unserved

Unserved is an adjective meaning not yet served or delivered. In legal contexts, it commonly describes a person or entity that has not been formally served with a legal document such as a complaint, summons, or notice. The status of being unserved can affect whether a court has jurisdiction over the case.

Service of process is the process by which legal documents are formally delivered to parties in a lawsuit. If a defendant or other required party remains unserved, the court typically cannot proceed to render judgments against them. Most jurisdictions provide specific time limits for achieving service and outline acceptable methods of service.

When service fails, parties may attempt re-service, employ substituted service, or use alternative methods such as service by mail, publication, or electronic means where allowed. If repeated attempts do not succeed, a court may appoint a different method for serving the document or may dismiss the action without prejudice.

Etymology: unserved is formed from the negating prefix un- and the verb serve, and it has become a standard term in legal writing to indicate the absence of service. Related terms include service of process, served, and service by publication.

As a general term, unserved can also describe documents or notices that have not been delivered in contexts outside the courtroom, though the phrase is most commonly encountered in legal texts.