Privacy Policy.
CoVa Serve handles legal-service assignments that may contain personal, case-related, and sometimes sensitive information. This policy explains what information we collect, why we use it, when it may be shared, and how privacy requests can be submitted.
This Privacy Policy applies to covaprocess.com, CoVa Serve website inquiries, service requests, and information handled in connection with CoVa Serve assignments. CoVa Serve is the process-service division of Coastal Virginia Investigations (CVI) and is operated by CoVa Investigations, LLC.
Information we may collect.
The information we collect depends on how you interact with CoVa Serve and whether you are a website visitor, prospective client, existing client, attorney, firm, property manager, business representative, self-represented party, recipient of process, witness, subject of an assignment, or another person connected to a matter.
Website and contact information
- Name, email address, telephone number, organization, and information you provide when contacting us.
- Browser, network, device, IP address, referring page, pages viewed, clicks, timestamps, and other website-usage information collected through hosting or analytics tools.
- Records of communications with CoVa Serve, including email, telephone, text-message, and website inquiry records.
Service and case information
- Client, firm, business, billing, matter, court, case, deadline, and document information.
- Names, addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth when provided, employer or workplace information, vehicle information, photographs, schedules, access instructions, and other identifying or location information relevant to an assignment.
- Legal documents, summonses, complaints, subpoenas, petitions, notices, court papers, affidavits, returns, and related records submitted or created in connection with service.
- Attempt records, dates, times, GPS/location data associated with field activity, notes, photographs where lawful and appropriate, status updates, and service or non-service documentation.
Billing information
We may collect billing contact information, invoices, transaction records, and payment status. Payment-card information, when used, may be processed by third-party payment providers or billing platforms rather than stored directly by CoVa Serve.
How we use information.
We use personal and case-related information for legitimate operational purposes connected to the services requested from us, including to:
- Review, accept, manage, perform, document, and complete process-service assignments.
- Verify addresses, recipients, assignment instructions, deadlines, and service conditions.
- Communicate with clients, counsel, firms, businesses, courts, and other authorized parties regarding an assignment.
- Prepare attempt logs, affidavits, returns, proofs of service, non-service documentation, invoices, and related records.
- Perform lawful locate, OSINT, surveillance-supported, or investigative activity when included in an accepted assignment.
- Maintain business, accounting, legal, compliance, security, and dispute-resolution records.
- Operate, secure, maintain, analyze, and improve our website and services.
- Comply with legal, regulatory, court, subpoena, licensing, insurance, or law-enforcement obligations when applicable.
CoVa Serve does not sell or rent personal information, legal documents, assignment information, recipient information, or investigative information to third parties for their independent marketing purposes.
Legal documents, subjects, and recipient information.
Process service necessarily involves information about people who may not themselves be the person who hired CoVa Serve. A client may provide information about a recipient, defendant, witness, tenant, debtor, opposing party, registered agent, employee, family member, or other person connected to legal process.
We use this information only as reasonably necessary to perform the accepted assignment, document field activity, comply with applicable law or court requirements, locate a person when that service has been requested, establish or defend legal claims, protect safety, or maintain required business and service records.
A privacy request does not necessarily require us to delete or alter a service record, legal document, affidavit, return, investigative record, billing record, or other information that must be retained or used for legal, evidentiary, contractual, regulatory, court, licensing, safety, or dispute-resolution purposes.
Do not send sensitive service documents through ordinary email unless specifically instructed. Assignments and legal documents should be submitted through the CoVa Serve secure order portal whenever available.
When information may be shared.
CoVa Serve does not disclose personal or case-related information simply because it has been collected. Information may be shared only when reasonably necessary for the service, operation, legal obligation, or protection involved.
Categories of recipients may include:
- Website hosting, analytics, communications, secure-order, billing, payment, document-management, and technology service providers acting on our behalf.
- Authorized personnel, contractors, process servers, investigators, or other service professionals assisting with an accepted assignment when necessary.
