The blockchain technology that powers cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum has many potential applications beyond finance. One of them is serving legal papers, which is a crucial but often cumbersome and costly process in the judicial system.
Legal papers are documents that notify a person or an entity of a legal action or proceeding that involves them. They can include summons, complaints, subpoenas, notices, orders, motions, and other types of court documents. Serving legal papers is a way of ensuring that the parties involved are aware of their rights and obligations, and that they have a chance to respond or defend themselves.
Serving legal papers is usually done by a process server, a person who delivers the documents to the recipient in person or by mail. Depending on the jurisdiction, the process server may need to be licensed, bonded, or registered. The process server must also follow the rules and procedures of the court, and provide proof of service, such as an affidavit or a return receipt.
What are the challenges of serving legal papers?
Serving legal papers can be challenging for several reasons. Some of them are:
- Cost: Hiring a process server can be expensive, especially if the recipient is hard to locate or evades service. The fees can vary depending on the location, the type of service, the urgency, and the number of attempts. According to ServeNow, a network of professional process servers, the average cost of serving legal papers in the US is $45-$75, but it can go up to $150 or more in some cases.
- Time: Serving legal papers can take a long time, depending on the availability and cooperation of the recipient. The process server may need to make multiple visits or use different methods to complete the service. The court may also have deadlines or statutes of limitations that require the service to be done within a certain period of time. If the service is not completed or proven in time, the case may be dismissed or delayed.
- Security: Serving legal papers can pose security risks for both the process server and the recipient. The process server may face hostility, violence, or harassment from the recipient or their associates. The recipient may feel threatened, intimidated, or violated by the service. The documents may also contain sensitive or confidential information that could be compromised or misused if they fall into the wrong hands.
How can crypto technology help serve legal papers?
Crypto technology, or more specifically, blockchain technology, can offer a solution to some of the challenges of serving legal papers. Blockchain is a distributed ledger that records transactions or data in a secure, transparent, and immutable way. Each transaction or data is verified by a network of nodes, or computers, that follow a consensus protocol. Each transaction or data is also linked to the previous one, forming a chain of blocks that cannot be altered or tampered with.
Blockchain technology can enable the creation of smart contracts, which are self-executing agreements that are written in code and stored on the blockchain. Smart contracts can automate the execution and enforcement of the terms and conditions of a contract, without the need for intermediaries or third parties.
Using blockchain and smart contracts, serving legal papers can be done in a faster, cheaper, and safer way. Some of the benefits are:
- Cost: Serving legal papers using blockchain and smart contracts can reduce the cost of hiring a process server or a courier service. The documents can be encrypted and sent digitally to the recipient’s blockchain address, which can be verified by the network. The sender can also pay a small fee to the network for the transaction, instead of paying a large fee to a process server or a courier service.
- Time: Serving legal papers using blockchain and smart contracts can speed up the process of delivery and confirmation. The documents can be sent and received instantly, without the need for physical visits or mail delivery. The proof of service can also be generated automatically and recorded on the blockchain, without the need for manual verification or documentation.
- Security: Serving legal papers using blockchain and smart contracts can enhance the security and privacy of the documents and the parties involved. The documents can be encrypted and decrypted only by the sender and the recipient, using their private keys. The documents can also be stored on the blockchain, which is decentralized and distributed, making it resistant to hacking, corruption, or censorship.
What are some examples of crypto projects that serve legal papers?
There are already some crypto projects that are using blockchain and smart contracts to serve legal papers or provide other legal services. Some of them are:
- OpenLaw: OpenLaw is a platform that allows users to create, manage, and execute legal agreements using blockchain and smart contracts. Users can draft, sign, and store legal documents on the platform, and use smart contracts to automate the execution and enforcement of the agreements. OpenLaw also integrates with other blockchain platforms, such as Ethereum, Chainlink, and Filecoin, to provide additional features and functionalities. OpenLaw has partnered with Rocket Lawyer, a leading online legal service provider, to offer blockchain-based legal services to millions of users.
- Mattereum: Mattereum is a platform that aims to create a decentralized legal system for the digital and physical world. Mattereum uses blockchain and smart contracts to create and enforce legal rights and obligations for digital and physical assets, such as intellectual property, real estate, art, and collectibles. Mattereum also provides a network of arbitrators and experts who can resolve disputes and verify claims on the platform. Mattereum has partnered with William Shatner, a famous actor and entrepreneur, to create digital certificates of authenticity for his memorabilia using blockchain and smart contracts.
- LegalBlock: LegalBlock is a platform that leverages blockchain and smart contracts to serve legal papers and provide other legal solutions. LegalBlock allows users to send and receive legal documents, such as summons, complaints, subpoenas, notices, orders, motions, and other types of court documents, using blockchain and smart contracts. LegalBlock also provides proof of service, proof of delivery, proof of identity, and proof of existence for the documents, which are recorded and verified on the blockchain. LegalBlock has partnered with [The Verge], a leading technology and media outlet, to demonstrate how blockchain and smart contracts can serve legal papers in a groundbreaking way.
Blockchain and smart contracts are not only transforming the financial sector, but also the legal sector. Serving legal papers is one of the many applications of crypto technology that can revolutionize the way legal services are delivered and accessed. By using blockchain and smart contracts, serving legal papers can be done in a faster, cheaper, and safer way, benefiting both the sender and the recipient. Crypto technology can also enable new and innovative legal solutions that can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the judicial system.
