Ok, first problem – the needed website is “under maintenance” and I can’t give you statutory cites.
To use a friend and learn what he/she has to do, you need to look here (when it works):
http://public.leginfo.state.ny.us/menugetf.cgi
Look under N.Y. Civ. Prac. Laws & Rules for “service of process”. It should be easy but isn’t at the moment.
Your friend must be over the age of 18 and not a party to the action.
“In New York, anyone at least 18 years old who is not a party to the action can serve papers unless a law or court order provides otherwise (N.Y. Civil Prac. L. & R. § 2102)”.
I would speculate that other NYCPL&R sections in the same numeric range would give additional information.
The following is the only reference to the required Proof of Service that I found:
http://www.nycourts.gov/courts/nyc/civil/forms/affserviceendorsedpersonal.pdf
I can’t guarantee that it’s current or generally applicable.
A normal corporate service requirement is to serve any officer, authorized agent or, in the absence of any, the Person In Charge and authorized to receive documents for the company. If a PIC is served, you may be required to mail as well.
Check the NYCPL&R on this as well, but the affidavit appears consistent.
Here is a link to the process server’s association for NY:
http://www.processserversassociation.com/countylst_code.asp?state=New_York
As an alternative, just google (service of process)+(New York), and you’ll have more results than you want. I noted that some have “800” numbers, if you’re calling from CA. If you come up dry, try to PM me and I can make some inquiries, but I’m not always posting. I doubt that you’ll have a problem or a dearth of resources in Manhatten.
If it were me, as a lawyer, I’d use a professional. A friend is cheaper but inexperienced in serving and preparing the follow-up paperwork. Additionally, with a registered server, there is an evidentiary presumption of validity. In plain language, if service is challenged, the law treats the return of a registered server as valid, and the burden is on the defendant to prove that it wasn’t. That presumption does not exist in your favor when you use a friend.
Again, good luck, but feel free to post any other questions that you have. Anyone can help.