Process Serving Ethics: Lessons From The Travis Kelce & Taylor Swift Trespass Case
- Ari Morse
- 27 minutes ago
- 7 min read
The headline-grabbing incident at Travis Kelce’s home, where a private investigator slipped through a gate while attempting to serve a subpoena connected to Taylor Swift—underscores a simple truth: no piece of paper, and, in fact, no case an investigator works on, is worth your license, your freedom, or your reputation.
Process serving is essential to due process, but how it is done matters just as much as whether it is done. This post uses that case as a “what not to do” example and outlines ethical, lawful best practices for professional process servers and investigators.
The Case: When Serving Papers Turns Into Trespass
According to coverage by International Business Times, private investigator Justin Lee Fisher was hired to serve legal papers on Taylor Swift in connection with a civil dispute tied to the film It Ends With Us, involving Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni.
Key reported facts:
Fisher went to Travis Kelce’s residence in Leawood, Kansas, after a Kansas City Chiefs game.
He entered the property by going through a gate as it opened, reportedly in an effort to contact security and serve the subpoena.
He later stated he was “attempting to serve a subpoena,” walked in through the opening gate, and was never told to leave before police arrived and arrested him.
He was charged with criminal trespass and ultimately agreed to enter a diversion program, reportedly paying around 1,000 USD (about £785) for a year-long diversion, with the potential for the charge to be dismissed upon successful completion.
A conviction could have jeopardized his ability to hold his license and continue working as a private investigator.
Regardless of intent, entering private property beyond a secured gate resulted in a trespass charge. For anyone in the process-serving or investigative field, that is the nightmare scenario: doing your job, but doing it the wrong way, and turning a routine serve into a criminal case.
Core Ethical Principles in Process Serving
Ethical process service rests on a few foundational principles:
Respect for the law and property rights The right to due process does not override a property owner’s right to exclude others. If a gate, fence, keypad, guard post, or “no trespassing” sign stands between you and the subject, that is a legal and ethical boundary, not just a practical inconvenience.
Honesty and transparency Process servers should not impersonate law enforcement, utility workers, medical personnel, or any other role that could coerce or mislead a person into opening doors or surrendering rights. Deception of that kind can taint service and expose the server and the client to civil or criminal liability.
Professional restraint No document is important enough to justify harassment, stalking, or intimidation. That includes repeated late-night visits, aggressive confrontations, or conduct that could reasonably make a person fear for their safety.
Protection of the profession Your license, your credibility with courts, and the reputation of the investigative/process service community depend on ethical conduct. One bad incident—like a trespass at a celebrity’s home—can ignite public criticism and encourage tighter regulations on everyone.
What Went Wrong: The Ethical Red Flags in the Kelce/Swift Incident
Using the reported case as a learning tool, several problem areas stand out.
Crossing a secured perimeter The investigator reportedly entered through a gate as it opened at the private residence. Whether that gate was opened by a resident, security, or automation, stepping past that barrier onto private grounds without clear permission is exactly the type of conduct that can be charged as trespassing, as this case shows.
Relying on “no one told me to leave” as a defense Fisher later said he was never told to leave and was not spoken to before police arrived. But trespass often occurs the moment someone enters without lawful authority, not only after being asked to leave. Professionals cannot rely on silence or the absence of a warning as authorization.
Underestimating the sensitivity of high‑profile subjects When the subject is a celebrity—or associated with one—security is typically layered, and any unexpected intrusion will be treated as a potential threat, not a paperwork problem. That reality requires heightened caution, not more aggressive tactics.
Putting the license at risk for a single serve The investigator’s own attorney acknowledged that a conviction would have been devastating for his career, which is why the diversion program and dismissal option were so critical. No subpoena is worth becoming unemployable.
What Not To Do: Process Serving Mistakes That Can Get You Arrested
The Kelce/Swift incident illustrates several clear “don’ts” that apply to process servers everywhere:
Do not enter through secured gates or doors you are not expressly invited to pass.“Tailgating” a vehicle or person through a private gate, slipping in as it opens, or stepping past controlled access systems is a classic recipe for trespass charges.
Do not assume that speaking to “security” justifies entering restricted areas.If you need to speak to a guard or concierge, do it from the public side of the barrier. Let them come to you.
Do not ignore posted signs or physical boundaries.Fences, walls, and signage are not suggestions. They are legal evidence that you knew an area was private.
