Civil Process Services
The Court Operations division offers cost effective, professional civil process services. Every effort will be made to serve documents in a timely manner and to make what is often a difficult situation manageable.
Instructions for Service of Process
Each request for civil process services must include instructions signed by the attorney of record or the party without an attorney. Instructions must provide all the information necessary for the Sheriff’s Department to attempt service of the process. Download the required Request for Sheriff to Serve Court Papers form and Special Instructions for Writs and Levies form. The Sheriff’s Department is unable to serve documents without the required Service Instruction form.
Most requests for process services may be submitted online using the e-Filing Portal. Requests for service of process may be submitted in person at the addresses noted below. Please review the user guides in the Help section of the portal before attempting to upload documents. For FAQs, click here.
Instructions for Levying Officer
Instructions submitted to the Sheriff's Department should specify the levy type. For example, the requestor must know where the defendant works, their financial institution, license plate number or VIN of their vehicle. If there is an attorney of record, all instructions must be signed by the attorney of record, or if there is no attorney of record, by the Plaintiff or Judgment Creditor, per CCP 488.030 and CCP 687.010.
Effective January 1, 2025, where the judgment upon which the writ is issued is for a personal debt, the judgment creditor shall also provide the levying officer with a declaration as per CCP 684.130. If the judgment is not for a personal debt include a statement in the Instructions indicating the judgment does not involve a personal debt. Instructions for Levying Officer that do not include a declaration per CCP 684.130 or an affirmative statement that the judgment is not for a personal debt will be rejected. Download the Declaration or submit your own version.
Payments
Payments can be made by check payable to: COUNTY OF ORANGE - SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT or by cash or credit card at one of our offices listed below. Please note, payments for citation sign-off fees must be paid in cash or by credit card. Effective May 1, 2025, cash payments will be limited to a maximum of $5,000. Any amount exceeding $5,000 must be paid by cashier’s check or money order.
Status of a Case
The status of a case can be checked on the Civil File Status Portal which provides information about active civil cases filed with the Sheriff’s Department. Parties may query their case to determine the status of services, wage garnishments, bank levies, payouts, interest and amount to satisfy.
Users are advised that information on the Civil File Status Portal does not constitute an official record. Because transcription or other errors may arise when compiling the information provided on this website, users should verify the accuracy of information by consulting their original court records or legal sources.
You must enter the court case number and Sheriff Levy file number into the Civil File Status Portal. If you are having difficulty accessing information, or have questions, please contact us at one of our offices listed below.
Civil Process Office
Effective July 11, 2025, the South/Harbor Court Civil Process Office will be closed. All services will be relocated to 909 North Main Street, Suite 2, Santa Ana. Expanded public counter hours from 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. will begin July 11, 2025. For questions, please email CivilStatCentral@ocsheriff.gov or call (714) 569-3700.
Civil Process Types and Fees
Click here for a list of fees.
Links in this section relate to BodyAccordion 1592331966
Fee: $50
Checklist:
- $50 fee
- Request for Sheriff to Serve Court Papers form
- One (1) copy of documents to be served or two (2) copies if substitute service is requested. (Note: Not all documents can be sub-served.)
- If there is a hearing date, it is preferred that you submit documents to the Sheriff's Department at least 30 days before the hearing date.
Fee: $50
- $50 for each person to be served
- Documents to be served
- Request for Sheriff to Serve Court Papers form
- If notary or notary authentication is required, it must be stated in the instructions and the appropriate fees paid.
- Notary fee $15
- Notary Authentication $2.25
Links in this section relate to Body
Fee: $45
Checklist:
- $45 fee
- Original Application for the Earnings Withholding Order
- Optional: Social Security numbers may only be submitted using Form WG-035
- See CCP 687.010 (e) regarding e-filed writs
- Original Writ of Execution (Money Judgment)
- Copy of affidavit which accompanied the application for Issuance of Writ of Execution authorizing support (support writ only)
Fee: $50
Checklist:
- $50 fee
- Request for Sheriff to Serve Court Papers form and Special Instructions for Writs and Levies form
- Original Writ of Execution (Money Judgment)
Deposit: $1,800 (large vehicles may require additional deposits)
Checklist:
- $1,800 deposit
- Request for Sheriff to Serve Court Papers form and Special Instructions for Writs and Levies form
- Instructions must include a license plate number or VIN of the vehicle
- Original Writ of Execution (Money Judgment)
Fee: $125
Checklist:
- $125 fee
- Request for Sheriff to Serve Court Papers form and Special Instructions for Writs and Levies form
- Original Writ of Execution (Money Judgment)
8 hours= $300 Fee / 48 hours=$1,300 Deposit / Open-end=$3,100 Deposit
Checklist:
- Fee/deposit varies
- Request for Sheriff to Serve Court Papers form and Special Instructions for Writs and Levies form
- Original Writ of Execution (Money Judgment)
The eviction process can be complex. The Sheriff's Civil Process Technicians are not qualified nor authorized to answer legal questions. General eviction procedures are detailed below. Consult an attorney or eviction service for further information.
