Overview
Every serve you submit to Proof is assigned a Case Type — a classification based on the legal documents being served (for example, Testimony Subpoena, Eviction, or Protective Order). When you upload your documents during serve creation, Proof analyzes them and pre-selects the case type for you. You can accept the suggestion or change it before submitting.
Why it matters: Service requirements vary by the type of legal document being served. Case Type is the foundation Proof uses to apply the right service rules and provide the correct instructions to your server. Getting the case type right up front means fewer downstream issues and a stronger record of service.
How Case Types Are Assigned
When you create a serve manually:
Upload your documents in the first step of serve creation
Continue through the wizard to the “Court and Case Details" step
If Proof identified the case type from your documents, it will already be selected, with a note reading: "We inferred this from your document. You can update it if needed."
To keep the suggestion, continue to the next step
To change it, click Change and select a different case type from the list
If Proof could not determine the case type, no option is pre-selected—choose the one that best fits your documents
Case Type is required. You will not be able to submit the case without selecting one.
How Proof Handles Multi-Document Packets
Most service packets contain more than one document. Proof reviews all documents in the packet together and returns a single case type—the one that best represents the legal matter, based on the most specific and actionable document in the packet.
When multiple types appear, the more specific type wins. When two types are equally specific, the one requiring faster action wins. A few examples of how this plays out:
A packet with both an eviction notice and a court-filed possession case is classified as Evictions
A family matter that also contains a protective order is classified as Protective Order
If your documents are ambiguous or point to conflicting types, Proof will not guess—no case type is pre-selected and you will be asked to choose.
Editing a Case Type
You can change the case type after a serve is created in two ways, up until a server is assigned.
Open the serve
Click More Actions → Edit case type OR click on the pencil icon next to the Case Types in the Details widget on the serve page
Select the new case type and save
Once a server has been assigned, the case type is locked and can no longer be edited. Unassigning the server does not unlock it. If you need to correct the case type after a server has been assigned, contact your ops specialist—our team can still update it.
Case Types Reference
Case types are organized into six groups. Select the group first, then the specific type within it.
Evictions & Housing (possession, foreclosure)
Evictions — Service of eviction lawsuits and related court documents
Pre-Evictions — Service of pre-eviction notices and related documents
Foreclosure — Service of documents in a nonjudicial or pre-suit foreclosure
Judicial Foreclosure — Service of documents in a court-filed foreclosure case
Letter — Letter delivery and service
Debt & Collections (garnishments, bankruptcy, commercial debt)
Consumer Debt Collection — Consumer debt collection process service
Commercial Debt Collection — Commercial debt collection process service
Garnishment (Bank) — Bank garnishment process service
Garnishment (Employer) — Employer garnishment process service
Bankruptcy — Service of bankruptcy court documents and notices
Mechanics Lien — Mechanics lien process service
Asset Seizure — Asset seizure and execution proceedings
Subpoenas (documents, testimony)
Document Subpoena — Service of document subpoenas
Testimony Subpoena — Service of testimony subpoenas
Family & Protective (divorce, family-related, protective orders)
Divorce — Service of divorce and dissolution-related documents
Family — Service of family court documents not related to divorce
Protective Orders — Protection-related hearing or restraining order
Other Case Types (probate, administrative, criminal)
Probate — Probate and estate administration process service
Administrative — Administrative process service and hearings
Criminal — Criminal process service and court filings
Court Order — This packet contains a court order with specific instructions for how the documents are to be served
None of the Above (civil or uncategorized)
Civil — Service of summons and general civil litigation documents
Other — Other process service types not specifically categorized
FAQ
What happens if I pick the wrong case type?
Edit it from the serve page under More Actions → Edit case type, as long as a server has not been assigned yet. If a server is already assigned, contact your Proof specialist and our team can update it. When a case type changes, Proof regenerates the correct rules for the case.
My documents include a court order. Should I select Court Order?
A court order can accompany any type of case. Select Court Order when the packet contains an order with specific instructions for how the documents are to be served — those instructions take priority over the underlying matter type.
Why wasn't a case type suggested for my case?
Proof does not pre-select a case type when the documents point to conflicting types, when the analysis isn't confident enough to make a reliable call, or when documents could not be read. In those cases, select the case type yourself.
Can I set a default case type for my firm?
Yes, through your Proof ops specialist. Defaults work best for firms that submit a consistent type of work. If your firm handles a mix of case types, we recommend leaving the default unset so each case is classified from its own documents.
Does the case type appear on my case?
Yes. The case type is shown in the case details on the case page.
What if none of the case types fit my matter?
Select Civil for general civil litigation, or Other if the matter doesn't fit any of the listed types.
Need help? Contact support@proofserve.com for technical support or reach out to your ops specialist.