Service areas · LA
Process Serving in Louisiana
Order service of process in Louisiana online. You see your price before you submit, a verified process server near the address takes the job, and every attempt is tracked with notes, time, GPS location and photos.
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Overview of service of process in Louisiana
Louisiana’s judicial system includes district courts serving judicial districts organized around parishes, as well as city and parish courts. District courts are the trial courts of general jurisdiction for civil and criminal cases. Parish and city courts also handle matters within their jurisdiction; Orleans Parish has its own civil and criminal district courts. Service rules are set by the Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure and may vary with the defendant and proceeding. Court Runner USA connects you with process servers who serve papers across Louisiana.
General information, not legal advice. Last checked October 2026.
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Who can serve documents in Louisiana
Licensing or registration requirements
Except as otherwise provided by law, service is made by the sheriff of the parish where service is to be made or the parish where the action is pending. A court may appoint a private person when the sheriff has not served the process within 10 days after receiving it, or has returned it unable to be served, whichever happens first. The appointed person must be over the age of majority, not a party, resident in Louisiana, and considered qualified by the court. A Louisiana-licensed private investigator is presumed qualified under the article. For specified summary proceedings and related subpoenas, a court may appoint a qualifying person without first requiring a sheriff’s attempt, on a party’s motion supported by verified reasons. A court may also appoint a juridical entity that selects a qualifying natural-person employee or agent.
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Accepted methods of service
Personal, substituted, mail and other methods
Louisiana recognizes personal and domiciliary service, which generally have the same effect. Domiciliary service is made when a proper officer leaves the process at the person’s dwelling or usual abode with a person of suitable age and discretion who resides there. A corporation is served personally through its agent for service of process. If the corporation has no designated agent, or due diligence fails, Article 1261 allows specified alternative recipients, including certain officers, directors, or suitable employees; applicable statutory procedures may also apply. In limited categories, the Secretary of State is designated to receive process, and its Legal Services Section identifies the cases it handles and the service route. Article 1293 provides for court-appointed private service under stated conditions. The cited provisions do not establish ordinary initial service by mail as a general method.
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Time limits and rules for serving
Citation and service are essential in most Louisiana civil actions. Under Article 1201, service of citation must be requested on each named defendant within 90 days after the action begins; an additional defendant named in an amended or supplemental petition must be served within 90 days after that filing. Article 1001 generally requires a defendant to file an answer within 21 days after service of citation. When the petition is served with a discovery request, the general answer period is 30 days. The court may allow additional time, and the article provides a 15-day period in specified situations after an exception is decided or an amended petition is served. Service may be made at any time of day or night, including Sundays and holidays. Check current legislation, court orders, and special-proceeding rules for exceptions.
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Restrictions on serving
Sundays, holidays and hours
Service may be made at any time of day or night, including Sundays and holidays, for both personal and domiciliary service, unless another law provides otherwise. The general rule assigns service to the sheriff of the parish where service is made or where the action is pending. Private service is not a general substitute without the court appointment described in Article 1293: the ordinary route requires the sheriff’s failure to serve within 10 days or an earlier return that service cannot be made. The appointed individual must be over the age of majority, a Louisiana resident, not a party, and qualified by the court. For a listed set of summary matters and related subpoenas, the court has discretion to appoint without a prior sheriff attempt on a motion supported by verified reasons. Use the procedure applicable to the case and parish.
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Proof of service and affidavit requirements
A sheriff must endorse on a copy of the citation or process the date, place, and method of service, along with enough information to show compliance with law. The sheriff signs and promptly returns the copy to the issuing clerk. Once received, the return becomes part of the record and is prima facie correct; a court may allow proof or process to be amended unless material prejudice would result. A private person appointed under Article 1293 proves service like any other fact in the case. For specified protective orders and related orders, the person serving or a designee must transmit proof to the Louisiana Supreme Court’s Judicial Administrator for the Protective Order Registry as expeditiously as possible, no later than the end of the next business day, excluding weekends and holidays. The cited general return article does not state a notarization requirement for ordinary sheriff returns.
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Major cities we serve in Louisiana
- New Orleans
- Baton Rouge
- Shreveport
- Lafayette
- Lake Charles
- St. George
- Kenner
- Bossier City
- Monroe
- Alexandria
- Houma
- Central
Pricing for Louisiana
In Louisiana, service is normally made by the sheriff or a court-appointed process server, so we get quotes from appointed servers. Each quote is one price before sales tax, and you choose before you pay.
- Standard serviceOne recipient at one address · from appointed servers
- Priced by quote in Louisiana
- Sales taxCalculated at payment where it applies, from the service address in Louisiana. Shown before you pay and on your receipt.
- At payment
Louisiana FAQs
Who usually serves civil process in Louisiana?
Except where law provides otherwise, the sheriff of the parish where service is made or the action is pending serves process (Article 1291).
Can a private process server serve papers?
A court may appoint a qualifying private person after the sheriff has not served within 10 days or returns the process unable to serve, whichever occurs first (Article 1293(A)).
Can service be made at someone’s home?
Domiciliary service may be made at the dwelling or usual abode with a suitable-age resident of the domiciliary establishment (Article 1234).
Can process be served on Sunday?
Yes. Personal or domiciliary service may be made at any time of day or night, including Sundays and holidays, unless law provides otherwise (Article 1231).
How soon must service be requested after filing?
Service of citation generally must be requested on named defendants within 90 days of commencement (Article 1201(C)).
How long does a defendant have to answer?
The general answer period is 21 days after service of citation; it is generally 30 days when the petition is served with a discovery request (Article 1001(A)).
How is a corporation served?
A corporation is generally served personally through an agent for service of process, with specified alternative recipients when the conditions in the article apply (Article 1261).
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