Civil
POS-020: Proof of Personal Service—Civil
Current as of July 21, 2026 · tracked for revisionsFillable PDFJudicial Council of California
This form documents that legal papers were personally delivered to another person in a civil court case. Lawyers, plaintiffs, and defendants use it to prove to the court that they properly served documents on the other party, which is required for most civil cases including lawsuits, custody disputes, and restraining orders.
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Step-by-step guideProof of Service →Serving the other side isn't enough — the court needs a filed proof. Match your service method to the right POS form and file it before your hearing.Forms that go with POS-020
DE-111RequiredPetition for ProbateThe Petition for Probate (DE-111) is the primary California Judicial Council form used to open a probate case and request Letters Testamentary, and is the actual petition form that POS-020 serves as a proof of service for.›DE-140AttachmentNotice of Petition to Administer EstateThe Notice of Petition to Administer Estate (DE-140) must be served on all heirs and beneficiaries, and POS-020 is used to document that service was properly completed.›DE-147Often filed with itDuties and Liabilities of Personal RepresentativeThe Duties and Liabilities of Personal Representative (DE-147) must be signed by the petitioner and filed with or shortly after the petition to acknowledge the executor's legal responsibilities.›DE-160Next stepInventory And AppraisalThe Inventory and Appraisal (DE-160) is commonly filed early in the probate process to list and value all estate assets, and is typically required shortly after the petition is filed.›