AT&T has been a fixture in California telecommunications since the 19th century. Today, the AT&T corporate family includes wireless, wireline, internet, and legacy telephone operations across the state. For litigation teams, the challenge is not finding AT&T — it is figuring out which AT&T entity to serve. The corporate structure is a layered web of parent companies, operating subsidiaries, and legacy entities that have survived decades of mergers, breakups, and acquisitions.
Get the entity wrong, and you are looking at a motion to quash service or a dismissed complaint.
The Correct Legal Entity
There is no single “AT&T” to serve. The correct entity depends on the nature of your case:
• AT&T Inc. — The parent holding company, incorporated in Delaware and headquartered in Dallas, Texas. This is the publicly traded entity (NYSE: T). Name AT&T Inc. when your case involves corporate-level conduct, securities matters, or when you need to reach the parent.
• AT&T Corp. — The legacy long-distance and business services entity. This is the direct descendant of the original American Telephone and Telegraph Company. If your case involves business telecommunications services, long-distance billing, or enterprise contracts, AT&T Corp. may be the correct entity.
• Pacific Bell Telephone Company (also known as AT&T California) — This is the California local telephone subsidiary. It is the legacy Pacific Bell / SBC entity that provides landline telephone service in California. For disputes involving California landline service, billing, infrastructure (poles, lines, easements), or local telephone operations, Pacific Bell Telephone Company is likely the correct defendant.
• New Cingular Wireless PCS, LLC (d/b/a AT&T Mobility) — The wireless subsidiary. For cases involving AT&T wireless service, mobile phone contracts, wireless billing, or cellular coverage issues, this entity may be appropriate.
This entity disambiguation is critical. A lemon law attorney would never name “General Motors” when the correct entity is a specific subsidiary. The same discipline applies to AT&T. Identify the specific service or product at issue, then determine which entity provides it.
Search bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov to confirm the current registered agent for each AT&T entity before serving. Different subsidiaries may use different agents.
Where to Serve
Registered agent (for major AT&T entities): CSC Lawyers Incorporating Service
Address: 2710 Gateway Oaks Dr, Suite 150N, Sacramento, CA 95833
CSC serves as the registered agent for multiple AT&T entities in California. The Sacramento office at 2710 Gateway Oaks Drive is in the South Natomas corridor with free parking and ground-floor access.
CSC accepts service Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Verify the specific agent for your specific AT&T entity on the Secretary of State’s website before serving — not all AT&T subsidiaries necessarily use the same agent.
What Documents Are Commonly Served
AT&T entities receive an enormous volume of service of process in California:
• Subpoenas for call and text records — This is the single most common category. In criminal defense, family law, personal injury, and insurance fraud cases, attorneys routinely subpoena AT&T for call detail records (CDRs), text message logs, cell tower location data, and subscriber information. These subpoenas are among the most frequently served documents on any entity in California.
• Consumer complaints — Billing disputes, unauthorized charges (cramming), service quality, contract termination fees, and data throttling claims.
• Class actions — AT&T has faced numerous California class actions over pricing, service, privacy, and employment practices.
• PAGA and employment actions — Claims from AT&T retail store employees, call center workers, and field technicians in California.
• Infrastructure and easement disputes — Cases involving telephone poles, cable routes, and utility easements, typically naming Pacific Bell Telephone Company.
• CPUC-related proceedings — Documents related to California Public Utilities Commission regulatory actions.
How We Handle It
CSC at 2710 Gateway Oaks Drive is one of our highest-volume service locations, and AT&T entities are among the most common targets we serve there. For cases involving AT&T subpoenas — particularly call and text record requests — we prioritize timely service because carrier record retention policies mean that delays can result in purged data.
When serving multiple AT&T entities in the same case, we verify the registered agent for each entity individually and serve accordingly. We provide separate proofs of service for each entity.
For more on serving at CSC, see our CSC service page and our registered agents guide.
Service Level | Timeframe | Price
Standard | 10 business days | \$99
Expedited | 3 business days | \$150
Rush | 24 hours | \$175
Court Filing Add-on | — | +\$30
