If legal papers are not served (delivered) the right way when a case is started, the Judge may make the party starting the case start all over again. This is called a dismissal without prejudice. There are three ways to deliver legal papers to start a case.
A person serving papers must be 18 years of age or older and must not be a party to the case (CPLR 2103a). Papers may be served by a process server, friend or relative of a party so long as he or she is not a party to the case.
Personal Service by a Process Server Hiring a professional process server is recommended if you're looking for the most reliable way to ensure someone receives court documents. In California, for most cases, personal service must be completed at least 16 court days before the court date.
Service of the summons and complaint, summons with notice, third-party summons and complaint, or petition with a notice of petition or order to show cause shall be made within one hundred twenty days after the commencement of the Action, provided that in an Action, except a proceeding commenced under the election ...
Service of process is giving the other parties in the court case the documents that were filed in the case so that they have notice that a lawsuit was filed against them and they have the opportunity to respond.
Proof of service shall specify the papers served, the person who was served and the date, time, address, or, in the event there is no address, place and manner of service, and set forth facts showing that the service was made by an authorized person and in an authorized manner.
Service of Notice or "serve" means personal delivery or delivery postage prepaid via regular United States Postal Service mail.
The person serving the papers must try to give them to you in person before mailing any papers. If the server was unable to find you, then you should have gotten another set of papers left with someone for you, or a set of papers on your door. If all you got was one set of papers in the mail, this is bad service.