Delivering Court Documents Is Time Sensitive

The legal system is characterized by an enormous amount of paperwork. A single court case may involve dozens of different forms and hundreds of pages of supporting documentation. Completing and filing court documents are challenges in themselves and getting these documents to the filing authority in a timely manner is imperative. Consider the many different types of documents that courts require and explore the best delivery methods.

Types of Court Documents

Bankruptcy documents, traffic violations, and forms regarding civil and criminal cases are among the most common documents processed by local courts. Lawyers may be involved in the process and this complicates document delivery because these attorneys, not the clients they represent, may submit the paperwork to the courthouse. Lawyers are busy, so they often use courier services.

Criminal, land, or case records may be retained at a state level. State court cases may require the parties and their lawyers to travel hours for hearings. Documents initiating or supporting a case in state court may be sent using same day delivery to ensure that they reach the state courthouse by the filing deadline. This service may be available online or via telephone at no extra charge.

Security when Delivering Court Documents

Documents used for legal purposes typically contain personal information. This includes the name, address, birth date, and Social Security number of the filing party. It may include background information, names of other involved parties, and personal financial information. These are details that no one wants to fall into the wrong hands, making it important to choose a reputable delivery service.

If documents are not delivered to a court on time, the court cannot proceed with the case. Delivering court-mandated documents quickly prevents repercussions that range from financial penalties to jail time. The process of serving legal documents on another individual must adhere to several guidelines. In each of these situations, maintaining confidentiality during transport ensures that unauthorized individuals do not view the documents.

Anyone who deals with legal documents that will eventually reach a court should consider the delivery options. The best method gets the documents to their intended destination quickly and without a security breach. Time is usually of the essence, making it important to choose a reliable carrier known for handling legal documents. Though many documents eventually become public record, most jurisdictions require the individual to authorize the release of such information, making it important that the delivery service maintain confidentiality until this time.