New York City Process Server Practice Test

What document is generally served by a process server?

1. Tax returns

2. Legal complaints

3. Medical records

4. Property deeds

The correct answer is: Legal complaints

The document that is generally served by a process server is a legal complaint. This is a crucial aspect of the legal process; a legal complaint initiates a civil lawsuit and formally notifies the defendant of the legal action being taken against them. In New York City, as in other jurisdictions, the role of the process server is specifically to deliver legal documents that are a part of the judicial proceedings, ensuring that the involved parties are informed of their rights and responsibilities within the case. The process server must serve the legal complaint following specific procedural rules to ensure that it is valid and that the defendant's due process rights are upheld. This includes adhering to timelines and methods of service, such as personal delivery or service by mail, depending on the circumstances. The other options, while they may be important in their respective contexts, are not typically the type of documents that process servers handle. Tax returns, for example, are generally sensitive financial documents and typically not served in the same manner. Medical records are protected under privacy laws and require specific legal procedures for access or release rather than being served in a process context. Property deeds involve real estate transactions and, while they are important legal documents, they are not served by process servers as part of litigation or legal actions.