South Carolina · 3–5 day first attempt
Urgent Process Serving in South Carolina
Urgent service moves the first South Carolina attempt up to 3–5 days, priced at one and a half times the county Routine rate and rounded up to the dollar.
A deadline a week or two out
Some files land late: a summons that sat in a queue, a hearing notice that needs service before a set date, or a defendant whose new address only just surfaced. Two weeks feels like plenty until the first attempt fails.
Urgent buys back a few days at a moderate premium. It suits matters where Rush would be more speed than the calendar needs, but Routine would leave too little room for a second or third attempt.
What the Urgent level covers
First attempt in 3–5 days at 1.5 times the county Routine rate, for deadlines that are close but not immediate.
- First attempt in 3–5 daysMeasured from receipt of filed papers and an approved quote.
- 1.5 times RoutineFor example, $188 in Greenville County against a $125 Routine rate.
- Follow-up planningLater attempts are scheduled at different times of day to reach the recipient.
- Full documentationBody camera, GPS-stamped log, field notes and a signed affidavit of service.
- Status updatesYou hear about each attempt, so a missed serve does not surprise you at the deadline.
What it costs in Greenville County
Every South Carolina county has its own published starting rate, from $125 to $230 for Routine service. Look up any county on the South Carolina pricing map or the five-state map.
Greenville County · South Carolina
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.
Ordering Urgent service
- Flag the deadlineTell DFS the date the serve must be completed by, and why.
- Submit papersSend the filed documents and every known address through the request form.
- Confirm the written quoteCounty, level and price are fixed in writing before the first attempt.
- Get the affidavitThe signed affidavit is returned for filing as soon as service is made.
Urgent is not a promise of completion
The 3–5 day window applies to the first attempt. A recipient who is away, evasive or behind a controlled entrance can take additional visits.
- If the deadline is two or three days out, Rush is the better fit.
- A wrong or stale address adds time; counsel supplies any new address.
- Requests for service within 24 hours are billed as Same Day Rush.
Questions about urgent process serving
How is the Urgent price calculated?
Urgent is 1.5 times the county Routine starting rate, rounded up to the dollar. In McCormick County, a $225 Routine rate becomes $338.
When should I choose Urgent over Routine?
When the completion deadline is roughly one to two weeks away and you want room for follow-up attempts before it.
Does Urgent change the documentation?
No. Every level carries the same body-camera, GPS log and affidavit standard.
South Carolina guides
Longer answers from the DFS Guides & FAQ.
Related pages
More on process serving in South Carolina.
Reviewed October 2026 by Delator Field Services. General information about South Carolina practice, not legal advice.
Papers to serve in South Carolina?
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.