How do I serve the other party with notice of my small claims court case?

In Texas, you must serve the other person with notice of your small claims court case before the case can be heard. This is done through a process known as service of process or service of notice, which tells the other person that you are taking them to small claims court. Service of notice can be accomplished in one of three ways. You can serve the other person yourself by handing them a copy of the small claims complaint and summons, or you can have someone else (not a party to the lawsuit) serve them. Lastly, the court may allow you to serve the other person by certified mail, return receipt requested. No matter which service method you use, you must also make sure the person being served has received a copy of the complaint and summons. Additionally, you must make sure you complete the proper paperwork that lets the court know that service of process has occurred. This paperwork, called proof of service, can be simply an affidavit signed by the person who served the other person or it can be an officer’s return, depending on the service method you used. So, to serve the other party with notice of your small claims court case in Texas, you must deliver the complaint and summons to them in one of the three ways outlined above, and make sure all paperwork is properly completed.

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