Alaska litigants have a couple options to effect service of process on the opposing party.
Personal Service through a Process Server
A process server is a person licensed by the State of Alaska to serve process. Process means court orders such as summonses, writs of execution, and other types of documents required to be served by personal service.
Litigants are free to select their choice of service. If they select a process server, the court clerk will provide the litigant with authorized servers in the litigants area.
The Alaska Department of Public Safety, the court clerk, and the Alaska State Troopers maintain a list of process servers in each district which can be accessed through this link.
Geographical Isolation
Many parts of the state do not have process servers.
In those areas, process is served by peace officers (usually by State Troopers).
Fees:
Fees are set by the individual process server. The maximum recoverable amount as costs is governed by Administrative Rule 11. The current amount recoverable is $45.00 for each person on whom service is made plus a minimum of $20.00 for the first 25 miles or portion thereof traveled.
Additional amounts may be recovered for extra mileage or extra time spent serving the documents.
The Process of Process Service
Litigants will complete a form that offers service instructions to the process server. It will contain the name and location of the party to be served, if known, and identifiable information that may assist in the location of the subject in question, if not known. When papers come to hand, which refers to the moment your office receives the service instructions, they will be accompanied by the service fee and summons.
When service is completed, you will complete and return a Return of Service.
Return of Service
A return of service is another legal term that refers to the proof required by the court to validate that the subject was served the process in question. It is a notarized document that states who was served with the summons and complaint and when and how they were served.
We will practice completing this form at the end of our training session and before filling out your application for credentialing.
IMPORTANT: Alaska Courts determine the workflow surrounding process service and can moderate the return of service criterion as required by paperwork reduction protocols and scheduling workflows.
At this time, it is not required that litigants file the Return of Service with the Court, yet it is imperative that the Return is completed and returned to the client.