HOW TO REGISTER AS A PROCESS SERVER
• Acquire application and Live Scan paperwork from Clerk’s office
• Arrange to have fingerprints taken at a Live Scan location (i.e. Sheriff’s Office)
• Purchase a $2,000. Bond from a bonding company that covers the 2-year registration term
($2000. cash deposit in lieu of bond may be submitted)
• Complete the Certificate of Registration
• Appear in person at the County Clerk’s office with picture identification and the
documentation mentioned above
• Submit filing fees: $117 ($100 filing fee-B&P Code § 22352, $7 file stamp-B&P Code
§22353(c) and $10 identification card fee-B&P Code §22352(c))
• Record bond (B&P Code §22353(a)) and submit recording fee: $13 for the first page, and
$3 for each additional page (GC Code § 27361)
BUSINESS & PROFESSIONS CODE EXCERPTS
§22350(a): Any natural person who makes more than 10 services of process within this state
during one calendar year, for specific compensation or in expectation of specific compensation,
where that compensation is directly attributable to the service of process, shall file and maintain
a verified certificate of registration as a process server with the county clerk of the county in
which he or she resides or has his or her principal place of business.
§22351.5(a): At the time of filing the initial certificate of registration, the registrant shall also
submit a completed Request for Live Scan form confirming fingerprint submission to the
Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in order to verify that the
registrant has not been convicted of a felony. The clerk shall utilize the Subsequent Arrest
Notification Contract provided by the Department of Justice for notifications subsequent to the
initial certificate of registration. ($56 fee paid to Live Scan Operator and effective July 1, 2005,
the Department of Justice will only accept live scan submission of fingerprints.)
§22351.5(b): If, after receiving the results of the Request for Live Scan, the clerk is advised that
the registrant has been convicted of a felony, the presiding judge of the superior court of the
county in which the certificate of registration is maintained is authorized to review the criminal
record and, unless the registrant is able to produce a copy of a certificate of rehabilitation,
expungement, or pardon, as specified in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 22351, notify
the registrant that the registration is revoked. An order to show cause for contempt may be issued
and served upon any person who fails to surrender a registered process server identification card
after a notice of revocation.
§22352. A certificate of registration may be renewed up to 60 days prior to its expiration date
and the effective date of the renewal shall be the date the current registration expires. The
renewal shall be effective for a period of two years from the effective date or until the expiration
date of the bond, whichever occurs first.
§22353(a): A certificate of registration shall be accompanied by a bond of two thousand dollars
($2,000), executed by an admitted surety insurer and conditioned upon compliance with the
provisions of this chapter and all laws governing the service of process in this state. The total
aggregate liability on the bond is limited to two thousand dollars ($2,000). As an alternative to
the bond, the registrant may deposit with the clerk, cash or a money order in the amount of two
thousand dollars ($2,000).
§22354: A certificate of registration shall be effective for a period of two years or until the date
the bond expires, whichever occurs first. Thereafter, a registrant shall file a new certificate of
registration or a renewal of the certificate of registration and pay the fee required by Section
Code of Civil Procedure §995-440: A bond given as a condition of a license or permit shall be
continuous in form, remain in full force and effect, and run concurrently with the license or
permit period and any and all renewals, or until cancellation or withdrawal of the surety from the
bond.
