Persons Authorized to Serve Process

735 ILCS 5/2-202      
§ 2-202. Persons authorized to serve process; Place of service; Failure to make return

            (a)  Process shall be served by sheriff, or if the sheriff is disqualified, by a coroner of some county of the State.  A sheriff of a county with a population of less than 1,000,000 may employ civilian personnel to serve process.  In counties with a population of less than 1,000,000, process may be served, without special appointment, by a person who is licensed or registered as a private detective under the Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, and Locksmith Act of 1993 or by a registered employee of a private detective agency certified under that Act. A private detective or licensed employee must supply the sheriff of any county in which he serves process with a copy of his licenses or certificate; however, the failure of a person to supply the copy shall not in any way impair the validity of process served by the person.  The court may, in its discretion upon motion, order service to be made by a private person over 18 years of age and not a party to the action.  It is not necessary that service be made by a sheriff or coroner of the county in which service is made.  If served or sought to be served by a sheriff or coroner, he or she shall endorse his or her return thereon, and if by a private person the return shall be by affidavit.   

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