Service of process or a summons usually involves attaching a copy of the complaint to a summons which is served on the defendant. The summons explains to the defendant what is going on and certain rights that that the defendant has. The summons explains: A. That the defendant is being sued; B. The name of the Court in which he is being sued; C. When he must file an answer; and D. The fact that a default judgment will be entered if no answer is filed.
The summons (or process) is delivered by an office of the court. In many state courts, this can be a deputy sheriff or a professional process server. In exceptional circumstances, when the defendant can not be found, service may be made by publication in a newspaper. The summons must normally be served on the individual defendant. Some states allow service on a member of defendants household if the defendant is not available. A plaintiff must serve a corporate defendant by serving the registered agent or an appropriate officer of the corporation.
The following form is a complaint that adopts the notice pleadings format of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, which have been adopted by most states in one form or another.
