Yes, being served could mean, physically by a sheriff or by private processor, posting or hanging, or certified mail.
accepting papers from an civil servant
Can I serve a summons to the defendants attorney if the defendant cannot be found
Of course. All the plaintiff will need to do however, is publish the summons in the paper and you will still be considered served.
The agency or person in charge of the lawsuit summons will inform the plaintiff/petitioner that the summons has been properly served upon the defendant or his or her legal representative.
If the summons is not served, it will be returned to the court. The only time a summons is not served is if you are not home, or they have a wrong address for you.
That depends upon the laws of the state in which the judgment was issued, the least amount of time would be 10 business days from the time the summons was served.
if the summons was returned unserved, the plaintiff should asked the court to issue an alias summons if the whereabouts of the defendant is ascertained.
You would not have to answer the summons as long as the plaintiff agrees not to move for entry of a default judgment for you not answering the summons within the appropriate time. Also, if you do reach a settlement be sure that the plaintiff promises to and does dismiss the lawsuit when the money is paid.
A processor server who loses the original summons that was presented to (them) by the Plaintiff must file an affidavit stating that the original summons whereabouts cannot be located.
In most states a 14 year old can be served a summons for someone else.
The IRS.
Yes, the Plaintiff needs to amend the pleadings attached to the summons to reflect the correct name of the defendant. Usually a Petition or a Complaint.
Yes. They can get a writ of judgment and enforce it in the form of wage garnishment. In civil court when a defendent does not answer a summons the plaintiff wins the case by default. Sometimes an appeal can be filed if there is a justifiable reason the defendent could not appear at the hearing.