One Legal can disburse (advance) required fees on your behalf as part of a Service of Process order. This is most commonly used for subpoena-related witness fees, but you can request a disbursement for any serve when an upfront payment is required.

How to request a fee disbursement

On the Parties to Serve screen, go to the Service Options section and:

• Check Disburse witness fees

• Enter the Amount to be disbursed
• Enter the Payee (the person or entity the check should be made out to)

Tip: Make sure the payee name is spelled exactly as required (for example, as stated in the subpoena or instructions).

What happens next

After you submit the order:

• One Legal staff review your service order before it is dispatched to a process server.
• During this review, we will generate a check for the amount you requested.
• The check is a One Legal check (we pay the required fees upfront on your behalf).
• The disbursed amount is added to your invoice for that Service of Process order.

Common pitfalls to avoid

• Leaving the amount blank: If no disbursement is needed, leave the option unchecked (or enter $0.00 only if instructed on-screen).
• Incorrect payee: If the payee is wrong, the check may not be usable. If your instructions include a specific payee format, follow that exactly.
• Missing context: If the disbursement is tied to a subpoena or other document, include clear instructions in the order notes so our team can match the check to the requirement.