The coordinated hidden surveillance of a location or person for the purpose of gathering evidence.

In civil lawsuits or prosecutions there are many proceedings that require formal notice or writ used by the courts to exercise jurisdiction over a person or property.
Typical serves may include:

• Summons
• Mandate
• Subpoena
• Warrants

Term used to describe the process of locating a person's whereabouts for any number of purposes, ie service of process, witness location, debt collections, bail bond enforcement.

Due process balances the power of law of the land and protects individual persons from it.

Indicates the time and place at which service was effected, the person served, and any additional information needed to establish that service was properly made.