What proof of service documentation is
Filing starts a case. Service starts the clock. Proof of service is the paper the court believes — attempt logs, the affidavit, and a return that matches the method used.
Key facts
- Lifecycle stage: Serving / proof.
- EvictIQ field operations: Georgia (metro Atlanta). We do not operate field crews in every state.
- Exact claims only: 10,000+ completed evictions; 72-hour service of tenant after filing on average (Georgia service).
- Not a law firm. Not legal advice. No date guarantees. No price list on this page.
What this service is
Process serving is the field work. Proof of service is the file: who attempted, when, where, what method, and whether the affidavit matches the statute. Courts read the affidavit, not a text thread.
Defects are ordinary: wrong address, server not authorized, dates that do not add up, a method the county does not allow yet. This step is how you catch that before the answer period is treated as finished.
When this step is needed
You need proof-of-service documentation after (or during) attempts to serve the summons — the court reads the affidavit, not a text saying it was taped to the door.
You also need it when a first return was rejected: wrong address, unauthorized server, or dates that do not add up. Defective proof resets the clock.
How the process usually works
- Log every attempt with time, date, and location.
- Use only someone authorized to serve in that county.
- Complete the affidavit in the form that court wants.
- Return it so the docket shows service.
- Do not treat the answer period as finished until the return is accepted.
Courts and executing offices set their own calendars. These are operational steps, not a guaranteed timeline.
What this step usually covers
- Attempt log with time, date, and location
- Affidavit of service in the form that court wants
- Return filed so the docket shows service
- A flag if substituted or posting service needs extra steps
These are the jobs the step exists to do. They are not a nationwide menu EvictIQ staffs in every county.
What you must verify locally
- Who is authorized to serve in that county
- What the affidavit must include
- Whether posting-plus-mail is allowed after failed personal service
We do not publish a stale per-state timetable. Statutes change.
What this does not include
- Legal advice, courtroom representation, or an attorney-client relationship
- A guaranteed hearing date, writ date, or setout date — courts and executing offices set their own calendars
- Self-help lockouts, utility shutoffs, or removal of belongings outside a court-issued writ
- A published price. Scope and price are written after intake, before work starts
Georgia we can handle. Elsewhere we route.
If the property is in Georgia, EvictIQ can take this step end to end. If it isn't, we'll tell you what to look for in a local attorney or service — we do not operate field crews in every state.
Related services
All eviction services — the full catalog, grouped by category on the hub.
Eviction Filing Assistance
Preparing and filing the possession case in the court that covers the property.
Eviction Hearing Coordination
Tracking the date, assembling the file, and making sure the right person appears.
Related guides
Common questions
Is a photo of the door enough proof?
Almost never by itself. Courts want the affidavit and a method the statute names. Photos support the file; they do not replace the return.
Does EvictIQ serve and return affidavits nationwide?
No. Georgia field service is in market. The 72-hour service-of-tenant figure is a Georgia observation, not a national promise. Other states need a local authorized server.
Need help with this step?
Tell us where the property is and where the case stands. Georgia we handle; elsewhere we route.
- A coordinator reviews it, usually the same business day
- You get a written scope and price before anything is filed
- Georgia hire on local-eviction.com
We'll tell you so rather than take the lead. What to look for locally: a provider who knows which office executes writs in your county, who gives you cycle-time variance rather than an average, and who refuses to guarantee a completion date.
Working a real case?
Georgia we handle end to end. Anywhere else, we'll tell you what to look for in a local provider.