Which statement accurately summarizes civil process service?

• A. The plaintiff is always served.
• B. The named defendant is the person to be served.
• C. The judge must deliver the papers.
• D. Service is optional in most cases.

Answer: (B)

Civil process service is about giving the defendant proper notice of the lawsuit. The person who must be served is the named defendant—the party listed in the complaint as the respondent to the action. Service isn’t something the plaintiff does alone or the judge who decides the case; instead, an authorized person (such as a sheriff, constable, or licensed process server) delivers the court papers to the defendant or to an approved agent on their behalf. This notice is essential to give the defendant a fair opportunity to respond and to establish the court’s jurisdiction over them. Service is generally required in order to move the case forward; it isn’t optional and must reach the correct party to be valid.