Who may serve process on a natural person under New York rules?

• A. A NY resident 18+ who is not a party
• B. A party to the action
• C. The plaintiff's attorney
• D. A court officer

Answer: (A)

In New York, service of process on a natural person must be performed by a nonparty who is at least 18 years old. This rule ensures neutrality and proper notice, avoiding any conflict of interest that could arise if someone involved in the case tried to serve papers. A NY resident who is 18 or older and not a party satisfies both requirements, so they may serve process. A party to the action cannot serve because they have a stake in the outcome, which would compromise fairness. The plaintiff's attorney also cannot serve on behalf of a party. A court officer can sometimes serve in certain contexts, but the option that best captures the general rule is the nonparty adult, which is why that choice is the correct one.