Bay Area Price Calculator
Process Serving Cost Estimator — Instant Bay Area Rates
See a ballpark price for process service in Contra Costa, Alameda, Marin, San Francisco, and all Bay Area counties — no email required. Compare same-day, rush, and standard rates in seconds.
How Much Does Process Serving Cost in the Bay Area?
Process service pricing varies across Bay Area counties because of travel time, bridge tolls, and local operating costs. Our base rates start at $110 for civil matters, $160 for eviction / unlawful detainer service, and $210 for restraining orders — all in Contra Costa County. Out-of-county assignments carry a flat travel surcharge per service location.
Use the estimator to see a ballpark total. When you're ready, submit a full request and we'll confirm your exact quote with a formal invoice before starting.
What the Estimator Considers
- Service type: Civil process, eviction, or restraining order.
- County / travel fee: Flat out-of-county surcharge for Alameda, SF, Marin, and beyond.
- Turnaround: Standard (3–5 days), rush (24–48 hrs), or same-day.
- Defendants and locations: Multiple addresses or defendants increase the total.
- After-hours / weekends: Available by request with a flat add-on.
Why Costs Vary County to County
Crossing into San Francisco means a $7 Bay Bridge toll plus downtown parking — a $45 travel surcharge keeps that job profitable. Marin requires the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge and adds significant drive time. Sonoma and Napa jobs can take a server "out of play" for half a day, which is why those carry the highest travel surcharges in our area. Alameda County (Oakland, Berkeley, Fremont) is a short hop and priced accordingly at $35.
Ballpark results are for planning only. Travel surcharges are non-refundable once a service attempt has been made — the fee covers time and travel regardless of outcome. Final invoice totals are confirmed after service details are reviewed.
Frequently Asked Questions — Process Serving Costs
How much does process serving cost in the Bay Area?
Standard civil process service starts at $110 in Contra Costa County. Eviction / unlawful detainer service starts at $160, and restraining orders start at $210. Out-of-county assignments carry a flat travel surcharge: Alameda +$35, San Francisco +$45, Marin +$50, San Mateo +$55, Napa +$65, Sonoma +$75 per service location.
How much extra does same-day or rush service cost?
Rush service (24–48 hours) adds $65 per location. Same-day / emergency service adds $120 per location. After-hours or weekend service adds $75 per location. All add-ons are on top of the base rate and any applicable travel surcharge.
Why is process serving more expensive in San Francisco or Marin?
Out-of-county travel fees cover bridge tolls, additional drive time, and the cost of the server being unavailable for other jobs during a longer run. San Francisco requires crossing the Bay Bridge plus navigating dense parking. Marin involves the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge and can extend into Sonoma on longer assignments.
Does the price change for multiple defendants at one address?
The first defendant at each address is included in the base rate. Each additional defendant at the same address adds $40. If defendants are at separate addresses, each address is priced as a separate service location.
Are travel fees refundable if service is not completed?
Travel surcharges are non-refundable once a service attempt has been made. The fee covers time and travel regardless of whether the defendant was present. We document all attempts thoroughly — this supports substitute service or a deadline extension motion if needed.
Ready to Get Started?
Same-day, rush, and standard service available throughout the Bay Area.
Northbound Legal provides non-legal support services only. Not a law firm.