When a New York civil case begins, valid service of process is a key step. The method depends on who is being served and the type of case. For an individual, CPLR 308 describes several methods, including delivery to the person, delivery to a suitable person followed by mailing, and affixing and mailing when the statutory due-diligence requirements are met. The details matter. Under CPLR 306, proof of service generally identifies the papers served, the person served, the date