Process Serving · 5–7 day first attempt
Routine Process Serving in Tennessee
Routine service is the standard DFS tier: the first attempt is made within 5–7 days, at the county starting rate, with the same documentation as every faster tier.
Included at the routine rate
Standard tier with a first attempt in 5–7 days at the county starting rate. Full documentation, no shortcuts.
- First attempt in 5–7 daysMeasured from receipt of service-ready papers and a confirmed quote.
- Varied attempt timesFollow-up attempts are spread across mornings, evenings and different days to find the recipient at home or work.
- Body-camera recordEach serve is filmed from approach through handoff and timestamped.
- GPS attempt log and field notesEvery attempt is logged with location and time, including unsuccessful ones.
- Return and affidavitCompleted for the issuing court and signed by the serving agent.
What it costs in Davidson County
Every county has its own published starting rate. Nashville and Davidson County are shown here; look up any of the 95 counties on the pricing map.
Davidson County · Middle Tennessee
Published starting rates from the DFS rate guide. Final pricing depends on location, 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. ^Filing and courier work may carry added fees for urgent or special handling.
For papers with room on the calendar
Most summonses are issued well ahead of any deadline. If the 90-day return window is still wide open, paying a premium for speed rarely makes sense.
Routine is the baseline every other tier is priced from. Choosing it changes the timing of the first attempt, not the care taken in the field or the quality of the return.
Routine and the next tier up
| Routine | Urgent | |
|---|---|---|
| First attempt | 5–7 days | 3–5 days |
| Price | County starting rate | 1.5× routine |
| Documentation | Full standard | Full standard |
How a routine serve runs
- Check the county rateFind the routine starting rate for the recipient's county on the pricing map.
- Send papers and detailsInclude the recipient's name, known addresses and any description or schedule you have.
- Approve the written quoteAttempts begin once the county, tier and price are confirmed in writing.
- Receive the returnThe signed affidavit and return follow the completed serve.
Routine timing limits
The 5–7 day window applies to the first attempt only. How many attempts a serve takes depends on the recipient.
- If your deadline is closer than about a week, choose Urgent or Rush instead.
- Incomplete papers or missing addresses delay the start of the clock.
- Routine rates range from $65 in Madison County to $255 in Johnson County.
Questions about routine process serving
Does routine service get fewer attempts than rush?
No. The tier sets how quickly the first attempt happens. Follow-up attempts and documentation follow the same standard.
What is the routine rate in Davidson County?
The routine starting rate in Davidson County is $75. Your written quote confirms the final figure.
Can I upgrade a routine order later?
Yes. Contact DFS and the order can be requoted at a faster tier if the field schedule allows.
Guides on this topic
Longer answers from the DFS Guides & FAQ.
Related services
Next steps and alternatives that often go with this work.
Reviewed October 2026 by Delator Field Services. General information, not legal advice.
Papers ready to go out?
Send the documents and the recipient’s last known address through the request form. DFS confirms the county, tier and price in writing before the first attempt.
Questions first? Call or text (629) 310-8667 or email contact@delatorgroup.com.