Verizon is the largest wireless carrier in the United States by subscriber count, and its California litigation volume reflects that scale. Subpoenas for call and text records, consumer fraud claims, and billing class actions generate a steady stream of service of process needs throughout the state. Serving Verizon correctly, however, requires a step most filers skip: determining which Verizon entity is the right defendant for the specific claim.
The Correct Legal Entity
“Verizon” is not a single legal entity — it is a brand name that covers two distinct companies with different ownership structures and different California registrations.
For wireless service claims — if your case involves a Verizon Wireless phone plan, billing, a wireless contract, or conduct by Verizon’s wireless division — the correct entity is Cellco Partnership dba Verizon Wireless. Cellco Partnership is a Delaware general partnership, not a corporation. It operates Verizon’s wireless network in the United States under the Verizon Wireless brand.
For corporate parent matters — if your case involves Verizon at the holding company or enterprise level, the entity is Verizon Communications Inc., a Delaware corporation headquartered in New York.
For the vast majority of California consumer litigation — billing disputes, unauthorized charges, data breach claims, and record subpoenas — the correct defendant is Cellco Partnership dba Verizon Wireless. Using “Verizon Wireless” alone without “Cellco Partnership” as the legal name can create issues with service and pleading. Use the full name: Cellco Partnership dba Verizon Wireless.
Search bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov to confirm the current registered agent for both entities before serving.
Where to Serve
Registered agent: CT Corporation System
Address: 330 N. Brand Blvd., Suite 700, Glendale, CA 91203
CT Corporation System is the registered agent for both Cellco Partnership dba Verizon Wireless and Verizon Communications Inc. in California. Their Glendale office at 330 N. Brand Boulevard handles service of process for thousands of California-registered entities. Suite 700 is on the seventh floor. CT Corporation accepts service during normal business hours.
For more on serving at CT Corporation, see our CT Corporation service page.
What Documents Are Commonly Served
Verizon’s California litigation profile spans several categories:
• Subpoenas duces tecum for call and text records — This is one of the highest-volume categories for Verizon service. Criminal defense attorneys, civil litigators, family law practitioners, and insurance investigators regularly subpoena Verizon for call logs, text message metadata, cell tower location data, and account records. These are served on the registered agent.
• Consumer fraud and UCL complaints — Claims involving unauthorized account charges, line addition fraud, deceptive upgrade pricing, and failure to honor promotional commitments under California’s Unfair Competition Law and Consumer Legal Remedies Act.
• Billing class action complaints — Large-scale class actions in California courts challenging Verizon’s billing practices, administrative fees, and price lock representations.
• Data breach complaints — Verizon has experienced multiple data security incidents affecting California customers, generating both individual and class action filings.
• CCPA claims — California Consumer Privacy Act claims related to data sharing, sale of location data, and breach notification practices.
How We Handle It
CT Corporation’s Glendale office is a high-volume service location that our process servers handle regularly. When serving Verizon, we ensure the proof of service reflects the precise legal entity name — Cellco Partnership dba Verizon Wireless for wireless matters, or Verizon Communications Inc. for holding company matters. The entity designation on the proof of service must match the defendant named in the complaint.
For cases that require service on multiple Verizon entities, we serve each separately and provide individual proofs of service.
Service Level | Timeframe | Price
Standard | 10 business days | \$99
Expedited | 3 business days | \$150
Rush | 24 hours | \$175
Court Filing Add-on | — | +\$30