- The client, retaining attorney, law firm, authorized business representative, court, clerk, or other party entitled to receive service records or return documentation.
- Government agencies, regulators, law enforcement, courts, insurers, attorneys, or other parties when disclosure is required or permitted by law or reasonably necessary to protect rights, safety, property, or legal claims.
- A successor or acquiring entity in connection with a merger, acquisition, financing, reorganization, sale of assets, or similar business transaction, subject to applicable law.
We expect service providers handling information on our behalf to use it only for the services they provide and to maintain appropriate confidentiality and security protections.
Website analytics and cookies.
This website is hosted on Squarespace. Like most hosted websites, it may use cookies and similar technologies that are necessary to deliver the site, maintain security, remember preferences, and understand website traffic and performance.
Squarespace analytics may process information such as your browser, network and device, IP address, referring pages, pages viewed, clicks, scrolling, searches, and timestamps. Depending on the website's privacy settings and your choices, non-essential analytics or performance cookies may also be used.
Where a cookie banner or privacy-control option is displayed, you may use those controls to manage non-essential cookies. Browser settings may also allow you to block or delete cookies, although some site functions may work differently as a result.
How long information is kept and how we protect it.
We retain information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, the duration of the client or assignment relationship, court or service requirements, accounting and tax obligations, licensing or insurance requirements, dispute resolution, enforcement of agreements, legal claims, security, or other lawful business needs.
Different records may therefore be retained for different periods. Legal documents, service returns, affidavits, attempt records, billing records, and investigative material may require retention after an assignment has been completed.
We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards appropriate to the nature of the information we handle. No website, electronic transmission, or storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure, and we cannot promise absolute security.
Your privacy choices and rights.
Depending on your residency, the nature of the information, our relationship with you, and the law that applies, you may have rights concerning personal information maintained about you. These may include the right to request confirmation or access, correction, deletion, or a copy of certain personal information, and in some circumstances to opt out of certain types of processing.
CoVa Serve does not sell personal information for independent third-party marketing. We also do not use service-of-process documents, recipient information, assignment data, or investigative information for targeted advertising.
To make a privacy request, email serve@covaprocess.com with the subject line Privacy Request. Please describe the request and the information or interaction involved. We may ask for information reasonably necessary to verify identity or authority before acting on a request.
Where applicable law provides a right to appeal a privacy-request decision, you may email the same address with the subject line Privacy Appeal and explain the basis for the appeal.
Certain requests may be denied, limited, or fulfilled in a modified form where information must be maintained or processed to perform requested services, comply with law or court requirements, maintain service records, investigate or defend legal claims, protect safety or security, prevent fraud, or satisfy other lawful obligations.
Children and minors.
This website is not directed to children under 13, and CoVa Serve does not knowingly solicit personal information from children through the website for marketing or general commercial purposes.
Legal documents or assignments may nevertheless contain information relating to a minor when that information is lawfully provided in connection with a court case, family-law matter, subpoena, service assignment, or other legitimate legal purpose. Such information is handled in connection with the assignment rather than as ordinary website-consumer data.
Third-party platforms and external links.
CoVa Serve uses third-party technology to operate parts of the website and service workflow. This may include Squarespace for website hosting and analytics and ServeManager / ProcessServers.com for secure assignment submission and process-service workflow.
When you use a third-party platform, payment service, embedded feature, or external link, that provider may collect or process information under its own privacy policy and terms. CoVa Serve does not control the independent privacy practices of third-party websites or services.
Changes to this Privacy Policy.
We may update this Privacy Policy as our website, services, technology, vendors, legal requirements, or data practices change. The effective date at the top of this page will be updated when a revised policy is posted.
Your continued use of the website after an updated policy is posted does not waive any privacy right that cannot lawfully be waived.
Questions about how information is handled?
Privacy questions and requests can be directed to CoVa Serve. Do not attach sensitive legal documents to a privacy inquiry unless requested through a secure channel.