Have someone other than the sheriff serve your restraining order

If you want someone you know to serve your papers, they must be: 

• 18 years old or older, and 
• Not involved in this case (examples: listed as protected person or a witness)

You cannot serve your papers yourself. You can also hire a professional process server or have the sheriff serve your court papers for free. 

Your server must deliver your papers by a deadline before your court date (hearing date).   

To see when your deadline for service is, look at your Notice of Court Hearing (form DV-109). 

• The number of days is in item 6 on Page 2. 
• You must serve the person at least this number of days before your court date (the date in item 3 on Page 1). 

You can always serve before the deadline. 

You will need to give your server

1. A copy of all your court papers which will include:

• Form DV-109
• Form DV-100
• Form DV-110, if granted by the judge
• Form DV-120 (leave blank- this is for the other side to complete if they want to )
• Form DV-250 (leave blank)

There will be other forms, if you asked for child custody or support. Check page 2, of form DV-109 to see if the judge ordered you to serve any other form on the other side. 

2. A partially completed copy of the Proof of Personal Service form (DV-200) 

• You should fill out items 1-3 of the form.
• Your server will complete items 4-7 once the papers are served.
• After your papers are served, ask your server to give you the completed Proof of Service form right away so you can file the form with the court.

Once you have given your server a copy of your court papers and form DV-200, ask your server to:

1. Deliver your court papers to the other side as soon as possible and before the deadline
2. Complete form DV-200
3. Return a completed copy of form DV-200 to you so you can file it with the court clerk

Once you get the Proof of Service form back from your server,

1. Make a copy of it.  
2. File the Proof of Service form right away. When you file the form, take both copies (the original and extra copy) to the court clerk. The clerk will stamp and return the copy to you. The copy is for you to keep.
3. Keep the copy of the Proof of Service and a copy of your restraining order (if you have one) with you at all times.  Make sure you bring them to your court date, too.