Hire a Process Server in Illinois
Find verified process servers across Illinois. Browse by county to hire a local server, view courthouse information, and get service coverage in your area.
Want to Become a Process Server in Illinois?
Learn about licensing requirements, qualifications, and process serving laws in Illinois.
View Illinois LawsAt a glance: Illinois process serving
Illinois has no dedicated process server license, but 735 ILCS 5/2-202 allows only three routes: the sheriff (or coroner where the sheriff is disqualified); a person licensed or registered as a private detective under the Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004 (225 ILCS 447), or a registered employee of a licensed agency, who may serve in any county without special appointment; or a private person over 18 and not a party whom the court appoints by order on motion. The directory currently covers 102 counties and 5 courthouse listings.
Routine service
$65–$250
Service deadline
No fixed statewide deadline
Credential required
State license required
Counties
102
Courthouses
5
Active servers
72
Service deadline detail: No fixed statewide deadline; returns must generally be filed not less than 21 days before appearance for standard summons (Supreme Court Rule 102(d))
Courthouse coverage in Illinois
5 courthouse listings are available across Illinois.
Appellate Court - 1st District
Chicago, IL, 60601
Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse
Chicago, IL, 60604
Bond County Courthouse
Greenville, IL, 62246
Boone County Courthouse
Belvidere, IL, 61008
Bureau County Circuit Court
Princeton, IL, 61356
All Process Servers in Illinois
Verified process servers serving Illinois. Click a card to view their full profile.
A Closer Look Investigations, LLC
A-1 Detective Agency LLC
Advanced Investigative Services, Inc.
Anthony J. lazzara
Becker * Schroader * Chapman
Bigriverinvestigations
Brian W. cherpeske,
C.I.S. Comprehensive Investigative Services
Carlsoninvestigationsinc
Chicagoland Detective Services
Chicagoland Investigative Services
Chicagoprivatedetective
Durbin Investigations
Edward R Kirby & Associates
Elite Process Serving & Investigations Inc
Fosterinvestigations
Greg Yelencich
Hardball Process Service LLC
John J. pennell
Kevin McClain Investigations, Ltd
Krimson Security & Fingerprinting Inc
L4 Investigation
La Salle Process Servers LP
Mark R. Schneider
Meador Investigations
Michael L. noble
Millennium Investigations, Inc.
Nationwide Investigations
Pride Eye Corp
Relionant Investigations & Security Services
Rhonda Frerichs
Richartdetectiveagency
Rockforddetective
Serve It Legal, LLC
Sirinvestigations
Stewart & Associates Inc.
Tacticalservices
The Petritis Group, Inc.
Tina Hess-schlemer
Tri County Investigations Group Inc
Uthe Investigations LLC
Verify Investigations
Vincent J. sarelli
How service works in Illinois
Use these steps to check the court requirements, choose a permitted service method, and keep service on track in Illinois.
Confirm the requirements
Confirm the court requirements that apply to your case before choosing a server.
The professional route in Illinois is a private detective license or agency registration under 225 ILCS 447, which permits service in any county without a special appointment; a private detective or licensed employee must supply the sheriff of any county where they serve with a copy of the license or certificate, though failure to do so does not invalidate the service. Otherwise a private person over 18 who is not a party must be appointed by court order on motion. A sheriff in a county under 2,000,000 population may employ civilian personnel to serve process, and in a county of 3,000,000 or more (Cook) a licensee hired to serve summons remits a $5 fee per service.
Choose an allowed service method
- Personal service (leave with defendant)
- Substitute/abode service (leave at usual place of abode with family or resident 13 or older
- Mail copy prepaid)
- Service by publication after affidavit defendant not found
Request service and track the deadline
Request bids from process servers who cover your county, then track the applicable deadline.
Deadline: No fixed statewide deadline
Major cities in Illinois
Frequently Asked Questions
Effectively yes, if you want to serve process as a business in Illinois. 735 ILCS 5/2-202 lets a person licensed or registered as a private detective under 225 ILCS 447 — or a registered employee of a licensed detective agency — serve process in any Illinois county without special appointment; everyone else who is not the sheriff needs a court order appointing them, on motion, for the case. Licensees must supply the sheriff of any county where they serve with a copy of the license, although a failure to do so does not invalidate service.
