A copy of the summons must be given to the defendant personally.

• A. True
• B. False; summons for an individual may be mailed to the defendant's last known address
• C. False; summons must be delivered to the defendant's attorney
• D. True; in all cases a personal delivery is required

Answer: (B)

Service of process is about properly notifying the defendant so they know about the action. Personal hand delivery is common, but it isn’t the only allowed method. In many jurisdictions, a copy of the summons can be mailed to the defendant’s last known address and still count as proper service if the rules for proof of service are followed. That means the statement that a copy must be given personally isn’t universally true; mailing to the last known address can satisfy service requirements when the rule permits it. Delivery to an attorney isn’t required in every case and isn’t universally sufficient on its own, as service methods can vary by jurisdiction and situation.