Can a lawyer serve papers?

Mr. Kelley is correct that lawyers are not parties to actions and thus can serve process. The only problem is that lawyers cannot be both fact witnesses and trial counsel. So if the facts of the service of process could be a fact at issue in the trial of the action, such that the lawyer who served the process had to be called as a witness, then that lawyer would risk being disqualified from being trial counsel. Hope this helps. Elizabeth Powell

CR 4 says, in pertinent part, the following: "Service of summons and process, except when service is by publication, shall be by the sheriff of the county wherein the service is made, or by his deputy, or by any person over 18 years of age who is competent to be a witness in the action, other than a party." Lawyers are not parties. See link below.