Which statement about the difference between personal service and substituted service is correct?

Which statement about the difference between personal service and substituted service is correct?

• A. Personal service demands the recipient sign a receipt.
• B. Substituted service is always invalid.
• C. Personal service delivers documents to the recipient; substituted service may be used when authorized.
• D. There is no difference between the two.

Answer: (C)

The key idea here is that there are two methods for delivering legal documents: the direct, personal delivery to the person named, and a permitted backup method called substituted service that can be used only when the rules allow it. Personal service means handing the documents to the recipient themselves. Substituted service is an authorized alternative used when you can’t reach the person personally after reasonable effort, and it must be permitted by the applicable rule or by the court. That’s why the correct statement is the one that says personal service delivers documents to the recipient, and substituted service may be used when authorized. This reflects the standard that personal service is the preferred method, with substituted service acting as a lawful fallback when the conditions for using it are met. The other options run counter to how service of process actually works: personal service does not always require a signed receipt, substituted service is not inherently invalid, and there is a real difference between the two methods.

The key idea here is that there are two methods for delivering legal documents: the direct, personal delivery to the person named, and a permitted backup method called substituted service that can be used only when the rules allow it. Personal service means handing the documents to the recipient themselves. Substituted service is an authorized alternative used when you can’t reach the person personally after reasonable effort, and it must be permitted by the applicable rule or by the court.

That’s why the correct statement is the one that says personal service delivers documents to the recipient, and substituted service may be used when authorized. This reflects the standard that personal service is the preferred method, with substituted service acting as a lawful fallback when the conditions for using it are met. The other options run counter to how service of process actually works: personal service does not always require a signed receipt, substituted service is not inherently invalid, and there is a real difference between the two methods.