§ 78B-8-302 — Process servers.

(1) A complaint, a summons, or a subpoena may be served by an individual who is:
(1)(a) 18 years old or older at the time of service; and
(1)(b) not a party to the action or a party's attorney.
(2) Except as provided in Subsection (5), the following may serve all process issued by the courts of this state:
(2)(a) a peace officer employed by a political subdivision of the state acting within the scope and jurisdiction of the peace officer's employment;
(2)(b) a sheriff or appointed deputy sheriff employed by a county of the state;
(2)(c) a constable, or the constable's deputy, serving in compliance with applicable law;
(2)(d) an investigator employed by the state and authorized by law to serve civil process; or
(2)(e) a private investigator licensed in accordance with Title 53, Chapter 9, Private Investigator Regulation Act.
(3) A private investigator licensed in accordance with Title 53, Chapter 9, Private Investigator Regulation Act, may not make an arrest pursuant to a bench warrant.
(4) While serving process, a private investigator shall:
(4)(a) have on the investigator's body a visible form of credentials and identification identifying:
(4)(a)(i) the investigator's name;
(4)(a)(ii) that the investigator is a licensed private investigator; and
(4)(a)(iii) the name and address of the agency employing the investigator or, if the investigator is self-employed, the address of the investigator's place of business;
(4)(b) verbally communicate to the person being served that the investigator is acting as a process server; and
(4)(c) print on the first page of each document served:
(4)(c)(i) the investigator's name and identification number as a private investigator; and
(4)(c)(ii) the address and phone number for the investigator's place of business.
(5) The following may only serve process under this section when the use of force is authorized on the face of the document, or when a breach of the peace is imminent or likely under the totality of the circumstances:
(5)(a) a law enforcement officer, as defined in Section 53-13-103; or
(5)(b) a special function officer, as defined in Section 53-13-105, who is:
(5)(b)(i) employed as an appointed deputy sheriff by a county of the state; or
(5)(b)(ii) a constable.
(6) The following may not serve process issued by a court:
(6)(a) an individual convicted of a felony violation of an offense that would result in the individual being a sex offender under Subsection 53-29-202(2)(b); or
(6)(b) an individual who is a respondent in a proceeding described in Title 78B, Chapter 7, Protective Orders and Stalking Injunctions, in which a court has granted the petitioner a protective order.
(7) An individual serving process shall:
(7)(a) legibly document the date and time of service on the front page of the document being served;
(7)(b) legibly print the process server's name, address, and telephone number on the return of service;
(7)(c) sign the return of service in substantial compliance with Title 78B, Chapter 18a, Uniform Unsworn Declarations Act;
(7)(d) if the process server is a peace officer, sheriff, or deputy sheriff, legibly print the badge number of the process server on the return of service; and
(7)(e) if the process server is a private investigator, legibly print the private investigator's identification number on the return of service.

Legislative History

Amended by Chapter 291, 2025 General Session