Civil Practice Law and Rules § 308

Personal Service upon a Natural Person

Methods of Personal Service

In legal proceedings, personal service upon a natural person is a critical step to ensure that individuals are properly notified of legal actions against them. New York law outlines several methods by which personal service can be accomplished, each designed to guarantee effective communication and uphold the rights of the parties involved.

• Delivery to the Person to be Served Within the State: The first method involves physically delivering the summons to the individual to be served while they are within the state’s jurisdiction. This direct approach ensures that the person is personally handed the legal documents, eliminating any ambiguity regarding receipt.
• Delivery to a Person of Suitable Age and Discretion at Designated Locations: If direct service to the individual is not possible, the summons may be delivered to a person of suitable age and discretion at the person’s actual place of business, dwelling place, or usual place of abode within the state. Subsequently, the summons must be mailed to the individual’s last known residence or actual place of business within twenty days, using an envelope labeled “personal and confidential” to maintain privacy. Proof of this dual delivery and mailing must be filed with the court clerk within the same time frame, and service is considered complete ten days after filing.
• Delivery to the Agent for Service: Another option is delivering the summons to the agent designated for service of the person to be served, as specified under rule 318. This method applies unless specific provisions in matrimonial actions require an alternative approach, as provided in subdivision a of section two hundred thirty-two of the domestic relations law.
• Affixing the Summons and Mailing as an Alternative: When the above methods cannot be achieved with due diligence, the summons may be affixed to the door of the person’s actual place of business, dwelling place, or usual abode within the state. Simultaneously, the summons must be mailed using the “personal and confidential” envelope to the individual’s last known residence or actual place of business. As with the other methods, proof of both affixing and mailing must be filed within twenty days, and service is considered complete ten days after filing. However, similar to other matrimonial actions, different provisions may apply when authorized by subdivision a of section two hundred thirty-two of the domestic relations law.
• Alternative Service Upon Court Direction: In cases where the above methods are impracticable, the court, upon motion without notice, may direct an alternative manner of service.
• Definition of “Actual Place of Business”: For purposes of this section, “actual place of business” includes any location that the defendant has regularly solicited or advertised as its place of business.

These carefully defined methods of personal service ensure that individuals involved in legal actions are properly informed and granted the opportunity to respond, thereby maintaining the integrity and fairness of the legal process.