The majority of constables are only sworn in one city/town or in a handful of communities in Massachusetts. Under Massachusetts General Law (Chap.41, sec.05), constables must be properly bonded and are restricted from serving process over $7,000 absent special approval from the court in a specific case.Ĭonstables must also be sworn in each and every city and town that they serve process. Unlike constables, our deputies are not restricted in the types and magnitude of papers they can serve. The Sheriff’s Office offers customer service staff to assist with questions, obtaining copies of returns, and keeping detailed records of service status and dates. 8) and there is often little if any difference between the fees of the sheriff’s office and those of a constable. Once process has been served, the plaintiff/attorney can notified by email notification.įees for both Deputy Sheriff’s and constables are set by statute (G.L. Our system allows attorneys who sign up for this program to receive ‘real time’ notification of our progress in serving legal process. We also have a sophisticated software system that allows us to maintain all service records and track their progress. This enables to quickly locate defendants who may have moved or are seeking to avoid service and also allows us to locate assets which may be subject to seizure in order to satisfy a judgment. The Norfolk Sheriff’s Civil Process Office can locate witnesses and defendants using databases and information not available to the public at large. Unlike constables who may be a single individual the Sheriff’s Office maintains records of service and scans of all documents allowing us to generate new returns in the future should they be required.Įmploy the best ‘Search Technology’ available to government agencies Our staff ensures that all process is properly recorded in our system and that it is served promptly and returned. The Norfolk Sheriff’s Office also employs a highly skilled business office staff to assist with the service of process and respond to questions from attorneys and pro se litigants. Norfolk County Deputy Sheriffs are trained to serve your important documents with accuracy and efficiency. Deputy Sheriff’s can be reached at the office, by cell phone, and through email ensuring that attorney concerns can be addressed immediately. They are also trained in information technology and most importantly, ‘Customer Service’. The Deputy Sheriffs are highly trained and have completed the Reserve/Intermittent Police Officer Training through the Massachusetts Criminal Justice Training Council. Norfolk Civil Process Office employees are trained to be proficient and professional in all aspects of civil process. The Norfolk Sheriff’s Civil Process Office is dedicated to providing the highest quality service to our clients. Rule 4 of the Massachusetts Rules of Civil Procedure requires that “except as otherwise permitted by paragraph (h) of this rule, service of all process shall be made by a sheriff, by his deputy, or by a special sheriff by any other person duly authorized by law by some person specially appointed by the court for that purpose” or where allowed by registered mail.” MGL c.37, section 3 empowers the Sheriff to appoint Deputy Sheriffs to perform official acts of process. Professional & Highly Trained Deputies and StaffĪccording to Massachusetts General Law c.37, sections 11&12, the High Sheriff of the County is mandated to serve civil process. Appointed Deputy Sheriffs are trained to properly deliver important court and non-court documents and are held to the same high standards as any law enforcement official in the Commonwealth. As a professional law enforcement agency whose responsibility is the delivery of legal services and the enforcement of civil orders the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office offers a number of benefits for attorneys and Pro Se litigants seeking to serve civil process or collect on judgments.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |