Service Bailiffs Service bailiffs assist litigants and attorneys by the efficient handling and delivery of court documents and the timely enforcement of judgment remedies. Service bailiffs serve summonses for civil, forcible entry and detainer, criminal, traffic, and judgment debtor cases, complaints, and subpoenas, and they enforce writs of restitution, replevin orders, executions, orders of attachment, and garnishments. Service bailiffs recover property from defendants and collect monetary awards. Personal property recovered is sold at bailiff's sales, subject to prior liens. Order of attachment property is seized and held by bailiff or plaintiff pending further order of the court.
Bailiffs further enforce judgments by serving garnishment of wages and attachment of bank accounts.
In replevin actions, property is seized and returned to the rightful owner. The Dispute Resolution Program provides mediation services for the court. Where deemed appropriate, civil cases filed in the General Division may be referred to mediation in an attempt to obviate the need for formal litigation. Mediations are conducted by court staff and trained community volunteers under the supervision of the Administrative Assistant of the Small Claims Division. There is also a prefiling mediation program for small claims cases.