How should service be performed if the defendant is in a hospital or care facility?

• A. Serve a person in charge or the designated person authorized by the facility, following ARCP and hospital policies.
• B. Leave the documents at the front desk of the hospital without notice.
• C. Serve the patient directly in their room regardless of consent.
• D. Mail the documents to the patient.

Answer: (A)

When someone is in a hospital or care facility, service should be made to the person in charge or to a designated person authorized by the facility, and you must follow the Arizona Rules of Civil Procedure and the hospital’s policies. This ensures the papers are delivered to someone who has actual authority to receive service on behalf of the defendant and that the hospital’s privacy and internal procedures are respected. It also creates a proper record showing who received the documents and in what capacity.

Leaving the documents at the front desk without notice does not guarantee that an authorized recipient actually receives them. Serving the patient directly in their room could violate hospital policies and privacy rules, and is not allowed unless that patient is the proper recipient and authorized to accept service. Mailing the documents to the patient generally does not meet personal service requirements and is not valid under the ARCP in most cases.