How to serve by mail
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Choose a server
You can't serve papers yourself. Ask another adult – a server – to mail the papers.
Your server must be:
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18 or over, and
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Not someone who signed the Petition
Your server can be someone you know or a professional process server you pay.
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Figure out the deadline to serve
For the Regional Center
Your server must mail the papers at least 30 days before your court date.
For the relatives
Your server must mail the papers at least 15 days before your court date.
Take out a calendar and find your court date (it’s listed on the first page of your Notice).
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Count back 15 days. Your court date is not counted (so it’s day “0”).
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When you get to the 15th day, check what day this is:
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If it’s not a holiday or weekend, that’s your deadline.
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If it’s a Saturday or Sunday or court holiday, count back to a day that court would be open, that’s your deadline.
Your server needs to mail the papers on or before this date.
In another county: Mail the papers at least 20 days before your court date.
Out-of-state: Mail the papers at least 25 days before your court date.
Outside the United States: Mail the papers at least 35 days before your court date.
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Have your server mail the papers
Your server mails these papers to the person or agency you have to notify:
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A copy of your Petition and any attachments
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A copy of your Notice of Hearing
Tell your server to write down the date they mailed the papers. Your server needs this date to fill out the Proof of Service form.
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Have your server complete the Proof of Service
The Proof of Service by Mail is on page 2 of the Notice of Hearing.
It helps if you fill in the names and addresses of the relatives and Regional center who will be served by mail.
Your server can then fill in the information about how, when, and where they mailed the papers.
Your server must sign and date the form.
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Copy and file the Proof of Service form
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Make a copy of your Notice of Hearing with the Proof of Service portion filled out (both pages).
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File the Notice of Hearing with the original Proof of Service portion and the copy with the court where you filed the papers. The court will stamp and return the copy.
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Keep the copy for your records.
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Limited conservatorships
What's next?
Before the court date, someone appointed by the court (an investigator) will contact you.