Direction and execution of mandates

§ 701. Direction and execution of mandates.

(a) In an action or proceeding brought in the court, all civil processes and mandates, except as otherwise provided in this act, may be served or executed only within the county. They shall be executed by the court's enforcement officer within such area as is within his territorial jurisdiction as elsewhere provided by law. Where this act empowers the court's process or mandate to be served or executed without the county, or where it is to be served or executed within the county but at such place therein as is beyond the territorial jurisdiction of the court's enforcement officer, the process or mandate shall be served or executed by such officer as could serve or execute the process or mandate of the supreme court of the county in a like instance.

(b) The provisions of law applicable in supreme court practice, relating to the execution of mandates by a sheriff and the power and control of the court over the sheriff executing the same, shall apply to this court's enforcement officers.

(c) In any instance where a return by the enforcement officer is required by law to be made to the court or the clerk thereof, such provision shall be deemed to refer to this court, or the clerk of this court, as the case may be.

(d) Nothing herein contained shall be construed to prevent the service of a summons, petition, notice of petition, subpoena or other paper by any person who might serve the same in a like instance in the supreme court.