While a phone call definitively does not constitute legal service, it may occasionally be utilized to informally alert an individual about impending legal documents. For example:

• Law firms may place a preliminary call before formally serving papers, as a professional courtesy.
• Parties may conduct a follow-up phone call after written service has been successfully completed.
• In specific civil cases, individuals might formally agree to receive certain documents electronically, such as via email. However, even these agreements must be established formally and documented in writing; they do not permit service solely by phone.

Significantly, none of these scenarios permit service through a phone call alone. Courts consistently require traceable, written delivery methods supported by verifiable documentation.

Consequences of Ignoring a Phone Call Warning About a Lawsuit

If you choose to disregard a phone call warning you about a lawsuit and subsequently receive official, proper service, you remain legally obligated to respond to that formal service. Courts do not consider whether you received an informal verbal warning; their primary concern is whether valid written service occurred in accordance with procedural rules.

Conversely, if the only communication you receive is a phone call and no formal documentation ever arrives, the court likely does not possess personal jurisdiction over you. 

However, this depends heavily on whether the opposing party subsequently claims to have served you properly. Should they file a Proof of Service with the court, you must then be prepared to formally challenge its validity.