Paralegal 101 Practice Test

The act of delivering a pleading or other paper to the opposing party is called service (service of process). This step is essential because it provides the party with legally proper notice of the case and gives them an opportunity to respond. Service must follow specific rules about who can deliver, how they must be delivered (for example, personally delivering the documents or using an approved method), and when it must happen. Without proper service, the court may lack jurisdiction over the party, and the case could be delayed, dismissed, or render the proceedings invalid. Notice is related in that it communicates information about the case, but the term for the delivery itself is service. Verification is a sworn declaration about the truth of the pleadings, and a summons is a specific document directing the party to appear or respond, usually served together with the complaint.