Case Name: Joseph Smith, Libellant, versus Elizabeth Smith
Court: Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Jurisdiction: Massachusetts
Decision Date: 1812-11
Citations: 8 Tyng 422
Docket Number: 
Parties: Joseph Smith, Libellant, versus Elizabeth Smith.
Judges: 
Reporter: Massachusetts Reports
Volume: 9
Pages: 373–374

Head Matter:
Joseph Smith, Libellant, versus Elizabeth Smith.
Upon a libel for a divorce, filed in the clerk’s ofiice, the party charged must be served with a copy of the libel and a summons: reading the same to the party is not a sufficient service.
This was a libel for a divorce a vinculo, for the cause of adultery, and having been duly filed in the clerk’s office, a summons had issued, which an officer returned that he had served by reading the libel and summons to the said Elizabeth.
Dane for the libellant.

Opinion:
By the Court.
The statute (1785, c. 69, <§> 8) expressly prescribes that the service shall be made by serving the party with an attested copy of the libel, and with a summons to appear, &c The libel is dismissed for want of legal service.