Serving Legal Papers

You can request to have legal papers served by the Sheriff. Examples of legal papers include:

• Orders of Protection
• Processes
• Subpoenas
• Summonses

You must submit your request with the required documents by mail or in person at a NYC Sheriff Office in the borough where the service is to be made. You must include in your request:

• The original plus two copies of the legal papers
• A printed and completed Service of Process Intake Sheet

A check or money order payable to "NYC Sheriff" is also required. The amount of the fee, including any additional fees, depends on the legal papers being served.

Get information about the serving process.

Get more information and download forms.

To serve legal papers on the New York City Department of Finance (DOF), you can go to:

Manhattan DOF Business Center
66 John Street, 2nd Floor, Room 104
New York, NY 10038

Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM

The Department of Correction will assist you if you need to serve legal documents on an inmate in their custody.

Court papers about child custody are an example of the type of legal documents that can be served.