Process service costs vary widely in Illinois — from $65–$125 in the Chicago metro (Cook County) to less in downstate counties. Sheriff service runs approximately $50–$65 plus mileage in most counties. Rush and complex serves can reach $250 or more. Request bids from multiple verified servers on the Mighty Process Server platform.
Illinois does not impose a fixed deadline to effect service, but summons returns must be filed with the court not less than 21 days before the appearance date under Supreme Court Rule 102(d). Service by publication runs three successive weeks. Courts may dismiss for failure to prosecute diligently.
No. Illinois service is by the sheriff (or the coroner where the sheriff is disqualified), by a licensed or registered private detective or a registered agency employee under 225 ILCS 447, or by a private person over 18 and not a party whom the court appoints by order on motion (735 ILCS 5/2-202).
If personal service cannot be completed, Illinois allows substitute/abode service by leaving a copy at the defendant's usual place of abode with any resident 13 or older who is informed of the contents, with a copy then mailed to the defendant's last known address. If the defendant cannot be found after an affidavit of diligent search, service by publication may be authorized under 735 ILCS 5/2-206.
Use the Mighty Process Server directory to find process servers in Chicago, Aurora, Naperville, Joliet, and all Illinois counties. Search by county and submit bid requests from verified servers at mightyprocessserver.com/directory.
Adams County
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Alexander County
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Bond County
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Courthouse coverage includes Bond County Courthouse.
1 courthouse listed
Boone County
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Courthouse coverage includes Boone County Courthouse.
1 courthouse listed
Brown County
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Bureau County
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Courthouse coverage includes Bureau County Circuit Court.
1 courthouse listed
Calhoun County
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Carroll County
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Cass County
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Champaign County
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Christian County
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Clark County
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Clay County
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Clinton County
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Coles County
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Cook County
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Crawford County
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Cumberland County
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De Witt County
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DeKalb County
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Douglas County
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DuPage County
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Edgar County
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Edwards County
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Effingham County
1 server
Fayette County
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Ford County
1 server
Franklin County
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Fulton County
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Gallatin County
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Greene County
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Grundy County
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Hamilton County
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Hancock County
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Hardin County
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Henderson County
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Henry County
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Iroquois County
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Jackson County
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Jasper County
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Jefferson County
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Jersey County
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Jo Daviess County
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Johnson County
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Kane County
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Kankakee County
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Kendall County
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Knox County
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Lake County
1 server
LaSalle County
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Lawrence County
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Lee County
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Livingston County
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Logan County
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Macon County
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Macoupin County
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Madison County
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Marion County
1 server
Marshall County
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Mason County
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Massac County
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McDonough County
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McHenry County
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McLean County
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Menard County
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Mercer County
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Monroe County
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Montgomery County
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Morgan County
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Moultrie County
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Ogle County
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Peoria County
1 server
Perry County
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Piatt County
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Pike County
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Pope County
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Pulaski County
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Putnam County
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Randolph County
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Richland County
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Rock Island County
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Saline County
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Sangamon County
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Schuyler County
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Scott County
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Shelby County
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St. Clair County
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Stark County
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Stephenson County
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Tazewell County
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Union County
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Vermilion County
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Wabash County
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Warren County
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Washington County
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Wayne County
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White County
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Whiteside County
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Will County
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Williamson County
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Winnebago County
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Woodford County
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Top Metro Process Server Markets in Illinois
Hire a process server in the largest cities and metro areas across Illinois.
Process-server association in Illinois
Illinois Association of Professional Process Servers
ILAPPSProcess-server associationFormed in 2010 to promote the safety and interest of process servers. Provides information to process servers and lawmakers on issues important to process servers.
Illinois statewide
Illinois' statewide association, chartered by NAPPS in 2015.
Process servers compliant with Illinois Code of Civil Procedure and state laws; Detective and PERC membership categories available · Detective: $75/year; PERC: $50/year (July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026) · 86+ (86 attended 2025 conference)
Education, services, and referrals: Website member listing, Annual conference and education, Networking, Legislative information and advocacy.
Legislative advocacy: ILAPPS provides information directly to Illinois lawmakers on process server issues. The association played a significant role in making attacking a process server a felony in Illinois — a major legislative achievement for the profession's safety.
Read the ILAPPS association profile to learn more and find ways to get involved.
Learn more at ilapps.com
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