TEXAS (TX) PROCESS SERVERS CERTIFIED
EXAMINATION
,Question 1: A JBCC-certified process server receives a citation and petition to serve on a
defendant in Dallas County. The suit was filed in Harris County District Court. Does the
process server need a specific per-case court order from the Harris County judge to
execute service in Dallas County?
A. Limited to justice court matters only across Texas
B. Valid only in the county where the issuing court is located
C. Restricted strictly to the county where the process server resides unless granted a
written order
D. Statewide authority throughout all 254 Texas counties without needing a specific
court order for each case
Answer: D — Statewide authority throughout all 254 Texas counties without
needing a specific court order for each case
Rationale: Under TRCP Rule 103 and JBCC rules, a JBCC-certified process server has
statewide authority to serve citations, notices, and non-enforcement civil process
anywhere within Texas without obtaining a per-case court authorization.
Question 2: According to Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 103 and 501.2, who among the
following is strictly prohibited from serving a citation or initial process in a civil lawsuit?
A. An off-duty sheriff or constable acting as an independent contractor
B. Any person who is a party to or interested in the outcome of the lawsuit
C. A private process server serving process outside their home judicial district
D. Any certified process server who is over 21 years of age
Answer: B — Any person who is a party to or interested in the outcome of the
lawsuit
Rationale: TRCP Rule 103 explicitly states: 'No person who is a party to or interested in
the outcome of a suit may serve process in that suit.' Even if certified, a party cannot
serve process in their own case.
,Question 3: A process server attempts personal service of a standard civil citation for
debt collection on a Sunday afternoon at the defendant's home in San Antonio. The
defendant accepts the papers. The defendant later moves to quash service. How will the
court ruling treat this service?
A. Saturday, unless authorized by an emergency written order of the district clerk
B. Sunday, with zero legal exceptions allowed under any circumstances
C. Any official state or federal legal holiday declared by the Texas Governor
D. Sunday, unless the process involves injunction, attachment, garnishment,
sequestration, or distress proceedings
Answer: D — Sunday, unless the process involves injunction, attachment,
garnishment, sequestration, or distress proceedings
Rationale: TRCP Rule 6 provides that no civil suit shall be commenced nor process
issued or served on Sunday, except in cases of injunction, attachment, garnishment,
sequestration, or distress proceedings.
Question 4: Under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 106(a), what are the two authorized
primary methods of serving a citation without needing a prior court order for substituted
service?
A. In-person delivery, or standard first-class mail with a certificate of mailing
B. In-person delivery, or mailing by registered or certified mail with return receipt
requested
C. Leaving process at the front door, or publication in a county newspaper
D. Delivery by commercial courier service like FedEx without signature confirmation
Answer: B — In-person delivery, or mailing by registered or certified mail with
return receipt requested
Rationale: TRCP Rule 106(a) authorizes initial service by either (1) delivering in person,
or (2) mailing by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested. Standard first-class
mail alone is not valid initial service under Rule 106(a).
, Question 5: After four unsuccessful attempts to personally serve a defendant at his usual
place of abode, a process server taped the citation to the defendant's front door without
filing a motion or securing a court order. Does this constitute valid service under TRCP
106(b)?
A. An oral motion made by the process server directly to the court clerk over the
telephone
B. A copy of the process server's active JBCC certification card and driver's license
C. A certified letter sent to the defendant's employer requesting permission to post
papers
D. A motion supported by an affidavit or unsworn declaration stating the location of
usual place of abode and listing specific failed attempts
Answer: D — A motion supported by an affidavit or unsworn declaration stating the
location of usual place of abode and listing specific failed attempts
Rationale: Substituted service under TRCP Rule 106(b) requires a court order granted
upon a motion supported by a sworn affidavit or penalty-of-perjury declaration detailing
diligent, failed attempts at personal or certified mail service at a specific location.
Question 6: Under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 107(e), how may a private process
server (who is not a sheriff, constable, or court clerk) properly execute the return of
service?
A. By submitting an audio recording of the service interaction to the district clerk
B. Only by having the return signed and stamped before a licensed Texas notary
public
C. By having the return verified (notarized) OR by signing a statutory unsworn
declaration under penalty of perjury
D. By having the plaintiff's attorney co-sign the return of service
Answer: C — By having the return verified (notarized) OR by signing a statutory
unsworn declaration under penalty of perjury
Rationale: TRCP Rule 107(e) allows a private process server to sign a return of service
that is either verified (notarized) or executed using the specific unsworn declaration under
penalty of perjury set out in Rule 107(e).
