What is required for effective personal service upon a natural person according to CPLR 308?

For effective personal service upon a natural person according to CPLR 308, it is required that the service is carried out by any non-party who is at least 18 years old. This provision ensures that the individual delivering the papers is considered competent to perform the act of service and is not personally involved in the case, thus maintaining an impartial process.

CPLR 308 outlines various methods of service, but emphasizes the need for the server to be a non-party in order to prevent any conflicts of interest or bias in the service process. The age requirement exists to ensure legal competence, as individuals under 18 may not have the capacity to undertake legal responsibilities.

Other options presented do not align with the requirements found in CPLR 308. For instance, service does not have to be completed by a family member or exclusively by an attorney, nor is there a stipulation in CPLR 308 that limits service to standard office hours. This flexibility aids in enabling individuals to fulfill the service requirement effectively and efficiently.