Orange — Civil Process Services

Orange — /civil¶

Source: https://www.ocsheriff.gov/civil

Content block block-countyoc-page-title

Civil Process Services

Content block block-countyoc-content

Civil Process Services

Body

Image

Old County Courthouse.jpg

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 Body

Accordion 1225536014

add

remove

Heading

Non-Writ Services

Body

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.

Links in this section relate to Body

add

remove

Heading

Service of Process (issued from in/out of State)

Body

Fee: $50

Checklist:

$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

add

remove

Heading

Earnings Withholding Order

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)

Links in this section relate to Body

add

remove

Heading

Bank Levy/Third Party Levy

Body

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)

Links in this section relate to Body

add

remove

Heading

Vehicle Levy

Body

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)

Links in this section relate to Body

add

remove

Heading

Till Tap Levy

Body

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)

Links in this section relate to Body

add

remove

Heading

Keeper Levy

Body

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)

Links in this section relate to Body

add

remove

Heading

Eviction Process

Body

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 Body

add

remove

Heading

Real Property Levy Requirements

Body

Writ 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

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

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

Links in this section relate to Body

add

remove

Heading

Claim and Delivery Requirements

Body

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.

Links in this section relate to Body

add

remove

Heading

Temporary Restraining Order-DV (Domestic Violence)

Body

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)

Links in this section relate to Body

add

remove

Heading

Temporary Restraining Order-CH (Civil Harassment)

Body

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)

Links in this section relate to Body

add

remove

Heading

Temporary Restraining Order-EA (Elder Abuse)

Body

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)

Links in this section relate to Body

add

remove

Heading

Temporary Restraining Order-WV (Workplace Violence)

Body

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)

Links in this section relate to Body

add

remove

Heading

Transitional Housing Temporary Restraining Order

Body

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)

Links in this section relate to Body

Content block block-sociallinksblock