DCWP - Information for Process Server Industry

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Information for Process Server Industry

Advisory Concerning New State Law on Logbook Maintenance

On May 9, 2022, Governor Hochul signed into law a bill amending New York State General Business Law Section 89-cc to no longer require the maintenance of paper logbooks if a process server maintains electronic records. The effective date of this amendment is June 8, 2022. Please review the revisions to the State law to ensure that you understand your obligations. With the exception of the requirement to maintain a paper logbook, you must continue to comply with all DCWP laws and rules.

DCWP has amended New York City's rules governing record keeping and other matters. See the Educational Materials for Process Servers and Exam FAQs below.

DCWP’s Process Server Portal

Twice each year, licensed Process Servers must use DCWP’s Process Server Portal to submit their Certification Concerning Service in Housing Court.

Licensed process servers and process serving agencies must use DCWP’s Process Server Portal to submit Traverse Reports and Roster Updates.

Licensed process serving agencies can use DCWP’s Process Server Portal to submit Disciplinary Actions and Non-compliance Reports.

Quick Links

Jump to section for:
Action Taken Against Process Servers
Complaint Form for Legal Advocates
Denial Letters
Disciplinary Actions and Noncompliance Report
Educational Materials for Process Servers and Exam FAQs
Electronic Records
Global Positioning System (GPS) Devices/Services and Records
Global Positioning System (GPS) Investigation Report
License Application Checklists
Monthly Compliance Reports
Process Server Screening Protocol
Roster Updates
Service Investigation Report
Surety Bond Template
Training Acknowledgement Form
Traverse Report Forms

Action Taken Against Process Servers

DCWP posts the suspension, revocation, denial of renewal of license, and the issuance of penalties against licensed process servers, and the reason. The information is not updated daily so please check back for updates accordingly. Download Action Taken Against Process Servers.

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Complaint Form for Legal Advocates

Complaint Form
This form lets legal advocates file a complaint against a process server and/or process serving agency. Download fillable PDF complaint form
Sewer Service Victim List
DCWP created this spreadsheet to help organizations track the number of visitors or clients who claim they were not properly served court papers (“sewer service”). Download spreadsheet (in Excel).

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Denial Letters

Below is a list of applicants who were denied a DCWP Process Server Individual or Process Serving Agency license based on violations of process serving laws and rules (dating to January 1, 2014).

Cory Banks

Hakeem Jamal

JDG Investigations

John Givens

Kenneth Wonica

Michael Ballato

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Disciplinary Actions and Noncompliance Report

A tool for process serving agencies to maintain records of disciplinary actions and to report noncompliance with process server rules and laws to DCWP.
Download report (in Excel).

DCWP encourages process serving agencies to use DCWP ’s Process Server Portal to submit Disciplinary Actions and Non-compliance Reports, but you can also submit by email to process_server@dcwp.nyc.gov.

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Educational Materials for Process Servers and Exam FAQs

DCWP prepared Educational Materials for Process Servers that include relevant City and State laws and rules you need to know to serve process properly. Materials are not a “study guide” exclusively for the exam.
An additional resource is the New York City Marshals HandBook of Regulations, in particular Chapter IV, Section 2-2 and Section 5.
Under New York City law, individuals must pass an exam to get or to renew a Process Server Individual license. Review the Frequently Asked Questions: Exams

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Electronic Records

Process server individuals who choose to maintain electronic records with a third party contractor must produce upon request by DCWP, a copy of the electronic records in an MS Excel spreadsheet containing the fields and data format set forth in 6 RCNY Section 2-233(a)(2) that is certified to be true and accurate. Download the spreadsheet (in Excel).

Download recordkeeping certification forms for:
Process Server Individual
Process Serving Agency
Note: Process servers must also maintain GPS records. Refer to the section Global Positioning System (GPS) Devices and Records for more information.

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Global Positioning System (GPS) Devices/Services and Records

Process servers must carry and operate an electronic device that records GPS location, time, and date while serving process.
Upon request from DCWP, the GPS Contractor must provide to DCWP information related to a process server’s GPS records, using the GPS Records Template (in Excel).
Download a List of Companies That Provide Software and Services*
*Note: The list must not be considered a recommendation of any company, or a complete listing. All process servers are advised to investigate and compare listed companies with other companies.
Process Server Individual: Download Electronic Device Certification Form (All individuals must submit the form to DCWP.)
Process Serving Agency: Download GPS Services Affirmation (Agencies must submit this form only if they have entered into a contract with an independent third party to provide to process server individuals the services required by Section 2-233b of Title 6 of the Rules of the City of New York.)

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Global Positioning System (GPS) Investigation Report

A tool that assists process serving agencies in using GPS data to determine whether services were actually made.
Download report (in Excel).

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License Application Checklists

Learn the requirements to apply for:
Process Server Individual License
Process Serving Agency License

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Monthly Compliance Reports

Section 2-234a(b)(2)(i)-(ii) of Title 6 of the Rules of the City of New York requires licensed process serving agencies each month to review for completeness and accuracy the records of each individual process server to whom it assigns or distributes process. Every process serving agency must prepare a monthly written report of its review of the records maintained by each individual process server to whom it assigns or distributes process during that month. Download DCWP’s Monthly Compliance Report template (in Excel).
Important:
Some licensed process serving agencies agreed to a Department consent order and must use DCWP’s Monthly Compliance Report to comply with the review and report requirements. Each month, DCWP will post a randomly generated audit date that these process serving agencies should use to answer Questions 30, 31, and 32 for every process server who served process on behalf of the agency during the previous month.
The randomly generated audit date for December is December 9.
If any process server to whom the agency assigned process during the month did not serve process on this date, please use December 20.
If any process server did not serve process on either of these two dates, please use the last day of the month that the process server did serve process.
The report must be made available to DCWP upon request.
View archive of randomly generated audit dates.

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Process Server Screening Protocol

A tool for process serving agencies to use in determining whether to hire a new process server.
Download protocol
Check if an individual is a licensed process server

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Roster Updates

Licensed process servers and process serving agencies must use DCWP’s Process Server Portal to submit Roster Updates.

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Service Investigation Report

A tool to assist process serving agencies in investigating the process underlying traverse hearings and other potentially suspicious services.
Download report (in Excel).

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Surety Bond Template

Process serving agencies must post a $100,000 surety bond. Process server individuals can post a $10,000 surety bond, enroll in the DCWP trust fund, or claim exemption.
Download surety bond model template
Download a list of bonding companies

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Training Acknowledgement Form

A form that assists process serving agencies in maintaining records of the trainings they have conducted and which process servers attended them.
Download form

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Traverse Report Forms

Licensed process servers and process serving agencies must use DCWP’s Process Server Portal to submit Traverse Reports.

DCWP encourages judges or judicial officers and legal advocates to submit their Traverse Reports through DCWP’s Process Server Portal.

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New York City businesses must comply with all relevant federal, state, and City laws and rules. Visit our Laws page