What proof of service will I receive?

A court-ready Statement or Affidavit of Service setting out date, time, prison, identity checks, what was served, and whether the documents were accepted or refused, plus supporting details where available.

Do procedures differ in Scotland or Northern Ireland?

Terminology and booking vary. We follow SPS and NIPS procedures as required and will advise you of any local differences when arranging service.

Serve Court Papers on Someone in a UK Prison (HMP)

Q: Can you guarantee service on the first visit?

No. Attendance is voluntary. We book correctly, arrive prepared, and document any refusal so the court can give directions or list a further visit.

Q: What documents can be served inside HMP?

Common items include non-molestation orders, occupation orders, injunctions, statutory demands, divorce petitions, claim forms, possession notices, and committal applications (case dependent).

May 19, 2023 - Reading time: 18 minutes
Updated on: September 4, 2025

If you need to serve court paperwork on an individual currently held in His Majesty’s Prison (HMP) in the UK, we can help. Our nationwide process serving team handles document service on inmates for a wide range of matters including non-molestation orders, statutory demands, claim forms, possession and eviction proceedings, and divorce petitions.

A Sign in The Shape of An Arrow That Reads 'H.M.Prison'

Common scenarios include landlords progressing eviction against a tenant who has been remanded or sentenced, family proceedings that cannot wait, and civil claims with approaching deadlines. Serving papers correctly on a prisoner protects your timetable and helps avoid adjournments.

Why you should choose us

Prison visits can be daunting. Our agents are experienced with prison entry, security, and legal visit protocols. Using an independent process server keeps the situation calm and professional and improves the chance of a clean, evidenced serve.

Experienced with HMP legal visit booking and entry procedures
Clear communication with prison staff on arrival
Court-ready Statement of Service / Affidavit of Service
Prompt updates and proof for your solicitor or the court

Service of documents in prison: how it works

Pre-check and booking - we confirm the prison location (HMP in England & Wales, SPS in Scotland, NIPS in Northern Ireland) and book a legal visit. You cannot just turn up at the gate.
Security & access - our agent attends with approved ID and the documents. Prison rules apply: no prohibited items, and timings are fixed.
Face-to-face service - the prisoner is brought to a legal visit room. Attendance is voluntary; if the prisoner refuses to attend or accept, we document refusal in detail.
Alternative steps if refused - where rules allow, we can tender the documents (explain the nature and leave them available) or request internal delivery via staff. The outcome is recorded.
Proof of service - you receive a signed Statement/Affidavit of Service setting out time, date, location, identity checks, and what was served. Where required, we provide photos of the sealed pack, visit log refs, and any refusal notes.

Important: prisoners cannot be forced to attend a legal visit. If the subject declines, a re-booked visit may be needed and further fees can apply. Our success rate is high, but no provider can guarantee cooperation.

What we need to proceed

Full name of the prisoner (exact spelling)
Date of birth and, ideally, prisoner number
Prison name and location
What is being served (eg. claim form, order, petition) and any deadline
Any extra identifiers (photos, previous addresses) to aid confirmation

If the prison is unknown, the prison service will not disclose locations to private callers. We can run tracing enquiries first to establish the current establishment before booking service.

Timelines, fees, and what you receive

Timescale - visit slots book up quickly. Instruct us as early as you can so we can secure a date before your deadline.
Fees - a fixed fee covers the first booked visit and standard mileage. Additional fees apply if the prisoner refuses to attend or if a second visit is needed.
Deliverables - a court-ready Statement/Affidavit of Service, plus any supporting evidence (visit reference, staff names where provided, refusal notes).

Frequently asked questions

Can you guarantee service on the first visit?

No. Attendance is voluntary. We maximise the chance by booking correctly, arriving prepared, and documenting any refusal so the court can give directions.

Will the prison give me the inmate’s location?

Prisons will not disclose locations to private individuals. If you are unsure which prison holds the subject, ask us about a trace first.

What documents can you serve inside HMP?

Common items include non-molestation orders, occupation orders, injunctions, statutory demands, divorce petitions, claim forms, possession notices, and committal applications (depending on case).

What proof do the courts accept?

A signed Statement/Affidavit of Service detailing date, time, prison, identity confirmation, what was served, and the outcome (acceptance or refusal). We can provide supporting details from the visit.

Do rules differ in Scotland or Northern Ireland?

Procedures and terminology vary slightly. We work across Great Britain and Northern Ireland and will follow local requirements for SPS and NIPS establishments.

