To ensure an efficient and timely service of documents, we require a complete street address, apartment number, valid telephone number, and place of employment, if known. We are not able to serve a “P.O. Box.”

Documents will be served in accordance with the North Dakota Rules of Civil Process. We will do our best to accommodate individual states’ requirements (i.e., No Service on Sunday, Personal Service Only, etc.) if it is indicated on the service cover letter provided.

We will furnish an Affidavit of Service for every service request that will be returned to the original sender/agency via mail once service has been completed.  Filing the Affidavit of Service with the Clerk of Court is the responsibility of the person requesting service, NOT the Cass County Sheriff’s Office.   

To assist us in managing our workflow, we request that you do not email, fax, or call for service updates.  We cannot provide a time estimate of how long service will take.  Many factors come into account when serving papers that make it difficult to provide an accurate time estimate.

Retainer Fees:

We require a retainer fee to be paid upfront and included with the documents to be served.

• This excludes Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Protection Orders.  These are served at no charge. 
• Executions have different Retainer Fee requirements (see “Special Execution for Eviction” and “Execution of Judgment” below). 

Please click on the Google document below to see what the retainer fee would be based on the city and the number of individuals/businesses being served.

Civil Process Retainer Fee Listing

We accept cash, checks, and money orders. Please make checks and money orders payable to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office.   

Once fees are applied, if a balance remains, a refund check will be mailed to the original sender/agency along with the Affidavit of Service.  

Special Execution for Eviction:

Once the Court has issued a Judgment for Eviction, the Plaintiff must file for a Writ of Eviction or a Special Execution for Eviction from the Clerk of Court. 

Once filed, the Clerk of Court will send it to our office the following business day. 

We WILL NOT proceed with the eviction process unless the following requirements are met:

• Our office has received the Writ of Eviction or a Special Execution for Eviction from the Clerk of Court. 
• Our office is contacted by the attorney representing the Plaintiff and provides contact and billing information for the eviction OR an “Eviction Information Sheet” is completed by pro se plaintiffs.  This form is found exclusively at the Cass County Sheriff’s Office (Cass County District Courthouse: 211 9^th St S, Fargo).
• A $120 Retainer Fee is paid for all pro se plaintiff and out-of-state attorney requests. 

Once the above requirements are met, the eviction will be entered and assigned to a Deputy. 

The assigned Deputy will contact the Plaintiff’s contact person as they are available to coordinate the execution of the eviction, including confirmation that the Plaintiff will have someone available to do a lock change at the time of the eviction. 

• Evictions are done on a first-come, first-served basis. 

• We DO NOT recognize “Emergency Evictions” or “Rush Evictions.”  

Execution of Judgment:

Once the Court has issued a Judgment, the Plaintiff must file for an Execution of Judgment from the Clerk of Court.

Once filed, the Clerk of Court will send it to our office the following business day. 

We will not proceed with the Execution of Judgment until the following requirements are met:

• Our office has received the Execution of Judgment from the Clerk of Court.
• An “Execution of Judgment” worksheet is completed, or a cover letter with judgment debtor information is provided. 
• A Retainer Fee ($150.00 minimum) is paid. 

Total fees accrued for Executions will vary, but below is a breakdown of what can be expected:

• A $30 service fee for each individual/business served.
• A $5.00 Admin Fee per Execution.
• Mileage Fee based on the National IRS Standard Rate.
• $50 Levy Fee for each Levy served.
• Commissions and other fees will be applied in accordance with the North Dakota Century Code (North Dakota Century Code 11-15).  

Foreclosure Sales:

Information on upcoming Foreclosure Sales can be found at the following two locations:

• The Legal Section of the Inforum Newspaper, which is updated every Wednesday.
• The Cass County Sheriff’s Office - located in the Cass County District Courthouse (211 9^th St S, Fargo). 

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office DOES NOT list Foreclosure Sale information online.  

Office Location:

Cass County Sheriff’s Office – Civil Division

211 9^th St S, Fargo, ND 58103 (located in the Cass County District Courthouse)

(701) 241-5640

Mailing Address:

Cass County Sheriff’s Office

Attn:  Civil Process

P.O. Box 488

Fargo, ND 58107

If you would like a quote for an exact retainer fee amount, have a question for the Civil Process Division, would like to provide additional information to accompany a service request, or to cancel service, please send an email to:

Cass-CSO-CivPro@casscountynd.gov

Self Help Links

Find information about Small Claims Court, Civil Action, Evictions, and more in the North Dakota Courts Legal Self-Help Center.

ND Legal Self-Help Center

Search court records and pay associated fines using the Public Records Search.

Public Court Records Search