Who may effect service of process?

• A. The plaintiff
• B. The defendant
• C. A witness
• D. A person authorized by law to serve process (such as a sheriff or process server)

Answer: (D)

Service of process must be carried out by someone who is authorized by law to perform it. This guarantees that notice is delivered properly, under the rules that govern how and when documents like a summons and complaint are served, and it provides an official record of the delivery. A sheriff, deputy, or a licensed process server is trained and designated to execute this duty, ensuring the notice is unbiased, correctly performed, and verifiable.

Placing the task on the plaintiff or on the defendant isn’t appropriate because it can raise questions about impartiality and whether proper procedures were followed. A witness isn’t authorized to initiate or complete service under the rules. That’s why the person explicitly authorized by law to serve process—the sheriff or process server—is the correct choice.