Georgia · Process serving only

Process Serving in Georgia

DFS serves civil process, subpoenas and related papers in all 159 Georgia counties, priced by county and documented from the first knock to the signed proof of service.

SUBMIT A PROCESS SERVE REQUESTReview Georgia pricing

Georgia papers, served under Georgia rules

Georgia is stricter than many states about who may carry a summons. Under O.C.G.A. § 9-11-4(c), state-court process goes through a sheriff or marshal, a person the court has appointed, or a certified process server under § 9-11-4.1. A friend of the plaintiff with a free afternoon does not qualify.

DFS handles the logistics around that rule. DFS confirms before the first attempt that the server assigned meets the issuing court's requirements for that document. If a county or court only accepts officer service for a particular paper, DFS tells you so before any fee is charged.

What it costs in Fulton County

Every Georgia county has its own published starting rate, from $125 to $260 for Routine service. Look up any county on the Georgia pricing map or the five-state map.

Fulton County · Georgia

Routine$125First attempt in 5–7 days
Urgent$188First attempt in 3–5 days
Rush$250First attempt in 1–2 days
Same Day Rush$375Within 2 hours of receipt*

Published starting rates. Final pricing depends on the address, urgency and document readiness and is confirmed in writing before the first attempt. *Same Day Rush availability is assessed case by case; any request for service within 24 hours is billed as Same Day Rush. Outside Tennessee, DFS provides process serving only.

Largest Georgia cities and counties

Local pages cover geography, courts and published rates. Ranked by U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimates. Every other county is on the Georgia service areas page.

Cities

  1. Atlanta529,110
  2. Columbus202,171
  3. Augusta201,999
  4. Macon157,556
  5. Savannah149,440
  6. Athens128,612
  7. South Fulton112,820
  8. Sandy Springs105,013
  9. Roswell91,505
  10. Warner Robins87,761

How a Georgia serve starts

  1. Find the county rateLook up the recipient's county on the Georgia service areas list or pricing map.
  2. Send papers and addressesSubmit service-ready documents with every known address through the request form or by email.
  3. Approve the written quoteCounty, service level and price are confirmed in writing before the first attempt.
  4. Receive the proofThe completed proof of service, signed by the person who served, comes back to you for filing.

What DFS offers in Georgia

Statewide Georgia process serving with county starting rates, four service levels and body-camera documentation on every serve.

  • Routine serviceFirst attempt in 5–7 days at the county's published starting rate.
  • Urgent serviceFirst attempt in 3–5 days, billed at 1.5 times the Routine rate.
  • Rush serviceFirst attempt in 1–2 days, billed at twice the Routine rate.
  • Same Day RushAttempt within 2 hours of receipt where feasible, billed at three times Routine.
  • County-based pricingEach of the 159 counties has its own starting rate, set from population and distance to major metro areas.
  • Full documentationBody-camera footage, GPS-stamped attempt log, field notes and a signed proof of service on every file.

Scope in Georgia

DFS offers process serving only in Georgia. Other Delator services are not available here.

  • No skip tracing, surveillance or investigations are offered in Georgia; counsel supplies addresses.
  • Some papers, such as certain dispossessory summonses, may be limited to officer service by the court.
  • Filing the proof with the clerk can be arranged on request where the court accepts it.
  • DFS does not give legal advice; confirm requirements with counsel and the issuing court.

Questions about Georgia process serving

Can any adult serve court papers in Georgia?

Not for a state-court summons. Georgia generally requires a sheriff or marshal, a court-appointed server or a certified process server. Subpoenas and federal process follow broader rules that let other adults serve.

What is the lowest starting rate in Georgia?

Routine service starts at $125 in many counties, including Fulton, Gwinnett, Cobb and DeKalb. The highest Routine starting rate is $260 in Baker County.

Does DFS have an office in Georgia?

No. Georgia files are managed from Nashville under one chain of command, and each serve is assigned to a vetted server who meets the court's requirements.

Georgia guides

Longer answers from the DFS Guides & FAQ.

Related pages

More on process serving in Georgia.

Reviewed October 2026 by Delator Field Services. General information about Georgia practice, not legal advice.

Papers to serve in Georgia?

Send the documents and the recipient’s last known address through the request form. DFS confirms the county, service level and price in writing before the first attempt.

Questions first? Call or text (629) 310-8667 or email contact@delatorgroup.com.

SUBMIT A PROCESS SERVE REQUESTGeorgia pricing map