Contact numbers for prisons & Young Offender Institutions in England and Wales

HM Prison Altcourse, Liverpool - 01515 222000
HM Prison Ashfield, Gloucestershire - 011730 38000
HM Prison Askham Grange, North Yorkshire - 01904 772000
HM Prison Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire - 01296 444000
HM Prison Bedford, Bedfordshire - 01234 373000
HM Prison Belmarsh, London - 02083 314400
HM Prison Berwyn, Wrexham - 01978 523000
HM Prison Birmingham, West Midlands - 0121 598 8000
HM Prison & YOI Brinsford, Staffordshire - 01902 533450
HM Prison Bristol, Bristol - 0117 372 3100
HM Prison Brixton, London - 020 8588 6000
HM Prison Bronzefield, Surrey - 01784 425690
HM Prison Buckley Hall, Greater Manchester - 01706 514300
HM Prison & YOI Bullingdon, Oxfordshire - 01869 353100
HM Prison Bure, Norfolk - 01603 326000
HM Prison Cardiff, Cardiff - 02920 923100
HM Prison Channings Wood, Devon - 01803 812060
HM Prison Chelmsford, Essex - 01245 552000
HM Prison Coldingley, Surrey - 01483 344300
HM Prison & YOI Cookham Wood, Kent - 01634 202500
HM Prison Dartmoor, Devon - 01822 322000
HM Prison & YOI Deerbolt, County Durham - 01833 633200
HM Prison & YOI Doncaster, South Yorkshire - 01302 760870
HM Prison Dovegate, Staffordshire - 01283 829400
HM Prison Downview, Surrey - 0208196 6300
HM Prison Drake Hall, Staffordshire - 01785 774100
HM Prison Durham, County Durham - 0191 332 3400
HM Prison East Sutton Park, Kent - 01622 785000
HM Prison Eastwood Park, Gloucestershire - 01454 382100
HM Prison Erlestoke, Wiltshire - 01380 814250
HM Prison Exeter, Devon - 01392 415650
HM Prison Featherstone, Staffordshire - 0300 060 6502
HM Prison/YOI Feltham, London - 020 8844 5000
HM Prison Ford, West Sussex - 01903 663000
HM Prison Forest Bank, Greater Manchester - 0161 925 7000
HM Prison & YOI Foston Hall, Derbyshire - 01283 584300
HM Prison Five Wells, Northamptonshire - 01933 718888
HM Prison Frankland, County Durham - 0191 376 5048
HM Prison Full Sutton, East Riding of Yorkshire - 01759 475100
HM Prison Garth, Lancashire - 01772 443300
HM Prison Gartree, Leicestershire - 01858 426727
HM Prison Grendon, Buckinghamshire - 01296 445243
HM Prison Guys Marsh, Dorset - 01747 856586
HM Prison & YOI Hatfield, South Yorkshire - 01405 746500
HM Prison Haverigg, Cumbria - 01229 713000
HM Prison Hewell, Worcestershire - 01527 785000
HM Prison High Down, Surrey - 0207147 6300
HM Prison Highpoint, Suffolk - 01440 743100
HM Prison Hindley, Greater Manchester - 01942 663234
HM Prison Hollesley Bay, Suffolk - 01394 412400
HM Prison Holme House, County Durham - 01642 744355
HM Prison Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire - 01482 282200
HM Prison Humber, East Riding of Yorkshire - 01430 273000
HM Prison/YOI Huntercombe, Oxfordshire - 01491 643100
HM Prison/YOI Isis, London - 0203 356 4324
HM Prison Isle of Wight (Albany), Isle of Wight - 01983 634000
HM Prison Kirkham, Lancashire - 01772 675400
HM Prison Kirklevington Grange, North Yorkshire - 01642 792600
HM Prison Lancaster Farms, Lancashire - 01524 563450
HM Prison Leeds, West Yorkshire - 01132 032600
HM Prison Leicester, Leicestershire - 01162 283000
HM Prison Lewes, East Sussex - 01273 785100
HM Prison Leyhill, Gloucestershire - 01454 264000
HM Prison Lincoln, Lincolnshire - 01522 663000
HM Prison Lindholme, South Yorkshire - 01302 524700
HM Prison Littlehey, Cambridgeshire - 01480 335000
HM Prison Liverpool, Merseyside - 0151 530 4000
HM Prison Long Lartin, Worcestershire - 01386 295100
HM Prison & YOI Low Newton, County Durham - 0191 376 4000
HM Prison Lowdham Grange, Nottinghamshire - 0115 966 9208
HM Prison Maidstone, Kent - 01622 775300
HM Prison Manchester, Greater Manchester - 0161 817 5600
HM Prison Moorland, South Yorkshire - 01302 523000
HM Prison Morton Hall, Lincolnshire - 0300 303 0649
HM Prison New Hall & YOI, West Yorkshire - 01924 803000
HM Prison Northumberland, Northumberland - 01670 383100
HM Prison North Sea Camp, Lincolnshire - 01205 769300
HM Prison Norwich, Norfolk - 01603 708600
HM Prison Nottingham, Nottinghamshire - 0115 872 4000
HM Prison Oakwood, Staffordshire - 01902 799700
HM Prison Onley, Warwickshire - 01788 523400
HM Prison & YOI Parc, Mid Glamorgan - 01656 300200
HM Prison Pentonville, London - 020 7023 7000
HM Prison & YOI Peterborough, Cambridgeshire - 01733 217500
HM Prison & YOI Portland, Dorset - 01305 715600
HM Prison Prescoed, Monmouthshire - 01291 675000
HM Prison Preston, Lancashire - 01772 444550
HM Prison Ranby, Nottinghamshire - 01777 862000
HM Prison Risley, Cheshire - 01925 733000
HM Prison & YOI Rochester, Kent - 01634 803100
HM Prison Rye Hill, Northamptonshire - 01788 523300
HM Prison Send, Surrey - 01483 471000
HM Prison Elmley (Sheppey Cluster), Kent - 01795 802000
HM Prison Standford Hill (Sheppey Cluster), Kent - 01795 884500
HM Prison Swaleside (Sheppey Cluster), Kent - 01795 804100
HM Prison Stafford, Staffordshire - 01785 773000
HM Prison Stocken, Rutland - 01780 795100
HM Prison & YOI Stoke Heath, Shropshire - 01630 636000
HM Prison & YOI Styal, Cheshire - 01625 553000
HM Prison Sudbury, Derbyshire - 01283 584000
HM Prison Swansea, Swansea - 01792 485300
HM Prison Swinfen Hall, Staffordshire - 01543 484000
HM Prison Thameside, London - 020 8317 9777
HM Prison The Mount, Hertfordshire - 01442 836300
HM Prison The Verne, Dorset - 01305 825000
HM Prison Thorn Cross, Cheshire - 01925 805100
HM Prison Usk, Monmouthshire - 01291 671600
HM Prison Wakefield, West Yorkshire - 01924 612000
HM Prison Wandsworth, London - 020 8588 4000
HM Prison Warren Hill, Suffolk - 01394 633400
HM Prison Wayland, Norfolk - 01953 804100
HM Prison Wealstun, West Yorkshire - 01937 444400
HM YOI Werrington, Staffordshire - 01782 463300
HM YOI Wetherby, West Yorkshire - 01937 544200
HM Prison Whatton, Nottinghamshire - 01949 803200
HM Prison Whitemoor, Cambridgeshire - 01354 602350
HM Prison Winchester, Hampshire - 01962 723000
HM Prison & YOI Woodhill, Buckinghamshire - 01908 722000
HM Prison Wormwood Scrubs, London - 020 8588 3200
HM Prison Wymott, Lancashire - 01772 442000

