Everything You Need To Know About Process Serving

Getting served legal papers is rarely a welcome moment. Many people wonder: Can you refuse to be served papers? The answer is one of the most common—and misunderstood—topics in civil litigation. If you live in Maryland, Washington D.C., or Virginia, you cannot legally avoid legal responsibility by refusing service. In fact, trying to dodge or decline service may trigger alternate legal procedures that still complete the process—and potentially harm your legal standing. This blog explains exactly what happens when you refuse to be served, how process servers are trained to handle avoidance, and why cooperation is often the best option to protect your rights. What