Legal process (or sometimes "process"), are the proceedings in any civil lawsuit or criminal prosecution and, particularly, describes the formal notice or writ used by a court to exercise jurisdiction over a person or property. Such process is usually "served" upon a party, to compel that party to come to court, and may take the form of a summons, mandate, subpoena, warrant, or other written demand issued by a court.

See also

• Civil procedure

• Due process

• Legal proceedings

• Procedural law