The Civil Processing Department is responsible for the preparation of all documents necessary for service by the Sheriff's Office in Civil and Probate areas of the 19th Judicial District Court. This preparation of documents is termed "processing a pleading." All pleadings are received in the Suit Accounting Department before being sent to the Civil Processing Department. Processing then sorts all pleadings filed and distributes them either to the appropriate Judge or processes them and sends them to the appropriate Sheriff for service. There is a specific employee in the Processing Department that handles the pleading for each division. Once a document is processed, it is either returned to Suit Accounting for posting or to Suit Records to be placed into the record.
1) New Suits:
**NOTE** Specific information on Addresses for Service is mandatory . A Post Office Box number is not a sufficient address because the Sheriff will not serve a Post Office Box.
**NOTE** The Processing Department supplies the subpoena forms upon request.
**NOTE** If your office needs a stamped (not certified) copy, be sure to furnish an extra copy. Do not use a copy that is attached for service.
Information concerning necessary documents cannot be provided, nor can questions concerning legal procedures be answered by this department. Deputy Clerks of Court are not qualified to make legal determinations or give legal advice.