What does "serving a summons" involve?

Serving a summons primarily involves the delivery of a legal document to a defendant. This process is a critical step in legal proceedings, as it formally notifies the defendant that a lawsuit has been initiated against them and provides essential details regarding the nature of the claims made by the plaintiff, as well as instructions on how to respond.

This process ensures that the defendant is made aware of the legal action and is given the opportunity to prepare a defense. Serving a summons typically must adhere to specific legal requirements, such as using an authorized method of delivery and ensuring that the summons is properly completed and filed with the court. This foundational step is essential in upholding the principles of due process, which require that individuals are adequately informed of legal actions that may affect their rights.

In contrast, the other options represent different legal actions or concepts that are not involved in the service of a summons. Notifying a plaintiff of an appeal involves communicating about a separate legal process, issuing a court order pertains to directives given by a judge, and drafting legal complaints addresses the creation of the initial document that outlines the plaintiff’s claims but does not relate to the process of notifying a defendant.