What should a server do if the defendant's address is a business address rather than a residence?

• A. Serve on the business's owner.
• B. Serve on a coworker.
• C. Serve on a responsible person at the business address or on an agent authorized to receive service.
• D. Serve the defendant at their home only.

Answer: (C)

When the defendant’s address is a business address, service must be delivered to someone at the business who has authority to accept legal papers on its behalf. The goal is to ensure the notice actually reaches the party or the entity’s representative who can relay it to the defendant. That means serving on a responsible person at the business address (such as the person in charge, a receptionist, or an office manager) or on an agent the business has authorized to receive service. Serving on the owner or a casual coworker isn’t reliable unless that person is actually authorized to receive service. Serving at a home location isn’t appropriate when the official address of record is a business address, because the papers need to be delivered to someone who represents the business. If the business has a designated agent for service of process, that agent can receive the papers at the business address.