The courier is on the way, and the signed papers are on your desk. Before you seal the envelope, take a minute to check what goes inside, who can take it, and what record you need back. With original legal documents, a missed page or a handoff to the wrong person can mean another trip. If you’re booking a courier service in Louisiana, use these checks to get the packet ready and give the driver clear instructions.
Confirm That the Recipient Needs the Original
Ask the attorney or receiving office which papers must arrive in original form. A client may accept a PDF of a signed agreement, while a court may need an original will for a probate filing. Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure Article 253 allows commercial courier filing for certain originals, including an original will filed under the applicable probate rule. If the packet is going to court, check with the clerk about what they accept for that filing. Confirm which filing method your attorney wants to use before you book the trip.
Check Every Page Before You Seal the Packet
Match the original packet against your attorney’s instructions. Check the names and dates, then look for missing signatures, initials, seals, exhibits, or pages. If the packet has a signed agreement with an exhibit, make sure the exhibit is the version the parties approved. Keep a scan in the firm’s secure file if your office allows it. If the original is meant to come back, add a note to your matter file showing where it went, who is expected to return it, and when to follow up.
Pack and Label the Documents
Choose a sturdy envelope that holds the pages flat and seal it before pickup. Put the office name, delivery address, and recipient’s name on the outside. Use a job reference your team can look up, and keep private case details inside the packet. If your firm requires a tamper-evident seal or a log of each handoff, tell the courier when you book. Our legal courier service in New Orleans can discuss how to record who takes the packet from pickup to delivery.
Verify Who Can Accept the Delivery
Confirm the building, suite or room, and authorized recipient. A courthouse may have several counters, and two offices can share one street address. Ask whether the front desk can take the envelope or whether it needs to go to a named person. Add a direct phone number in case the driver needs help finding the office. If you’re sending more than one packet, match each envelope to its stop before pickup. Our guide to courthouse runs for law firms covers what to confirm for each stop.
Work Back From the Time the Papers Are Due
Ask the receiving office when it can take the packet. Its counter may close for lunch or stop taking deliveries before the building closes. Give dispatch the delivery deadline and the earliest time the papers will be ready. Leave time for parking, security, and the walk to the right office. For a same-day pickup, confirm the driver can meet the time you need before you hand over the packet. If the attorney is still signing pages, update dispatch as soon as you know when the packet will be ready.
Decide What Proof You Need Back
Ask what the proof of delivery will show. You may need the recipient’s name, signature, and the time the packet arrived. If your office needs a stamped copy from the clerk, say which copy the driver should bring back. Confirm filing acceptance with the court through your firm’s usual process. When the job is done, save the delivery record and any filing receipt in the matter file. Our guide to sending legal documents by courier explains the delivery records you can ask for when you book.
Give the Courier a Backup Plan
If the office is closed or the recipient is away, the driver needs a clear next step. Give dispatch an office contact who can approve a change. Decide whether the driver should wait, try an approved backup recipient, or return the packet to your office. Put the return instructions in the booking so the driver knows who can take the packet back. Ask dispatch to call you if the handoff falls through, especially if there’s a deadline that day.
Schedule Your Legal Document Pickup
Have a signed packet ready to go? Call Speedy Logistics Delivery at (504) 353-2739 or schedule a legal document pickup. Share the pickup address, the receiving office, and the time the packet needs to arrive. Let us know if you need a signature, a named recipient, or a return trip for a stamped copy so we can plan the handoff with you.
