In the movies Process Servers have been routinely seen as a flower delivery person or a UPS driver, handing a summons to an unsuspecting party.   Although it looks harmless and sometimes these tactics are necessary for individuals willfully trying to evade service, these tactics are not allowed.  A process server may not use excessive deceptive tactics in order to effect service, regardless of the strategies a person may be using in attempting to dodge service.

Trickery can reach a degree the courts will not accept because they threaten to disrupt the direction of justice or subvert the intention. The intolerable abuse is referred to as sewer service.  So named as the server dropped the papers in the sewer, rather than trying to deliver them to the right individual.

Although service rules vary from state to state, some service would be invalid if the server failed to put his /her name on the document being served as well as the date and time of service and his/her process server identification number.

An Affidavit of service must be filed for each party being served, giving sworn testimony to the documents' delivery. Whoever submits a false affidavit may be prosecuted for the offense of perjury in the event the facts in a affidavit of service assert the documents were delivered when in fact, they were not.

Courts have ruled that enticing a possible defendant back into the state as a means when no other reasons exist to serve him breaks the person's right to due process of law and the service of process will be declared null and void.

The Due Process clause in the United States Constitution requires proper service in order for a court to exercise personal jurisdiction over a defendant.  Invalid service will stop a case from proceeding and may result in verdicts being overturned if the case proceeded without proper notice to the parties involved.