What determines effective personal service of the claim form?

• A. Leaving it with the right person
• B. Posting to the defendant's address
• C. Sending by email
• D. Handing to a neighbor

Answer: (A)

Personal service means delivering the claim form directly to the defendant or to someone at the defendant’s address who is authorized to accept service on their behalf. The essence is that the document is actually handed to the person who will receive it, ensuring it is in the defendant’s possession. Leaving it with the right person at the address satisfies this requirement because it achieves real delivery to the recipient who can pass it to the defendant.

Posting to the defendant’s address is service by post, not personal service, and would follow a different rule and timeframe. Sending by email isn’t personal service of a claim form unless a specific electronic service provision or consent applies. Handing to a neighbor is not valid unless that neighbor is actually authorized to accept service on behalf of the defendant at the proper address.