ABC Legal

ABC Legal: service of process across the United States and in 88 countries

ABC Legal is an American company specializing in service of process and related investigations. Its offering relies on a network of more than 12,000 process servers covering all 50 U.S. states and territories, plus 88 countries. The company states it makes more than 12 million service attempts per year and counts 50,000 legal professionals among its clients.

The company operates through regional fulfillment offices that combine local process servers with regulatory specialists, aiming to comply with each jurisdiction's due process policies and issue proof of service valid for the courts.

How the service works

The process begins with uploading documents to the online platform, from which they are assigned to local process servers. The company states that account setup is immediate and that an order can be started in less than two minutes. Every service attempt is documented through the process server's mobile app, which records photos and GPS tracking as evidence.

The company offers real-time updates by text message and email, and provides downloadable, court-ready proof of service. It also allows managing users, roles, and office locations within the account.

Service options and timelines

ABC Legal structures service into three tiers, with starting prices that vary by state and per party to be served:

• Standard: first attempt generally within the first week, with a starting price that the site places in a range of $76 to $350 depending on the state.
• New Priority: first attempt within three business days for orders placed before 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, with a $30 surcharge over the Standard rate per party.
• Rush: first attempt within 48 hours for orders placed before 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, with a $65 surcharge over the Standard rate per party.

The company notes that some markets require wet ink signatures and may take additional time, and that the final price is confirmed during checkout.

Complementary services

In addition to domestic service, the company provides international service of process, service acceptance, and locate parties for service. For cases where an address is incorrect, it offers Instant Trace™, a skip trace service that suggests an alternative address after a failed attempt; according to the company, it is reserved for law firms due to the legal nature of the investigations. The site values this service at $40.

The offering is completed by electronic filing (eFiling) in select markets, the option to hire appearance counsel through Docketly™, and specific solutions for mass litigation grouped under the name Mass Torts Made Simple™.

Target clients

ABC Legal directs its solutions to law firms, high-volume service firms, companies, government entities, and individuals acting on their own behalf. For law firms and high-volume firms, it highlights flexible billing, with payment after service completion, in-state service discounts, and management of teams and offices from a single account. For companies, it mentions service of notices of small claims and collection processes. For individuals, it refers to service of divorce proceedings and other legal documents.

Contract with the U.S. Department of Justice

Since 2003, ABC Legal has held an exclusive contract with the U.S. Department of Justice to carry out service-related activities on behalf of the U.S. Central Authority, directed at individuals and companies within the country. The company also presents itself as a preferred partner of Wolters Kluwer / CT Corp.

Process server network

The company invites professional process servers to join its network, which it describes as the largest in the country, and offers resources for those already providing services with it. It also considers acquiring existing process serving businesses.

Location and contact

633 Yesler Way, Seattle, WA 98104 · Phone: (206) 521-9000 | (800) 736-7295