Who may serve a corporation as part of service of process?

• A. The janitor.
• B. A registered agent or corporate officer.
• C. The building manager.
• D. A security guard.

Answer: (B)

When a corporation is served with legal papers, the notice must go to someone who has authority to receive service on behalf of the company. A registered agent is the person or entity the corporation designates to receive service of process; they’re the official channel for notices and lawsuits. A corporate officer, such as a president, secretary, or another officer with authority to represent the company in legal matters, also has the power to receive service for the corporation.

Staff like janitors, building managers, or security guards generally aren’t vested with that authority unless they’re specifically designated to receive service or are the registered agent. Without that authority, serving them would not reliably notify the corporation, which can make service defective.

So, service on a corporation is properly made to a registered agent or a corporate officer—people who have explicit authority to accept legal notices on the company’s behalf.