Do not escalate your efforts when dealing with high‑profile or high‑security properties.Celebrity homes, gated communities, and athlete compounds often have security teams trained to treat unknown intruders as threats. Any questionable move can lead straight to handcuffs.
Do not improvise beyond legal service methods authorized in that jurisdiction.If state rules or court orders require personal, substitute, or alternative service through specific channels, stick to them. When those methods fail, the solution is usually a motion for alternative service—not creative trespassing.
How To Do It Right: Ethical, Defensible Process Serving
Contrast the above with the practices that help ensure service is both valid and ethical.
Know the laws where you serve
Process serving rules are state‑specific, and sometimes even county‑ or court‑specific. Ethical practice starts with mastering:
Who may serve (licensed PI, appointed server, sheriff, etc.).
Permissible methods (personal service, substitute service, posted and mailed, service via registered agent, etc.).
Time‑of‑day restrictions, “no contact” orders, and special rules for certain types of cases (e.g., domestic violence, evictions).
If you are serving across state lines or on a high‑profile target, double‑check authority before planning any field work.
Stay on public or lawfully accessible property
Make it a bright‑line rule:
Serve from public sidewalks, public streets, or common areas where the public is ordinarily invited.
If access requires a code, key, permission from a guard, or an escort, do not assume you may bypass or piggyback your way in.
If a property owner, manager, or guard tells you to leave, leave immediately and document the encounter.
This simple boundary would have likely prevented the trespass charge in the Kelce incident—remaining outside the gate and exploring other lawful methods of service instead.
Use the legal system, not work‑arounds, when service is difficult
Courts expect that some defendants—especially celebrities and public figures—will be difficult to reach. The ethical response is procedural, not physical:
Document all attempted serves with dates, times, addresses, and notes.
Communicate with the attorney or client promptly when traditional personal service is not working.
Request direction from counsel on using alternative addresses, registered agents, or business managers.
Where allowed, assist counsel in preparing a motion for alternative service (for example, service by publication, email, social media, or on counsel of record), backed by an affidavit describing your failed attempts.
When a judge authorizes alternate service, you have legal cover and no reason to push questionable tactics at a private residence.
Plan special protocols for celebrities and high‑profile individuals
Serving celebrities and public figures calls for extra care:
Identify whether the person has a registered agent, management company, or law firm that routinely accepts service.
Attempt service at professional locations (offices, sets, arenas, public events) where you can remain on public property and comply with venue rules.
Coordinate with local counsel and, if necessary, law enforcement or facility security ahead of time so that your presence is understood and not mistaken for a threat.
Be willing to walk away from a risky situation. A “no serve” is better than a criminal charge.
Had more conventional channels—such as attorneys, agents, or managers—been exhausted and properly documented before the investigator ever approached Kelce’s gated home, the risk profile of the assignment would have been very different.
Preserve professionalism in every interaction
Ethical process service also covers demeanor and communication:
Introduce yourself calmly and accurately when appropriate.
Avoid arguments or shouting matches with the subject, neighbors, or security personnel.
Never make threats or suggest negative outcomes for refusing papers. Your job is to tender service, not to coerce behavior.
Record interactions factually in your notes or affidavit—no editorializing.
Professional conduct not only protects you; it gives judges confidence in your affidavits and testimony.
Protecting Your License, Your Clients, and Your Freedom
The investigator at the center of the Kelce/Swift trespass case was reportedly able to enter a diversion program, pay a fee, and potentially have the charge dismissed if he completes the program successfully. That is a fortunate outcome under the circumstances, but it came with financial cost, stress, and public exposure—exactly what seasoned professionals work hard to avoid.
The takeaway for process servers and investigators:
Ethics are not optional. They are the difference between a clean serve and a criminal case.
Property lines are legal lines. If you must cross a barrier to reach the subject, stop and reassess.
Courts offer remedies. When standard methods fail, the answer is more law, not less—motions, orders, and alternative service, not improvised shortcuts.
When done correctly, process serving upholds the integrity of the justice system and protects everyone involved: the plaintiff, the defendant, the court, and the professional tasked with the serve. Done recklessly, it can undo a career in one bad decision.
The Kelce/Swift trespass case is a vivid reminder: Serve the papers, but never at the expense of the law you are there to support.