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Family Law Process Serving · Wayne · Oakland · Macomb

Process serving for family law. Built for cases requiring documented due diligence under MCR 2.102(D).

Divorce, custody, PPO, and post-judgment matters. Evasive respondents, contested service, and time-sensitive motion calendars. Civic Process Services performs civil service of process for family law practices in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties — with stakeout capability, court-compliant proof of service, and same-day affidavit return.

Currently accepting new family law clients · Quotes within 2 business hours
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Three unsuccessful attempts by the prior vendor. The respondent was evading service at both his residence and place of business. We deployed a 4-hour stakeout Tuesday afternoon, completed personal service when the respondent left the premises, and returned a court-compliant affidavit by close of business. PPO served. Motion filed. Order entered without delay.

Anchor Case · Family Law · Wayne County
i. Evasive Respondents

PPO respondents and contested-divorce defendants are often previously served and resistant to subsequent attempts. Stakeout, varied timing, and Detroit-fluent field work complete service where standard attempts have failed.

ii. Motion Deadline Windows

Friday motions need Thursday affidavits. We work the 3rd Circuit Family Division and the family courts in Oakland and Macomb every week.

iii. Documentation That Holds Up

In contested matters, opposing counsel challenges service before substantive defenses. GPS-stamped attempts, photographic documentation where lawful, point-of-service notarization.

Bonded
Insured
Federally Vetted Vendor · CAGE 1GJJ8
Michigan State Registered
Why Family Law Practices Choose Civic

Family law process serving isn't generic process serving.

An evasive ex-spouse. A respondent previously served and exhibiting avoidance behaviors. A defendant evading service for three weeks while the 91-day summons period under MCR 2.102 runs. These are the matters that defeat the national platforms. They're the matters we're built for.

Stakeout for Evasive Respondents

When a respondent has prior service experience and exhibits avoidance behaviors, conventional attempts fail. We deploy 4-hour targeted observation windows at varied days and times. Documentation supports a motion to extend summons under MCR 2.102(D) if needed.

PPO & Emergency Motion Service

PPOs, emergency custody motions, and ex parte orders require expedited service and prompt affidavit return. Same-day dispatch when submitted by 2 PM, court-compliant affidavit returned within 24 hours of completed service. Approach calibrated to the sensitivity of each matter.

Documentation That Withstands Challenge

In contested divorces and custody matters, opposing counsel routinely challenges service before reaching substantive defenses. GPS-stamped field notes, photographic documentation where lawful, point-of-service notarization. Built to withstand a motion to quash.

How It Works

Three steps. One operator.

Every assignment runs through the same workflow. No app, no support ticket, no contractor handoff. Just clean execution and court-ready documentation.

1

Submit

Send the assignment by 2 PM via the quote form, email, or text. We confirm receipt and quote within two business hours.

2

Serve

First attempt within 24 hours. GPS-stamped field notes after every attempt. Detroit-fluent execution on hard cases.

3

Affidavit

Court-ready affidavit, notarized at point of service, returned within 24 hours of completed service. Ready to file.

What You Get
First attempt within 24 hours. GPS-stamped field notes after every attempt. Court-ready affidavit, notarized at point of service, returned within 24 hours of completed service.

Anything less isn't service of process. It's a delay with a receipt.
The Civic Standard
Our Family Law Starter Package

The Reset.

For matters where the prior vendor has failed and the summons is approaching expiration.

The 91-day summons period under MCR 2.102 is running. Your prior vendor has returned three unsuccessful attempts. The respondent is evading. The partner is asking why service has not been completed. The Reset is built for exactly this matter.

One flat fee covers skip-trace verification, two documented attempts, a 4-hour stakeout if needed, court-ready affidavit notarized at point of service, and field documentation that supports an extension motion. If we don't complete service, you owe court fees only.

Request The Reset
What's Included
  • Skip-trace verification of the respondent's current address before service is attempted
  • Up to two documented service attempts at varied days and times
  • 4-hour stakeout window if conventional attempts don't produce service
  • Court-ready affidavit notarized at point of service
  • Field documentation supporting an extension motion under MCR 2.102(D) if needed
$475 flat Outcomes-only billing · service fee waived if we don't complete service
What We Do

One vendor for every step of a family law assignment.

From skip-tracing an evasive ex-spouse to filing the motion proof in the 3rd Circuit by 4 PM, we handle the ground work. One operator, one dispatch line, one timeline — no stitching four vendors together at 4:30 on a Friday.

Stakeout & Surveillance

For evasive respondents in PPO, contested divorce, and custody matters. 4-hour targeted observation packages at varied days and times, GPS-stamped field notes. Productized as a flat-rate line item — no per-hour billing surprises.

Skip Tracing

Address verification for missing parents, absent ex-spouses, and respondents who've moved without leaving forwarding addresses. Cross-referenced against utility, vehicle, voter, and public records before service is attempted.

Process Serving

Personal, substituted, and alternative service for divorce, custody, PPO, and post-judgment matters under MCR 2.105. Three documented attempts standard. Court-ready affidavits notarized at point of service.

Court Filing & Running

Same-day filing across Wayne (3rd Circuit Family), Oakland (6th Circuit), and Macomb (16th Circuit) family divisions. Probate, district court filings, and motion responses by close-of-business cutoff.

