If a provision of this title provides for service by the levying officer of an order, notice, or other paper that runs in favor of a particular person, personal service of the paper may be made by the person or the person's agent if the levying officer gives permission. The levying officer's permission may be evidenced by a certificate signed by the levying officer. This section does not authorize the levying officer to give permission to serve a writ or notice of levy. If service is made by a person or the person's agent pursuant to this section, the cost of the service is not a recoverable cost. Nothing in this section limits the authority of a registered process server provided in this title.
§ 684.140.Personal Service of Paper Running In Favor of Particular Person Made By Person Or Person's Agent
Title 9. Enforcement of Judgments · Division 1 · Chapter 4. Manner of Service of Writs, Notices, and Other Papers · Article 2. Manner of Service Generally · Enacted 1982 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentenceSection 684.140 lets a person entitled to service, or that person's agent, personally serve a paper that runs in that person's favor, if the levying officer gives permission, except a writ or notice of levy itself, with the cost of that private service not recoverable and registered process servers unaffected.
Full Text of § 684.140
Plain-English Summary
Some papers under this title normally go out through the levying officer, but this section creates a narrow shortcut. If the officer gives permission — which can be shown by a signed certificate — the person that a paper runs in favor of, or that person's agent, may personally serve it instead of waiting on the officer to do so.
That shortcut has real limits. The officer can't authorize private service of a writ or a notice of levy itself — those stay with the officer. And even when private service is used, its cost isn't a recoverable cost under this title, unlike the fees the officer would otherwise charge.
The section closes by making clear it doesn't cut back on anything a registered process server is already authorized to do elsewhere in this title.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a party serve a paper personally instead of through the levying officer?
Yes, if the levying officer gives permission, the person in whose favor the paper runs (or that person's agent) may serve it personally.
Are there papers the levying officer can't authorize this way?
Yes. Section 684.140 doesn't authorize the officer to permit private service of a writ or a notice of levy.
Is the cost of this private service recoverable?
No. The section specifically states that cost isn't a recoverable cost.
Does this section limit what a registered process server can do?
No. It expressly preserves the authority a registered process server already has under this title.
Amendment History
Added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 1364, Sec. 2. Operative July 1, 1983, by Sec. 3 of Ch. 1364.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
the Deering's California Codes Annotated / vLex. Enacted by the California Legislature.
Last verified July 28, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: private service by party judgment enforcement californiapersonal service of levy paper by agent