Service of Process

Any University employee who deals with the public may encounter a state marshal or other professional process server who is paid to deliver legal documents in accordance with state or federal statutes and rules.  On occasion, legal documents may also arrive in the mail.  In general, there are three types of documents that might be delivered by a process server:

Subpoena:  A subpoena requires a person or institution to provide testimony and/or documents as part of a legal proceeding, such as a deposition, trial, or investigation.

Summons and Complaint:  A summons and complaint serve as notice that a lawsuit has been filed against a person or institution.

Wage Garnishment or Attachment:  A wage garnishment or attachment requires an employer to withhold some portion of an employee’s wages so that the funds can be applied to a monetary obligation, such as child support.

If a process server asks you to accept any of these documents on behalf of the University, you should decline, and you should inform the process server that he or she must bring the documents to the Office of the General Counsel, 2 Whitney Ave., 6th Floor. 

If you receive any of these documents in the mail, or if you mistakenly accept such documents from a process server, you should contact the OGC immediately (432-4949).   Please bear in mind that a delay in responding to these documents can have serious legal consequences.

On occasion, a process server may come to your workplace to deliver a legal document directly to a Yale employee involved in a personal legal matter.  If this occurs, you should consult privately with the employee to determine if he or she wishes to accept delivery of the document while at work.