service of process
Formal lawsuit notification
Service of process is the formal delivery of legal documents—summons, complaints, subpoenas—to notify someone they're being sued or required to appear in court.
Proper service is essential; without it, a court may lack jurisdiction over the defendant.
Methods vary by jurisdiction but typically include personal delivery, certified mail, or publication in newspapers when a party can't be located.
Formal court notification
- complaintExpression of discontent
- subpoenaWrit requiring testimony
- sheriffCounty's chief officer
- marshalArrange in proper order
defendant · plaintiff · affidavit · certified mail · court · civil procedure · jurisdiction · writ
summons
Formal court notification
marshal · defendant · plaintiff · affidavit · certified mail · court · civil procedure · jurisdiction · writ · legal notice
- litigationpleadings, lawsuit, plaintiff, complaint, lawsuits
- Court Procedureadjournment, civil procedure, trial procedure, criminal procedure, court hearing
- legal processcourt summons, legal summons, summons, writ, writs
- legal rightslegal rights, constitutional rights, fundamental rights, Miranda rights, Bill of Rights
- small claimssmall claims court, claim, claim form, filing fee, filing fees
- civil procedurecomplaint, complaints, answer, answers, pleadings
service of processword of mouth
Information passed through conversation
verbal warning · tip-off · courtesy copy · rumor · gossip
service, process, services, processed, processing, servitude, unprocessed, servile, servicing