Contact numbers for prisons & Young Offender Institutions in Scotland

HM Prison Addiewell, West Lothian - 01506 874500
HM Prison Barlinnie, Glasgow - 0141 770 2000
HM Prison Castle Huntly, Perth and Kinross - 01382 319329
HM Prison & YOI Cornton Vale, Stirling - 01786 832591
HM Prison Dumfries, Dumfries and Galloway - 01387 261218
HM Prison Edinburgh, Edinburgh - 0131 444 3000
HM Prison Glenochil, Clackmannanshire - 01259 760471
HM Prison & YOI Grampian, Aberdeenshire - 01779 485600
HM Prison Greenock, Inverclyde - 01475 787801
HM Prison Inverness, Highland - 01463 229000
HM Prison Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire - 01563 548800
HM Prison Low Moss, East Dunbartonshire - 0141 762 9500
HM Prison Perth, Perth and Kinross - 01738 622293
HM Prison/YOI Polmont, Falkirk - 01324 711558
HM Prison Shotts, North Lanarkshire - 01501 824000

Contact numbers for prisons & Young Offender Institutions in Northern Ireland

HM Prison Maghaberry, County Antrim - 028 9261 1888
HM Prison Magilligan, County Londonderry - 028 7776 3311
HM Prison Hydebank Wood, County Down - 028 9025 3849
Woodlands Juvenile Justice Centre, County Down - 028 9185 4600

Ready to proceed? For a free quote, contact us and include the document type and the prison name. We will confirm availability, costs, and the earliest bookable visit.

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