Serving the City, the County, LAUSD and Metro

Where each agency is served

Code of Civil Procedure section 416.50 serves a public entity through the clerk, secretary or head of its governing body, and names cities, counties, districts and public authorities expressly. Each agency below publishes the office that takes service for it.

None of the four accepts service by email. A government employee sued in their own name is not served at these counters; they are served personally, like any other person.

Government claims, for attorneys

Most money-damages suits against a public entity require a written claim first (Government Code section 945.4), due within six months for death or injury to a person or personal property and one year for other claims (section 911.2). A claim to a local agency is presented by delivering it to the clerk, secretary or auditor, or by mail (section 915). For attorneys and law firms we hand-deliver a completed, signed claim to the City Clerk or the County's Executive Office for $79 and send back the agency's date-stamped copy the same day.

Court filings and document runs

Los Angeles Superior Court requires attorneys to e-file, but some papers still go in on paper, and courtesy copies still go to the courtroom. Our court filing service handles those runs for attorneys and law firms for $50 plus court fees.

What you get

Delivery within two business days of having the papers, during the agency's window; the name and title of the person who accepted; a GPS- and time-stamped photo of the delivery; and a signed proof of service as a PDF. Add $35 at checkout and we e-file that proof with your California court in your name. City Hall and the Hall of Administration are a short walk apart, so a City and County serve in the same case go out on one trip, at $79 each.

Questions

How do I serve a government agency in Los Angeles?

A California public entity is served by delivering the summons and complaint to the clerk, secretary, president, presiding officer or other head of its governing body (Code of Civil Procedure section 416.50). In downtown Los Angeles that means the City Clerk at City Hall Room 395 for the City, the Executive Office of the Board of Supervisors at Hahn Hall Room 383 for the County, the Board Secretariat on the 24th floor of 333 S. Beaudry for LAUSD, and Legal Services at One Gateway Plaza for Metro. Angel City Legal serves each for $79.

Can one process server serve both the City and the County of Los Angeles?

Yes. City Hall and the Hall of Administration are a short walk apart, so we can deliver to both on the same trip. Each agency is its own $79 delivery with its own proof of service.

Do you deliver government claims?

Yes, for attorneys and law firms: we hand-deliver a completed, signed claim to the City Clerk or the County's Executive Office for $79 and return a copy date-stamped by the agency. A claim must usually be presented before suing a public entity for money damages (Government Code section 945.4), within six months for death or injury to a person or personal property and one year for other claims (section 911.2).

Do you file court papers downtown?

For attorneys and law firms, yes: the papers Los Angeles Superior Court still requires on paper, such as peremptory challenges, bonds, exhibits, sealed lodgments and probate originals, plus courtesy copies to the courtroom, for $50 plus court fees. See our court filing service page.

How fast is a downtown government serve?

Within two business days of having the papers, during the agency's posted window. You get a GPS- and time-stamped photo and a signed proof of service by email; add $35 and we e-file the proof with your California court.

Angel City Legal is an independent registered process server (Los Angeles County #2026063663), not a law firm and not affiliated with any government agency. Office locations are from each agency's published pages as read on October 9, 2026; hours marked as confirmed by phone are not reliably published. This page is general information about service procedure, not legal advice about your case, your deadlines or what to file.