The legal system is characterized by an enormous amount of paperwork. A single court case can involve dozens of different forms and hundreds of pages of supporting documentation. Completing and filing court documents are challenges in themselves and it is imperative that these documents reach the filing authority in a timely manner. Consider the different types of documents that courts require and explore the best delivery methods.
Types of court documents
Bankruptcy documents, traffic violations, and forms related to civil and criminal cases are among the most common documents processed by local courts. Lawyers can be involved in the process and this complicates the service of documents because these lawyers, not the clients they represent, can send the documentation to the court. Lawyers are busy, so they often use courier services.
Criminal, territorial, or case records may be maintained at the state level. State court cases may require parties and their attorneys to travel hours for hearings. Documents that start or support a case in state court can be sent by same day delivery to ensure they reach state court before the filing deadline. This service may be available online or by phone at no additional charge.
Security when delivering court documents
Documents used for legal purposes often contain personal information. This includes the name, address, date of birth, and social security number of the party filing the return. It can include background information, names of other parties involved, and personal financial information. These are details that no one wants to fall into the wrong hands, so choosing a trusted delivery service is important.
If the documents are not delivered to a court on time, the court cannot proceed with the case. Serving court-required documents quickly prevents repercussions ranging from financial penalties to jail time. The process of delivering legal documents to another person must follow several guidelines. In each of these situations, maintaining confidentiality during transportation ensures that unauthorized persons do not see the documents.
Anyone dealing with legal documents that eventually make it to court should consider service options. The best method gets your documents to their intended destination quickly and without a security breach. Time is often of the essence, so choosing a reliable carrier known for handling legal documents is important. Although many documents eventually become public records, most jurisdictions require the person to authorize the release of such information, so it is important that the delivery service maintains confidentiality until this time.