Do you have to be served in person in Colorado?
Asked by: Dallin Torp | Last update: February 10, 2026Score: 4.4/5 (26 votes)
Yes, in Colorado, you generally must be served legal documents in person or through specific accepted methods like leaving them with a family member (18+) at your home/work, via an authorized agent, or sometimes by agreement through e-service, but simply mailing them (unless it's certified mail in small claims or e-service) isn't enough for valid personal service; the key is proper delivery to ensure due process, often requiring an affidavit of service.
Can you be served by mail in Colorado?
Service via Certified Mail: when you file your case, you can request that the clerk's office send the defendant's copy via certified mail. The defendant must sign for the letter or it must be refused for service to be valid.
What are the rules for service of process in Colorado?
Service of process must be made within 63 days (nine weeks) of the date of filing the complaint. If service is not made within that time, the court can dismiss the case on its own motion, or the plaintiff can move to dismiss the case.
Can you be served over the phone in Colorado?
Many people ask, “Do process servers call you?” The answer is yes—but only to coordinate delivery, not to serve documents over the phone. They do this as a courtesy to confirm the recipient's location and availability, as well as to ensure that legal documents are delivered as efficiently as possible.
Can someone else accept served papers in Colorado?
The individual accepting papers must be at least 18 years old and not a party to the case. He or she must also be authorized to accept such documents. A friend, relative, coworker, or other responsible adults may qualify. Be sure to consult a legal professional to ensure the service of process is legal and valid.
AVOID GETTING SERVED!!! // How To Get Out of a Lawsuit
What if I can't find the person I need to serve?
If you can't find someone to serve court papers, you must show the court diligent efforts, then ask for permission to use alternative methods, like substituted service (leaving papers with another adult at their home/work), service by mail (certified mail), posting on the door, or publication in a newspaper, to avoid case delays or default judgments against you.
How many attempts will a process server make in Colorado?
Our process servers make 3-4 attempts to serve someone—or more if necessary. If service by mail or publication is prohibited, it's possible to file a motion for an order of substitute service. What are the rules and requirements for process servers in Colorado?
Do you get called before being served?
You might get a call before being served legal papers, as process servers often call to confirm your location or arrange a convenient time to deliver documents, but it's not guaranteed and can be a sign of a scam, so be cautious; official service involves personal delivery or certified mail, not just a phone call, and many scammers use urgent-sounding calls to get information. Legitimate servers call to make service efficient, but fake ones use high-pressure tactics to scare you into revealing personal details.
What is the Kelly Loving law in Colorado?
The Kelly Loving Act (HB25-1312)
Although CADA already prohibits discrimination based on an employee's gender expression, the newly enacted law now makes clear that gender expression includes both an employee's “Chosen Name” and “How the Individual Chooses to be Addressed.”
How many days before court must you be served in Colorado?
(3) Personal service or service by posting shall be made at least seven days before the day for appearance specified in such summons, and the time and manner of such service shall be endorsed upon such summons by the person making service thereof.
How many times can a process server come to your house in Colorado?
There is no strict limit to the number of times a process server can come to your house. Nonetheless, their attempts to serve you must be reasonable without harassing or trespassing. If you are actively avoiding service, they may become creative in their approach to ensure that you receive the document.
Can you refuse service to anyone in Colorado?
Under Colorado's public accommodations law, businesses that choose to serve the public at large cannot turn people away because of their race, sex, religion, sexual orientation or other protected characteristics.
What makes a summons invalid?
Insufficiency is when these papers are not properly filled out, completed, or signed. It could be as simple as the notice or summons listing the wrong court. Another common problem is when either just the notice is served upon the defendant or just the complaint, but not both.
How do you serve someone who is avoiding you?
To serve someone avoiding you, first, document multiple, varied attempts (different times/days, workplace) using professional servers for skip tracing and public record searches; then, petition the court for alternative service like certified mail, substitute service (leaving with a co-resident/employer), posting at their home (conspicuous delivery), or publication in a newspaper, after proving due diligence to a judge.
How to legally serve someone in Colorado?
A process server can be paid to serve the papers. Process servers are listed in the Yellow Pages or on the internet. You can also hire the Sheriff's Office or ask anyone, like a friend, to serve the papers. The person serving the papers must be 18 years old or older and not a party to the case.
What happens if a server can't find you?
If a server can't find you, it usually means a process server (for legal documents) can't locate you, leading to delays, potential substituted service (like newspaper ads), or even default judgments; or in a technical sense, your computer can't find a website server due to internet, DNS, or network issues. The outcome depends on whether it's a legal situation (delay/default) or a technical error (troubleshoot connection/DNS).
What is Kayden's law in Colorado?
Kayden's Law mandates that professionals involved in child custody decisions, especially forensic psychologists, receive specialized training in areas such as child abuse and domestic violence, especially an understanding of the dynamics and impact of abuse on children (Lippard, 2019).
What is the Juliet law in Colorado?
Colorado's Romeo and Juliet law is a close-in-age exception that may limit prosecution for consensual sexual activity between teens and young adults. It applies only under strict age-gap rules and does not legalize the relationship.
What is the Brady law in Colorado?
On November 30, 1993, the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act was enacted, amending the Gun Control Act of 1968. The Brady Law imposed as an interim measure a waiting period of 5 days before a licensed importer, manufacturer, or dealer may sell, deliver, or transfer a handgun to an unlicensed individual.
How do you know you're being served?
“You've been served” usually means that you have been handed notification that you are being sued. The typical packet of documents you will be served with initially contain a civil case cover sheet, a summons, and a complaint.
Can I be served over the phone?
Serving a subpoena over the phone is not a standard or common practice in legal proceedings. Subpoenas are generally served in person, by process servers, or through a certified mail. The exact method used in a case depends on the jurisdiction and the rules of the court hearing the case.
What happens if I don't answer the door for a process server?
If you don't answer the door for a process server, they can't force entry, but they'll likely make more attempts and may resort to alternative methods like "nail and mail" (posting papers) or leaving them with another adult at the residence, which still counts as proper service, leading to potential default judgments, added costs, and legal complications if you don't respond to the underlying lawsuit. Avoiding service doesn't make the lawsuit disappear; it just delays the inevitable and can result in losing the case by default.
What is the hardest case to win in court?
The hardest cases to win in court often involve high emotional stakes, like crimes against children or sexual assault, where jurors struggle with bias; complex, voluminous evidence, such as white-collar fraud; and defenses that challenge societal norms, like an insanity plea, which faces high scrutiny and conflicting expert testimony. Cases with weak physical evidence, uncooperative witnesses (like in sex crimes), or those involving unpopular defendants (e.g., child abusers) are particularly challenging for defense attorneys.
What is the rule 5.5 in Colorado?
Rule 5.5(a)(1) recognizes that C.R.C.P. 204, et seq. permit lawyers to practice law in accordance with their terms in Colorado without a license from the Colorado Supreme Court.
What tricks do process servers use?
If a process server can't locate you at your known address, they'll typically use tactics like skip tracing, checking social media, speaking with neighbors, or verifying your last-known residence or workplace.