Who is responsible for the costs associated with private process server fees?

The applicant is responsible for the costs associated with private process server fees. In the context of serving legal documents, the applicant is typically the individual or entity that initiates the legal action and therefore requests that documents be served. As part of this process, they bear the financial responsibility to cover the cost of engaging a private process server, which includes service fees.

Understanding this responsibility is crucial because it highlights the distinction between the roles of private process servers and public agencies. While the government or courts may facilitate the legal process and provide certain services, the actual payment for private services such as those offered by independent process servers falls on the applicant. This ensures that the costs of pursuing legal action do not fall on the public funding or government resources, aligning with the principle that those initiating actions should bear their costs.