agree. We wish all of you a happy and prosperous new year, and the best of luck in achieving your personal and business goals through 2013!