What is 'Service of Process'?
The formal procedure for delivering legal documents.
Service of process is the formal, legally required procedure for delivering a copy of the Complaint to the defendant. It officially notifies the employer that a lawsuit has been filed and gives the court the authority to hear the case.
Why it matters to you
A lawsuit does not truly begin for the employer until it has been properly served. The law sets strict rules about how and to whom legal papers must be delivered, so this step is typically handled by a professional process server. We arrange all of this, and you do not need to do anything.
Once the employer is served, a clock starts running on its deadline to respond, usually by filing an Answer. So when we tell you the employer has been served, it means your case has formally landed on their desk and the litigation process is underway.
An example from an employment case
After we file your discrimination Complaint, a process server delivers the lawsuit to the company's registered agent, the person or service a company designates to receive legal papers. The employer then forwards it to its attorneys, who must respond within the time the rules allow.
Every case is different. Ask your legal team how this applies to yours.
Related terms
Still have questions? Your legal team is happy to help. Message us through the client portal or call the office, and we will point you to the right person.