Document Retrieval

Certified copies of orders, judgments, and prior pleadings from the Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb family courts. Pickup-and-deliver service for time-sensitive motion attachments.

Monthly Retainer

Predictable monthly billing for family law practices with ongoing volume. Locked per-serve rate, dedicated dispatch line, Net-15 invoicing, and priority routing on emergency motions and PPO service.

How We Compare

National platform, or local accountability.

Both options have their place. Here's an honest read of where each one wins — and where Civic was built for.

Tier 1 Tech Platform

Proof, ABC Legal, One Legal

Independent contractor, paid per attempt
App support tickets — no direct phone
Generic field notes, no local context
Standardized affidavit template
Best for routine, high-volume nationwide service
Civic Process Services

Detroit Metro · Bonded · Vetted

Same operator on every assignment
Direct phone, dispatch email, real human
Detroit-fluent field knowledge
Court-ready affidavit, notarized at point of service
Best for hard cases, deadline pressure, Detroit accuracy
Trusted by Detroit Metro Legal Teams

What clients say.

Verified Google reviews from recent Civic clients. Read all reviews on Google →

I used them for process service for a PPO. They were thorough in researching the current address of the defendant, and prompt in service. Will definitely use them again.

Munira Salim
Google Review · ★★★★★

I'd give 6 stars if I could. Probably the most communicative service provider I've ever worked with, and I've worked with hundreds in my career. Phone calls, SMS, email — proactive communication and will also respond swiftly when I need help.

Nemo Chu
Google Review · ★★★★★

Ali was easy to work with. Very professional and timely with his deliverables. We would definitely use him again.

K.M. Hidayathullah
Google Review · ★★★★★
About Civic

A Detroit operation, built for legal teams.

Civic Process Services is a Detroit-based process serving company. We work exclusively with law firms and legal departments in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties.

We are not a national platform. We don't manage a contractor network from out of state. Every assignment runs through the same operator, with the same standards, on the same phone line. When a paralegal calls Civic, they get a person — not a ticket queue.

The firms that work with us file high-stakes matters under tight deadlines. Family law motions on the eve of trial. Landlord-tenant volumes that compound daily. Personal injury subpoenas with statute-of-limitations clocks running. The work demands accuracy, urgency, and documentation discipline. That's what we built Civic for.

Bond
$10,000 Surety
Insurance
Liability & E&O
CAGE Code
1GJJ8
UEI
K8H7PQ8M5HH5
Notary
Active Commission
State Registered
Michigan Vendor
Frequently Asked

Questions family law paralegals ask.

One to two business days for standard service. First attempt within 24 hours. Same-day dispatch available for emergency motions when submitted by 2 PM Eastern. Court-ready affidavit returned within 24 hours of completed service, notarized at point of service.
Most of our family law work is exactly this. We run documented attempts at varied days and times to build the due-diligence record. If conventional attempts don't produce service, we deploy a 4-hour stakeout package. For most evasive respondents in Wayne, Oakland, or Macomb, service is completed within two stakeout windows.
The Reset is our family-law starter package — $475 flat with outcomes-only billing. If we don't complete service, you owe court fees only and our service fee is waived. It's designed for files where a prior vendor failed and the 91-day clock is running. Includes skip-trace verification, up to two service attempts, a 4-hour stakeout if needed, and field documentation supporting an extension motion. Request The Reset from the quote form and mention the package by name.
It depends on the matter. For some family law contexts, workplace service is appropriate; for PPOs, harassment matters, and high-conflict custody cases, it can be counterproductive or create safety concerns. We discuss approach before any sensitive service and always coordinate with you on timing, location, and method.
Yes. PPOs, ex parte orders, emergency custody motions, and time-sensitive show-cause orders are core family-law work for us. Same-day dispatch is available when submitted by 2 PM Eastern. We understand the operational sensitivity — service is completed cleanly, documented thoroughly, and the affidavit is returned in time for the next motion or hearing.
Yes — post-judgment work is a substantial portion of our family law caseload. Service of modification motions, contempt petitions, and show-cause orders. Standard rates apply unless the matter requires stakeout for an evasive party, in which case the 4-hour stakeout package is quoted separately.
First serve is pay-on-completion for new firms — no retainer required to start. The Reset starter package is $475 flat with outcomes-only billing. For firms with ongoing family-law volume (typically 10+ serves per month), monthly retainer pricing is available with locked per-serve rates, Net-15 invoicing, dedicated dispatch line, and priority routing on emergency motions.
Yes. $10,000 surety bond, full liability and errors-and-omissions insurance, active notary commission for point-of-service affidavit execution, Michigan State Registered Vendor, and federally vetted (CAGE Code 1GJJ8, UEI K8H7PQ8M5HH5). Diligence file available same-day on request.
Request a Quote

Tell us about the family law assignment.

Subject, last known address, county, deadline, and any known service complications — evasive respondent, contested matter, sensitive workplace, emergency motion. We'll send a written quote within two business hours.

For files where a prior vendor failed and the 91-day clock is running, mention The Reset — our $475 flat-rate, outcomes-only starter package.

Response within 2 business hours Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM Eastern

No retainer required. First serve is pay-on-completion for new firms. We respond within 2 business hours during business days.