EXAMINATION
,Question 1: A JBCC-certified process server receives a citation and petition to serve on a
defendant in Dallas County. The suit was filed in Harris County District Court. Does the
process server need a specific per-case court order from the Harris County judge to
execute service in Dallas County?
A. Limited to justice court matters only across Texas
B. Valid only in the county where the issuing court is located
C. Restricted strictly to the county where the process server resides unless granted a
written order
D. Statewide authority throughout all 254 Texas counties without needing a specific
court order for each case
Answer: D — Statewide authority throughout all 254 Texas counties without
needing a specific court order for each case
Rationale: Under TRCP Rule 103 and JBCC rules, a JBCC-certified process server has
statewide authority to serve citations, notices, and non-enforcement civil process
anywhere within Texas without obtaining a per-case court authorization.
Question 2: According to Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 103 and 501.2, who among the
following is strictly prohibited from serving a citation or initial process in a civil lawsuit?
A. An off-duty sheriff or constable acting as an independent contractor
B. Any person who is a party to or interested in the outcome of the lawsuit
C. A private process server serving process outside their home judicial district
D. Any certified process server who is over 21 years of age
Answer: B — Any person who is a party to or interested in the outcome of the
lawsuit
Rationale: TRCP Rule 103 explicitly states: 'No person who is a party to or interested in
the outcome of a suit may serve process in that suit.' Even if certified, a party cannot
serve process in their own case.
,Question 3: A process server attempts personal service of a standard civil citation for
debt collection on a Sunday afternoon at the defendant's home in San Antonio. The
defendant accepts the papers. The defendant later moves to quash service. How will the
court ruling treat this service?
A. Saturday, unless authorized by an emergency written order of the district clerk
B. Sunday, with zero legal exceptions allowed under any circumstances
C. Any official state or federal legal holiday declared by the Texas Governor
D. Sunday, unless the process involves injunction, attachment, garnishment,
sequestration, or distress proceedings
Answer: D — Sunday, unless the process involves injunction, attachment,
garnishment, sequestration, or distress proceedings
Rationale: TRCP Rule 6 provides that no civil suit shall be commenced nor process
issued or served on Sunday, except in cases of injunction, attachment, garnishment,
sequestration, or distress proceedings.
Question 4: Under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 106(a), what are the two authorized
primary methods of serving a citation without needing a prior court order for substituted
service?
A. In-person delivery, or standard first-class mail with a certificate of mailing
B. In-person delivery, or mailing by registered or certified mail with return receipt
requested
C. Leaving process at the front door, or publication in a county newspaper
D. Delivery by commercial courier service like FedEx without signature confirmation
Answer: B — In-person delivery, or mailing by registered or certified mail with
return receipt requested
Rationale: TRCP Rule 106(a) authorizes initial service by either (1) delivering in person,
or (2) mailing by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested. Standard first-class
mail alone is not valid initial service under Rule 106(a).
, Question 5: After four unsuccessful attempts to personally serve a defendant at his usual
place of abode, a process server taped the citation to the defendant's front door without
filing a motion or securing a court order. Does this constitute valid service under TRCP
106(b)?
A. An oral motion made by the process server directly to the court clerk over the
telephone
B. A copy of the process server's active JBCC certification card and driver's license
C. A certified letter sent to the defendant's employer requesting permission to post
papers
D. A motion supported by an affidavit or unsworn declaration stating the location of
usual place of abode and listing specific failed attempts
Answer: D — A motion supported by an affidavit or unsworn declaration stating the
location of usual place of abode and listing specific failed attempts
Rationale: Substituted service under TRCP Rule 106(b) requires a court order granted
upon a motion supported by a sworn affidavit or penalty-of-perjury declaration detailing
diligent, failed attempts at personal or certified mail service at a specific location.
Question 6: Under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 107(e), how may a private process
server (who is not a sheriff, constable, or court clerk) properly execute the return of
service?
A. By submitting an audio recording of the service interaction to the district clerk
B. Only by having the return signed and stamped before a licensed Texas notary
public
C. By having the return verified (notarized) OR by signing a statutory unsworn
declaration under penalty of perjury
D. By having the plaintiff's attorney co-sign the return of service
Answer: C — By having the return verified (notarized) OR by signing a statutory
unsworn declaration under penalty of perjury
Rationale: TRCP Rule 107(e) allows a private process server to sign a return of service
that is either verified (notarized) or executed using the specific unsworn declaration under
penalty of perjury set out in Rule 107(e).
