Legal Definitions - acceptance of service

Acceptance of service is when the defendant or their lawyer agrees to receive legal papers or a complaint without needing a process server or sheriff to deliver them. This is done by signing a document called a "receipt and acknowledgment of acceptance of service." By doing this, the defendant is acknowledging that they have received notice of the legal action being taken against them, which is required by law.

For example, if someone is suing their neighbor for damages caused by their dog, they can choose to have the legal papers delivered by a process server or they can ask their neighbor to accept the papers. If the neighbor agrees to accept the papers, they would sign the "receipt and acknowledgment of acceptance of service" to show that they have received the papers and are aware of the lawsuit.

Acceptance of service can be a way to save money because if the defendant refuses to accept the papers, they may have to pay for the cost of having them delivered by a process server or sheriff.