The formal delivery of legal documents to a party in a lawsuit. It is not the same as mailing someone a copy. Service follows rules set by the court, and it has to be documented in a way the court will accept.
Due process. A court cannot enter a binding judgment against someone who was never properly notified of the case. Service is what gives the court personal jurisdiction—and defective service can get a judgment vacated years later.
It depends on the court. Some require a registered or court-appointed process server, or a sheriff. Others allow any adult who is not a party to the case. Using someone unqualified is one of the most common reasons service gets challenged.
Priority moves your serve up the queue — first attempt within 3 days, for $30 more per party.
