There are no licensing or registration requirements to become a process server in Alabama. However, you will need to be designated by the courts before you can work as a process server.
Private process servers are active in the State of Alabama. Contact your local courts for more information on process server designation (http://judicial.alabama.gov/).
To learn more about the business, read my introduction to becoming a process server.
Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure
Rule 4.1 Process: Methods of In-State Service
Methods of Service.
All service of process within this state shall be made as provided in this rule except when service by publication is available pursuant to Rule 4.3. Service within this state under this rule shall include delivery by a process server and service by certified mail; and each of the foregoing methods of service shall be deemed to confer in personam jurisdiction. Unless otherwise requested or permitted by these rules, service of process within this state shall be made by delivery by a process server.
Delivery by a Process Server.
By Sheriff or Constable.
When process issued from any court subject to the provisions of these rules is to be delivered personally, the clerk of the court shall deliver or mail the process and sufficient copies of the process and complaint, or other documents to be served, to the sheriff or constable of the county in which the party to be served resides or may be found.
By Designated Person.
As an alternative to delivery by the sheriff, process issuing from any court governed by these rules may be delivered by the clerk to any person not less than eighteen (18) years of age, who is not a party and who has been designated by order of the court to make service of process.
How Served and Returned.
The person serving process shall locate the person to be served and shall deliver a copy of the process and accompanying documents to the person to be served. When the copy of the process has been delivered, the person serving process shall endorse that fact on the process and return it to the clerk, who shall make the appropriate entry on the docket sheet relating to the action. The return of the person serving process in the manner described herein shall be prima facie evidence that process has been served.
Failure of Service.
When the person serving process is unable to serve a copy of the process within thirty (30) days, the person serving process shall endorse that fact and the reason therefor on the process and return the process and copies to the clerk who shall make the appropriate entry on the docket sheet of the action. In the event of failure of service, the clerk shall forthwith notify, by mail, the attorney of record or if there is no attorney of record, the party at whose instance process was issued. The clerk shall enter the fact of notification on the docket sheet of the action. Failure to make service within the thirty(30)-day period and failure to make proof of service do not affect the validity of service.
Legal Forms for Process Servers in Alabama
Download free legal forms for process servers in Alabama from the Alabama Judicial System.