Which of the following is true about the authority to perform service of process?

• A. Only individuals sworn to perform service may do so.
• B. Both private process servers and law enforcement officers may perform service, with differences in authority, training, and jurisdiction.
• C. Service may only be performed by a court clerk.
• D. Service by mail is always sufficient in lieu of in-person service.

Answer: (B)

The ability to serve process comes from statutes and court rules, and it isn’t limited to one group. In practice, both private process servers and law enforcement officers can perform service, each bringing different authority, training, and jurisdiction. Private process servers are licensed individuals who specialize in delivering court papers and must follow specific rules about who can be served and how service is carried out; they often operate across certain geographic boundaries under relevant licensing and rule requirements. Law enforcement officers—such as sheriffs or police—perform service as part of their official duties, with authority tied to their role and agency procedures, usually within defined jurisdictions. Because of these differences, service by mail or other non-personal methods can be allowed in some situations but is not universally sufficient; many documents require personal service or an approved alternative method. So, recognizing that both private process servers and law enforcement officers may serve, with variations in authority, training, and jurisdiction, best reflects how service of process works.