Notice to Quit/Notice to Pay Rent or Quit
Fee: $50
Checklist for notices:
- $50 fee per person
- Request for Sheriff to Serve Court Papers form
- Original form plus two copies for service on each tenant
Unlawful Detainer
Fee: $50
Checklist for notices:
- $50 fee per person to be served
- Request for Sheriff to Serve Court Papers form
- Documents for service on each tenant, additional copies required for sub-service for service on each tenant.
- If serving a Pre-Judgment Claim of Right to Possession additional fees and documents are required.
Writ of Possession-Real Property
Fee: $180
Checklist for evictions:
- $180 Fee per unit
- Request for Sheriff to Serve Court Papers form and Special Instructions for Writs and Levies form
- The Original Writ of Possession-Real Property
Note: The Sheriff's Department cannot evict the tenant(s) until they have had five full days from the previous notice.
Links in this section relate to BodyWrit of Execution-Money Judgment
Deposit: $2,000
Checklist:
- $2,000 deposit
- Original Writ of Execution
- Request for Sheriff to Serve Court Papers form and Special Instructions for Writs and Levies form
- Instructions from the attorney of record containing:
- Legal description
- Commonly known address
- Record owners-names and address
- Statement indicating whether the property is a dwelling
- Instructions from the attorney of record containing:
Writ of Sale-Real Property
Deposit: $2,000
Checklist:
- $2,000 deposit
- Original Writ of Sale
- Certified copy of the judgment
- Request for Sheriff to Serve Court Papers form and Special Instructions for Writs and Levies form
- Instructions from the attorney of record containing:
- Legal description
- Commonly known address
- Record owners-names and address
- Statement indicating whether the property is a dwelling
- Instructions from the attorney of record containing:
Writ of Attachment
Deposit: $300
Checklist:
- $300 deposit (additional funds may be requested if additional parcels are recorded)
- Original Writ of Attachment
- Right to Attach Order/Order of Issuance of Writ of Attachment
- Undertaking (if required)
- Request for Sheriff to Serve Court Papers form and Special Instructions for Writs and Levies form
- Instructions from the attorney of record containing:
- Legal description
- Commonly known address
- Record owners-names and address
- Statement indicating whether the property is a dwelling
- Instructions from the attorney of record containing:
Deposit: $125 + Storage
Checklist:
- Deposit varies
- Request for Sheriff to Serve Court Papers form and Special Instructions for Writs and Levies form
- Signed instructions from the attorney of record indicating the property to be levied upon.
- The address for the enforcement of the writ. Note: The address for enforcement of the writ and the property description must match the writ exactly.
- Any special information such as an agent
- Original Writ of Possession - Claim & Delivery
- Order for Possession - Claim & Delivery
- Undertaking/Bond, if required
- If the Sheriff is instructed to serve the Summons and Complaint, service documents and additional fees are required.
Fee: waived
Checklist:
- Request for Sheriff to Serve Court Papers form
- Documents for service
- Any order submitted must have:
- A Judge’s signature or other representation of a Judge’s signature
- Clerk’s endorsement or seal or other court endorsement (certified)
Fee: $50
- No fee with fee waiver or Temporary Restraining Order is granted and ordered by the court to serve without charge (see item #11 on CH-110 form)
Checklist:
- Request for Sheriff to Serve Court Papers form
- Documents for service
- Any order submitted must have:
- A Judge’s signature or other representation of a Judge’s signature
- Clerk’s endorsement or seal or other court endorsement (certified)
Fee: waived
Checklist:
- Request for Sheriff to Serve Court Papers form
- Documents for service
- Any order submitted must have:
- A Judge’s signature or other representation of a Judge’s signature
- Clerk’s endorsement or seal or other court endorsement (certified)
Fee: $50
- No fee with fee waiver or Temporary Restraining Order is granted and ordered by the court to serve without charge (see item #11 on WV-110 form)
Checklist:
- Request for Sheriff to Serve Court Papers form
- Documents for service
- Any order submitted must have:
- A Judge’s signature or other representation of a Judge’s signature
- Clerk’s endorsement or seal or other court endorsement (certified)
Fee: $50
- No fee with fee waiver or Temporary Restraining Order is granted and ordered by the court to serve without charge (see item #11 on TH-110 form)
Checklist:
- Request for Sheriff to Serve Court Papers form
- Documents for service
- Any order submitted must have:
- A Judge’s signature or other representation of a Judge’s signature
- Clerk’s endorsement or seal or other court endorsement (certified)