service of process

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

• noun law The delivery of information to a person or entity providing notice that they are being sued with sufficient detail for them to respond to the suit.
• noun law The effective notification of a lawsuit such that a court may proceed with the case.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

• noun the act of delivering a writ or summons upon someone