Which statement best describes the standard rule for service of civil process?

• A. Service is optional in most cases.
• B. The named defendant is the person who must be served.
• C. Only the plaintiff may receive service.
• D. Service is performed by the judge.

Answer: (B)

The key idea is who must receive formal notice in a civil action. In civil process, you serve the person named as the defendant—the party who is being sued. This ensures the defendant gets proper notice and has a fair chance to respond, protecting due process. The defendant or an authorized agent for service of process (like a registered agent for a corporation) is the one who must be served.

Service isn’t optional in typical cases; you start the case by properly notifying the defendant. The plaintiff is not the recipient of the service for the complaint, and the judge does not perform the service—it's carried out by a sheriff, constable, or a qualified process server.