When is service by mail typically permitted, and what is required for it to be valid?

When is service by mail typically permitted, and what is required for it to be valid?

• A. Always permitted without conditions.
• B. Only permitted with defendant's consent.
• C. When authorized by rule; usually requires an approved method such as first-class mail with an acknowledged return receipt or other permitted method and proof of service.
• D. Never permitted.

Answer: (C)

Service by mail works only when the court’s rules authorize it. If a rule allows mail service, you must follow an approved method—typically first-class mail with a return receipt or another permitted method—and you must have proof of service showing that the notice was properly sent and delivered (such as a return receipt or an affidavit of service). This combination—authorization by rule, the accepted method, and documented proof—is what makes mail service valid.

Service by mail works only when the court’s rules authorize it. If a rule allows mail service, you must follow an approved method—typically first-class mail with a return receipt or another permitted method—and you must have proof of service showing that the notice was properly sent and delivered (such as a return receipt or an affidavit of service). This combination—authorization by rule, the accepted method, and documented proof—is what makes mail service valid.